The Debrief with Jon Becker

Latest Episodes:

Leaders & Legends – John Perez – Securing the Rose Parade/Bowl & Authentic Leadership Sep 14, 2022

Show notes

Description

My guest today is Chief John Perez. John recently retired as the Chief of Police for the Pasadena California Police Department. In his nearly 37 years of service to Pasadena, John served at literally all ranks in the department. During his career, John worked patrol, narcotics, counter-terrorism, and as a SWAT sergeant, lieutenant, and commander, John helped to form the first generation of Pasadena’s tactical team which had the challenge of deploying as a full-time gang enforcement team and a SWAT team for many years. John was twice awarded the Chief’s medal of excellence and received several commendations for his service over the years.

Timestamps

1:00 – His childhood and upbringing

2:35 – How the murder of his 14-year-old cousin drove his desire to be a policeman

4:41 – The beginning of his career and training

6:20 – The crimewaves of the 80s and 90s and police response

10:00 - How the Rampart scandal and war on drugs negatively impacted policing

13:12 – The origins of Pasadena PD SES (SWAT)

15:07 – 9/11 and the profound effects it had on Pasadena PD

19:20 – Securing the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl

22:45 – The impact of 9/11 on the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl

25:55 – Returning to SES as the unit Lieutenant

29:50 – Promoting out of SES to Commander

34:00 – Synthesizing being a “meat eater” with the politics of command

37:15 – How education changes your understanding and beliefs

39:15 – How losing teaches you more than winning

41:35 – Authentic leadership

45:30 – Responding to Occupy Pasadena

54:35 – Leading from your principles in a conflicted environment

1:02:00 – Balancing the tension between lawful protest & protecting the city

1:04:15 – The need to be a student of the profession

1:06:05 – Self-examination and learning from your critics

1:09:35 – How a near-death experience reshaped his views

1:18:00 – Rapid Fire Questions

Books Recommended

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote for Chaos – Jordan Peterson – ISBN 0345816021
Discover Your True North – Bill George – ISBN 0787987514
Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win - Jocko Willink and Leif Babin - ISBN 1250067057
Man’s Search for Meaning – Viktor Frankl - ISBN 080701429X
Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life – Tony Dungy – ISBN 1414318022

Contact Info

Chief John Perez (Ret)

johnperez34@me.com

Training and Tech - Toby Darby & Josh Wofford – Using Tactical Decision-Making Exercises to Improve Leadership Aug 31, 2022

Show notes

Description

My Guests Today are the creators of the California Association of Tactical Officers (CATO) Decision Making Exercise Program (DME), Capt. Toby Darby and Lt. Josh Wofford. Toby is a 27-year veteran of law enforcement with 20 years spent in tactical units. Toby is a Board Member for the California Association of Tactical Officers and one of the facilitators of the CATO Strategic Leadership Program (SLP). Lt. Josh Wofford is an 18-year veteran of law enforcement and current SWAT team leader. Josh has a Doctorate in Education from Vanderbilt University and is a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Timestamps

1:02 – Their Backgrounds

2:35 – Origin Stories for the CATO Decision Making Exercises (DME)

5:45 – Anatomy of a DME - How DME’s work

8:25 – Group Structure for DMEs

12:15 – The Science Behind DMEs

15:05 – Using DMEs to Share and Retain Corporate/Agency Knowledge

18:35 – Situational Learning Theory

21:45 – Group Composition

23:55 – Challenging Confirmation Bias in Decision Making

26:30 – Using DMEs to Broaden Perspective

32:10 – Understanding “The Why” in Decision Making

35:30 – Commander’s Intent and Leadership Thinking

37:10 – Facilitating a DME – Choosing an Event

41:06 – Using DME to Stress Test Your Team

44:10 – Facilitating a DME - Roles and Responsibilities

48:44 – How DMEs Affect Culture

51:49 – Building Trust Through DMEs

55:16 – The Need for Critical Thinking in Organizational Leadership

59:50 – Using Close Calls and Body Worn Camera Footage to Create Proactive DMEs

Books Recommended

Swans, Swine, and Swindlers: Coping with the Growing Threat of Mega-Crises and Mega-Messes, Can M Alpaslan and Ian I. Mitroff – ISBN: 9780804771375

The Bass Handbook of Leadership: Theory, Research & Managerial Applications, Bernard M. Bass – ISBN: 7770957532

Thinking Collaboratively: Learning in a Community of Inquiry, D. Randy Garrison – ISBN: 9781138824317

The Checklist Manifesto: How To Get Things Right, Atul Gawande – ISBN: 9780805091748

The Laws of Human Nature, Robert Greene – ISBN: 9780525428145

Thinking Fast and Slow, Daniel Kahneman – ISBN: 9780374275631

Legacy: 15 Lessons in Leadership, James Kerr – ISBN: 9781472103536

The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More With Less, Richard Koch – ISBN: 9780385491747

Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation, Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger – ISBN: 9780521423748

Adult Learning: Linking Theory and Practice, Sharan B. Merriam and Laura L. Bierema – ISBN: 9781118416310

Six Simple Rules: How To Manage Complexity Without Getting Complicated, Yves Morieux and Peter Tollman – ISBN: 9781422190555

An Introduction to Theories of Learning, Matthew H. Olson and B.R. Hergenhahn – ISBN: 9780131147225

Leadership BS: Fixing Workplaces and Careers One Truth At A Time, Jeffrey Pfeffer – ISBN: 9780062383167

Managing the Unexpected: Sustained Performance In A Complex World, Karl E. Weick and Kathleen M. Sutcliffe – ISBN: 9780787996499

Contact Info

Capt. Toby Darby

tdarby@catotraining.org

Lt. Josh Wofford

jwofford@catotraining.org

Leaders & Legends - Mike Hillman - Part 2 of 2 - The History of SWAT Aug 17, 2022

Show notes

Description

My Guest Today is Mike Hillman. Mike is a legend in the tactical community with a list of career accomplishments that would take an entire podcast of their own. But as a brief bio he was one of the original founders of LAPD SWAT, a Deputy Chief at LAPD, the Assistant Sheriff in Orange County California and a Chief of Police for the Los Angeles Port Police. He was one of the founders of the National Tactical Officers Association, headed security for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and is a nationally recognized expert on leadership, crisis management, critical incident management, special operations and a wide variety of other subjects.

Timestamps

2:09 – Objectives of an Effective Leader

4:05 – The Need for Introspection

6:38 – Having a Core Guiding Principle

8:05 – The Roots of Decisiveness

10:00 – Selfless Approaches to Leadership

11:40 – Leadership in Crisis

15:01 – The Willingness to Change Your Mind

18:04 – Characteristics of Good Leaders

19:30 – Humility and Change Leadership

22:13 – Making Cultural Changes

26:11 – Leading in The Modern Environment

28:15 – Selection Process and Picking the Right People

31:45 – Policing in the Current Social Environment

34:30 – The Constitution v. Our Safety

37:15 – Differentiating Between the Need For Training And Discipline

40:30 – Actions, Intent and The Media

43:30 – Social Media And Law Enforcement

46:38 – Militarization of Law Enforcement

51:19 – Proactivity: Intervening Early or Creating a Problem

52:30 – Bad Tactics or Bad Technology

54:45 – Defining SWAT and Their Mission Set

58:03 – How Do Small Agencies Avoid Issues with Their SWAT Team

1:01:00 – Requirements v. Equipment Understanding Your Needs

1:04:45 – Rapid Fire Questions

Books Recommended

Left of Bang: How the Marine Corps' Combat Hunter Program Can Save Your Life by Patrick Van Horne, Jason Riley, Shawn Coyne - ISBN 1936891301

Contact Info

Mike Hillman

mrhntoa@aol.com

Leaders & Legends - Mike Hillman - Part 1 of 2 - The History of SWAT Aug 03, 2022

Show notes

Description

Timestamps

1:45 – Mike’s Background

4:05 – The beginnings of LAPD D Platoon (SWAT)

5:35 – Defining Events – International Terrorism, Homegrown Terrorist, & the 1970s

11:12 – The Origins of Crisis Negotiation & LAPDs Approach

17:19 – Development of Hostage Negotiation Tactics

22:20 – 1984 Summer Olympics & Development of SWAT

31:02 – The Evolution of Flashbangs

33:54 – Developing Bus Assaults Tactics

37:22 – Intelligence Gathering, Pre-scouting, and DARPA Surrogate Travel

40:45 – Hanafi Muslim Incident Effect on Tactics (Fast Roping & Aerial Platform)

43:19 – Founding of the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA)

45:14 – The Rock House Epidemic in LA & Origins of Armored Vehicles

47:30 – Law Enforcement & the Military (Demilitarization?)

51:22 – The 1980s and the NTOA

55:10 – Being a Student of the Game – The Need for Research & Study

58:12 – What Makes a Good SWAT Operator

Books Recommended

Left of Bang: How the Marine Corps' Combat Hunter Program Can Save Your Life by Patrick Van Horne, Jason Riley, Shawn Coyne - ISBN 1936891301

Contact Info

Mike Hillmann

Mrhntoa@aol.com

Training and Tech - Ed Hinchey – Body Armor and Surviving and Recovering After Being Shot Jul 20, 2022

Show notes

Episode Description - My guest today is Ed Hinchey, a retired Sgt. with the Forest Hills Pennsylvania Police Department. Ed is the survivor of a violent police shooting who was saved by his soft body armor. After retirement Ed became the Director of the Safariland Saves Program. In his capacity as Saves Director, Ed’s job is working with officers who have been shot in the line of duty and saved by their armor. As a result, Ed has likely interacted with more officers shot in the line of duty than anyone in the world. In this interview, Ed discusses witnessing his partner being shot, the first failure of soft body armor by a round it was designed to stop, surviving his own shooting, the aftermath of a shooting, the effects on the officer and their family, as well as the NIJ armor standards past and present. Ed also discusses how to best prepare officers for shootings and how to help them after a shooting occurs.

Timestamps

1:30 – Ed’s Background

2:06 – 6/23/03 - The Edward Limbacher Shooting

4:55 – The NIJ Armor Standards and How They Have Changed

7:05 – Armor Failure – The Zylon Recall and The Old NIJ Standards

11:00 – Frustrations with the Armor Industry

13:23 – The Chronology of Ed’s Shooting

20:50 – His Injuries

26:30 – Arrival at the Hospital & Initial Treatment

33:00 – Surgery & Recovery

38:10 – Effects on the Family

45:30 – Community Reaction & News Media

51:14 – Retirement from Law Enforcement

57:04 – Starting His Second Career with Safariland

1:02:10 – Keys to Surviving a Shooting

1:07:15 – Going Beyond the Academy

1:20:45 - Why Armor Saves Lives

1:25:39 – Behind the Armor – Training Armor

1:30:17 – Mindset and Survival

1:33:14 - Social Media and Survivors

Books Recommended

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius – ISBN 048629823X

The Man in the Arena: Selected Writings by Theodore Roosevelt - ISBN13: 9780765306715

Theodore Roosevelt on Leadership: Executive Lessons from the Bully Pulpit by James Strock – ISBN 0761515399

Sites Recommended

NIJ Armor Standards - https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/body-armor-performance-standards

Safariland Saves - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIM58xG6QM4flerbP6IU9qgXf7VJ5ZgJ7

https://scholar.harvard.edu/fryer/publications/empirical-analysis-racial-differences-police-use-force

Contact Info

Ed Hinchey

Save #941

Safariland Saves Program

ed.hinchey@safariland.com

Leaders & Legends - Brent Stratton and Marcus Sprague – The California Association of Tactical Officers and The Doctrine of Tactical Science Jul 06, 2022

Show notes

Description

My guests today are the hosts of the very successful California Association of Tactical Officers (CATO) Podcast, Brent Stratton, and Marcus Sprague. Brent is the Assistant Chief at a Southern California Police Department and the President of the California Tactical Officers Association (CATO). Marcus is a recently retired Lieutenant at a Northern California PD and the Vice President of CATO. Both Brent and Marcus are graduates of the CARO Strategic Leadership Program.

Timestamps

1:05 - Marcus's background (CATO and SWAT)

2:55 - Brent's background (CATO and SWAT)

6:52 - The Evolution of CATO

10:00 - Role of CATO and regional associations

12:45 - Hot topics in California

15:00 - CATO's role in helping defining mission-readiness

17:30 - The importance of identifying areas for improvement

19:30 – The need for debriefs and lessons learned

24:10 – Understanding the why in training

30:45 – CATO Decision Making Exercises

36:55 - Anecdotal evidence vs hard data in law enforcement

41:00 - Transparency and the gap in the story about law enforcement

51:10 - Origin of CATO Podcast

1:00:50 - The Future of CATO

1:09:04 - How to contact CATO (and the power of the community)

1:13:04 - How to join or become involved with CATO

Books Recommended

Field Command by Sid Heal

Sound Doctrine: A Tactical Primer by Sid Heal

Contact Info

CATO Website - catonews.org

CATO Podcast on Apple Podcasts

Marcus Sprague – vp@catonews.org

Brent Stratton - president@catonews.org
For more information, check out our website at thedebrief.live

Leaders & Legends - Lee McMillion - Inside LAPD D-Platoon (SWAT) Jun 22, 2022

Show notes

Episode Description – In this episode, we take a deep dive into LAPD D-Platoon (aka SWAT) with Lee McMillion, one of the two Lieutenants who currently lead the unit. We discuss the history of SWAT, the current configuration of the team, the specialized cadres within the team, and what happens when the team is activated. We also discuss how they select the right personnel, leading a team of high achievers, maintaining high standards, and trying to support personnel who are constantly engaged in dangerous and potentially traumatic events.

Today’s Guest - Lt. Lee McMillion. Lee is currently one of the two Lieutenants leading the Los Angeles Police Departments Metropolitan Division D-Platoon - also known as LAPD SWAT. In total, Lee has spent 33 years as a Los Angeles Policeman of which 23 years have been spent at Metro, 21 with D-Platoon. Lee is one of only three men to have ever served at all possible ranks at D-Platoon (Officer, Plus 1, Sgt, and Lt.). Lee has been an element member, an element leader, a squad leader and is currently a Platoon Leader. In his career, Lee has participated in well over a thousand tactical operations with a wide variety of mission sets.

Topics Discussed

01:10 - Lee’s Career History

03:20 – History of LAPD D-Platoon (SWAT)

06:30 – Black Panther and SLA Incidents

08:00 – Origins of the name “SWAT”

10:30 – 1984 LA Olympics and effect on D-Platoon

14:15 – Current Configuration & Responsibilities of D-Platoon

16:30 – Capabilities of the team & the cadre system

19:59 – TEMS & Tactical Medics

22:45 – Demographics of the Average D-Platoon Operators

26:00 – Criteria and Process for Activating SWAT

29:30 – Crisis Negotiation System – Every Operator is a Negotiator

32:00 – Misconceptions about SWAT – Statistics for SWAT

37:00 – “Militarization” of Law Enforcement

40:45 – Choosing the Right People – Personnel Selection

46:00 – Maintaining High Standards with Strong Personalities

49:00 – Building and Maintaining the Right Culture

52:25 – Effects of Social Media on Different Personality Types

55:25 – The Tension Between Social Media and Professionalism

58:00 – Rapid Fire Questions

1:02:00 - Most Profound Career Memory

Books Referenced

The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups by Daniel Coyle – ASIN B00AN2KTKQ

Legacy: What the All Blacks Can Teach Us About the Business of Life by James Kerr - ISBN 9780804176989

Contact Info

https://www.lapdonline.org/office-of-the-chief-of-police/office-of-special-operations/metropolitan-division/swat/

LAPD SWAT Instagram - @lapd.swat

Check out our website at thedebrief.live

Leaders & Legends - Sid Heal - Part 2 of 2 - Understanding Tactical Science Jun 08, 2022

Show notes

Episode Description – This is the second of a broad reaching two-part interview with Sid. In this second episode, we discuss the origins of his study and writings on tactical science and take a deeper dive into several concepts in tactical science like initiative and maneuver in time and space. We also dig into Sid’s views on leadership and take an emotional reflection on his responsibilities to those he led.

This episode of The Debrief is in honor of Sid Heal who passed away on May 24th, 2022, shortly before this episode aired. We remember Sid as a force in the special tactics community, as a war veteran, as a celebrated author, and as a commander of the LA Sheriff’s Department. A site has been created in honor of Sid that you can visit at www.sidheal.com

Guest – Charles “Sid” Heal. Sid is a legend in the special tactics’ community and a key figure in the history and evolution of special tactics in the United States. Sid is a retired CWO5 in the United States Marine Corps serving numerous combat deployments including the Vietnam War, The Gulf War, and Operation United Shield in Somalia. Sid is also a retired Commander from the LA County Sheriff’s Department, has worked in the Special Enforcement Bureau, the Emergency Operations Bureau, and a wide variety of other assignments. Sid is one of the most prolific authors on tactical topics having authored several books and hundreds of articles. Sid has taught at the US Army War College and is the former president of the California Association of Tactical Officers.

Topics Discussed

3:18 Short background on Sound Doctrine

6:23 Public perception of police use of violence vs reality

13:08 Origin of Sid’s writing career: combining doctrines of law enforcement and military

19:38 Key concepts in Sid’s books (end state, training vs education, maneuvering in time, etc.)

36:48 Writing tactical books that are widely accessible through simplifying concepts

39:18 The importance of tactical science (understanding the rationale behind decisions, etc.)

43:53 Sid’s recommended reading list (from Officer to Lieutenant)

48:42 Rapid-fire questions (most important habit, leader vs manager, most important trait for teams/leaders, if he could have dinner with anybody, who it would be, etc.)

Links and Books Referenced

Sound Doctrine by Charles “Sid” Heal - ISBN 9781930051119

Field Command by Charles "Sid" Heal – ISBN 9781590563441

Please find Sid’s recommended reading list at thedebrief.live/the-list

Other Places to See and Hear Sid

CATO Podcast – www.catonews.org

https://catopodcast.podbean.com/e/concepts-of-non-lethal-force-with-sid-heal/

https://catopodcast.podbean.com/e/concepts-of-non-lethal-force-with-sid-heal-part-2-of-2/

For more information, check out our website at thedebrief.live

Leaders & Legends - Sid Heal - Part 1 of 2 - The History of LASD - SEB Jun 08, 2022

Show notes

Episode Description – This is the first of a broad reaching two-part interview with Sid. In this first episode, we discuss Sid’s career history, the evolution of special tactics, the history of LASD SEB, the origins of SWAT, and his research on flashbangs and development of the NTOA Instructors Manual. We also discuss the origins of non-lethal weapons, police reform and defunding, and the origins of his study and writings on tactical science.
This episode of The Debrief is in honor of Sid Heal who passed away on May 24th, 2022, shortly before this episode aired. We remember Sid as a force in the special tactics community, as a war veteran, as a celebrated author, and as a commander of the LA Sheriff’s Department. A site has been created in honor of Sid that you can visit at www.sidheal.com
Guest – Charles “Sid” Heal. Sid is a legend in the special tactics’ community and a key figure in the history and evolution of special tactics in the United States. Sid is a retired CWO5 in the United States Marine Corps serving numerous combat deployments including the Vietnam War, The Gulf War, and Operation United Shield in Somalia. Sid is also a retired Commander from the LA County Sheriff’s Department, has worked in the Special Enforcement Bureau, the Emergency Operations Bureau, and a wide variety of other assignments. Sid is one of the most prolific authors on tactical topics having authored several books and hundreds of articles. Sid has taught at the US Army War College and is the former president of the California Association of Tactical Officers.
Topics Discussed

3:18 Sid's career history (USMC, Sheriff's Department, etc.)
13:03 Evolution of special tactics in the United States
17:30 Formation of the NTOA
19:48 Influence of technology/changing tactics on hostage rescue
22:03 Military tactics vs burgeoning special tactics
26:18 Origins of SWAT
32:08 Origin of Sid formally studying strategy and tactics
33:58 Beginning of flash bang research/original NTOA flash bang manual
45:18 Milestones after the flash bang manual (Somalia, Kenya, etc.)
1:07:38 Shifts in thinking on the U.S. Military using non-lethal weapons (Afghanistan, Balkans, etc.)
1:10:18 Shifts in military thinking on non-lethal force
1:15:28 Defunding the police vs reforming the police
1:18:18 Integrating theory and practice and the origins of tactical science
Books Referenced

Sound Doctrine by Charles “Sid” Heal - ISBN 9781930051119
Field Command by Charles "Sid" Heal – ISBN 9781590563441
Please find Sid’s recommended reading list at thedebrief.live/the-list
Other Places to See and Hear Sid

CATO Podcast – www.catonews.org

https://catopodcast.podbean.com/e/concepts-of-non-lethal-force-with-sid-heal/

https://catopodcast.podbean.com/e/concepts-of-non-lethal-force-with-sid-heal-part-2-of-2/

For more information, check out our website at thedebrief.live

The Debrief with Jon Becker - Trailer May 24, 2022

Show notes

The Debrief with Jon Becker launches June 8th. Please enjoy this trailer.
The Debrief is an interview-based podcast that tells the stories of the leaders of some of the world’s top law enforcement and military units – individuals who navigate dangerous situations with their highly effective teams every day.

Jon Becker founded AARDVARK at just seventeen years old. The company started out as a climbing equipment business, often selling gear to SWAT teams and operators. After attending law school and working in police litigation, Becker realized that the best way he could serve tactical operators was by producing and providing high quality gear and products that would enhance operator safety on the job. After AARDVARK’s expansion and success, Becker founded PROJECT7, a provider of purpose-built, scalable, and configurable tactical platforms. Throughout this decades-long journey, Becker has learned invaluable lessons about the lives and work of law enforcement and tactical operators, leading him to a deep understanding of the principles and core values behind highly effective teams. After keynoting for many years on the leadership of elite units and what he terms “culture-centric” leadership, Becker is putting those lessons into The Debrief, a non-profit podcast that serves the wider public.

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