The CopDoc Podcast: Aiming for Excellence in Leadership

Mike Brown is the recently retired Chief of Police for the City of Alexandria, VA. Brown has nearly four decades of experience in law enforcement, safety oversight, and public policy.  He rose through the ranks of the California Highway Patrol, starting as an officer in Los Angeles in 1977 and culminating in his appointment as state commissioner from 2004 to 2008. He previously served as chief or assistant chief in various divisions.  As commissioner, he led one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the United States, with approximately 7,900 sworn personnel, 3,100 civilian staff, over 100 field offices, and a budget of $1.8 billion,From 2008 to 2009, Brown served as the Deputy Secretary for Public Safety for the State of California. In this capacity, he advised the Governor’s Office on public safety issues and helped develop the state’s strategic highway safety plan.In 2010, Brown has served as Director of the Office of Impaired Driving and Occupant Protection at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), where he is responsible for the development and implementation of national traffic safety policy and best practices. Brown was an Executive Fellow of the Police Foundation and served on the Law Enforcement Committee of the Transportation Research Board. He has served as an instructor for nearly a dozen training programs for CHP, and as an adjunct professor for California State University, Sacramento. He has participated in many state and national task forces on such issues as police pursuits, homeland security, traffic safety, emergency planning, enforcement technology, and transportation.Dr. Brown is a graduate of the California Peace Officers Standards and Training Command College and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy and National Executive Institute.Brown holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from California State University, Sacramento, a master’s degree in criminal justice administration from California State University, Los Angeles, and a master’s degree in management from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.  He earned his doctoral degree in criminology, law, and society at George Mason University.  In retirement, he has headed to the pacific northwest. Hey there! Send us a message. Who else should we be talking to? What topics are important? Use FanMail to connect! Let us know!Contact us: copdoc.podcast@gmail.com Website: www.copdocpodcast.comIf you'd like to arrange for facilitated training, or consulting, or talk about steps you might take to improve your leadership and help in your quest for promotion, contact Steve at stephen.morreale@gmail.com

Bill Bratton has led 7 different police agencies over his 50-year career.  He is an author, a consultant, and serves as Executive Chairman for Teneo.  Bill started with the Boston Police Department, rose to become Executive Superintendent.  He was Chief of the MBTA Police, the Transit Police for Massachusetts, the Metropolitan Police, and was the Chief of the Transit Police of New York.  He returned to Boston as Police Commissioner and was twice the Commissioner of the NY Police Department and the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.   He wrote three books, the most recent, a memoir, The Profession, Collaborate or Perish, and Turnaround.  We talked about the state of policing, CompStat, defunding, community, racism and training.  He advocates for teaching new officers the history of policing.  This was a wide-ranging interview, not to be missed. Hey there! Send us a message. Who else should we be talking to? What topics are important? Use FanMail to connect! Let us know!Contact us: copdoc.podcast@gmail.com Website: www.copdocpodcast.comIf you'd like to arrange for facilitated training, or consulting, or talk about steps you might take to improve your leadership and help in your quest for promotion, contact Steve at stephen.morreale@gmail.com

E. Dwaine Denmark, Ed Denmark is the recently retired police chief for the Harvard, MA Police Department.  He started his career with Ayer, MA Police Department, rising to the rank of lieutenant.  He served as the Police Chief with the Sterling, MA Police and later with Harvard, MA Police. He served as a police chief for 19 years.  Dr. Denmark received a Bachelor’s degree from UMass-Amherst. Hel later completed a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Fitchburg State University.  He continued his studies and earned a Doctor of Arts in Leadership from Franklin Pierce University. Ed provides training at police academies, in-service training and in other countries focused on policing.   Hey there! Send us a message. Who else should we be talking to? What topics are important? Use FanMail to connect! Let us know!Contact us: copdoc.podcast@gmail.com Website: www.copdocpodcast.comIf you'd like to arrange for facilitated training, or consulting, or talk about steps you might take to improve your leadership and help in your quest for promotion, contact Steve at stephen.morreale@gmail.com

Darrel Stephens is a retired chief, who served with the Kansas City Police Department, Assistant Chief with the Lawrence, Kansas Police Department, Chief of the Largo, FL Police Department, Chief of Newport News Police, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.  A proponent and believer in action research, he has been a lifelong advocate for policing.  In addition to his police service, he served as the Executive Director with the Police Executive Research Foundation, and Executive Director for the Major Cities Chiefs Association.Hey there! Send us a message. Who else should we be talking to? What topics are important? Use FanMail to connect! Let us know!Contact us: copdoc.podcast@gmail.com Website: www.copdocpodcast.comIf you'd like to arrange for facilitated training, or consulting, or talk about steps you might take to improve your leadership and help in your quest for promotion, contact Steve at stephen.morreale@gmail.com

We chatted with Chief Ron Sellon from the Mansfield, MA Police Department.  Chief since 2013, Ron earned his law degree from Massachusetts School of Law.  He is an active member of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association and is a Vice President with the International Chiefs of Police Association.  Ron is an FBI National Academy graduate.  He is focused on ensuring his agency is proactive, using Evidence-based and data driven decisions.  He has established a model Problem-oriented unit in his community. In a wide-ranging chat, we spoke of leadership, reacting to the current issues, and the future of policing. Hey there! Send us a message. Who else should we be talking to? What topics are important? Use FanMail to connect! Let us know!Contact us: copdoc.podcast@gmail.com Website: www.copdocpodcast.comIf you'd like to arrange for facilitated training, or consulting, or talk about steps you might take to improve your leadership and help in your quest for promotion, contact Steve at stephen.morreale@gmail.com

Dr. George Reed now serves as Dean at the School of Public Policy at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.  A U.S. Army military veteran, George retired as a Colonel in the Military Police Corps.  George had assignments that included MP posts, Criminal Investigation Command (CIC, formerly CID) leadership posts, and correctional facility posts.  His last assignment was as a faculty member of leadership studies at the Army War College in Carlisle, PA.Dr. Reed also worked at the University of San Diego focused on leadership studies.  Our chat focused on leadership, relationships, and their value in police organizations. Hey there! Send us a message. Who else should we be talking to? What topics are important? Use FanMail to connect! Let us know!Contact us: copdoc.podcast@gmail.com Website: www.copdocpodcast.comIf you'd like to arrange for facilitated training, or consulting, or talk about steps you might take to improve your leadership and help in your quest for promotion, contact Steve at stephen.morreale@gmail.com

Jon DeLena serves as the Associate Special Agent in Charge for the New England Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration.  A former Collier County, Florida Deputy Sheriff, John has served in Colorado, Florida, Washington, D.C. at DEA Headquarters and New Hampshire , and traveled around the world.  Associate SAC DeLena is originally from Revere, Massachusetts, and has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience.   He has traveled the world and has been successful in countless large-scale drug cases.  He spoke with us about the difference between local and federal law enforcement.  We talked about leadership and recruiting, agent wellness, and work-life balance.We also chatted about the deadly rise in fentanyl distribution.Jon earned his Bachelor's Degree from the University of South Florida, and a Master's Degree  in Executive Leadership from Champlain College.   Hey there! Send us a message. Who else should we be talking to? What topics are important? Use FanMail to connect! Let us know!Contact us: copdoc.podcast@gmail.com Website: www.copdocpodcast.comIf you'd like to arrange for facilitated training, or consulting, or talk about steps you might take to improve your leadership and help in your quest for promotion, contact Steve at stephen.morreale@gmail.com

Beth Sanborn is a Detective, Juvenile Officer, and School Resource Officer in Pennsylvania with the Lower Gwynedd Township, PA Police. A law enforcement officer for nearly 25 years, she is active in the Penn. Association of School Resource Officers and the National Association of School Resource Officers. Dr.  Sanborn enthusiastically and affirmatively supports the inclusion of SROs in American schools.  Having earned a doctorate from West Chester University, she has conducted research in the area of School Resource Officers.  Hey there! Send us a message. Who else should we be talking to? What topics are important? Use FanMail to connect! Let us know!Contact us: copdoc.podcast@gmail.com Website: www.copdocpodcast.comIf you'd like to arrange for facilitated training, or consulting, or talk about steps you might take to improve your leadership and help in your quest for promotion, contact Steve at stephen.morreale@gmail.com

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Barney Melekian, current Chief of the Santa Barbara Police Department in California.  Barney is a lifelong public servant having worked for the Santa Monica Police Department, Chief of the Pasadena Police, Director of the COPS Office for the U.S. Department of Justice, the undersheriff of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office. A veteran of the U.S. Army and the U.S. Coast Guard, he was deployed to the Middle East during the Gulf Wars. In an interesting discussion, we talked about the state of policing, the hopefulness for improvement, the importance of community relationships, and the future. Hey there! Send us a message. Who else should we be talking to? What topics are important? Use FanMail to connect! Let us know!Contact us: copdoc.podcast@gmail.com Website: www.copdocpodcast.comIf you'd like to arrange for facilitated training, or consulting, or talk about steps you might take to improve your leadership and help in your quest for promotion, contact Steve at stephen.morreale@gmail.com

We interviewed  Chief Jim Viadero of the Newtown, CT Police Department.  A former command staff member for the Bridgeport Police.  Jim serves as an adjunct professor at Sacred Heart University.  We spoke about the issues of policing, the adjustments needed to adapt for Covid, and to avoid issues that have plagued US policing in the past few years.  This wide-ranging discussion helped to frame the state of policing, the need for training, and the difficult problems of recruiting and retention in policing today.  Hey there! Send us a message. Who else should we be talking to? What topics are important? Use FanMail to connect! Let us know!Contact us: copdoc.podcast@gmail.com Website: www.copdocpodcast.comIf you'd like to arrange for facilitated training, or consulting, or talk about steps you might take to improve your leadership and help in your quest for promotion, contact Steve at stephen.morreale@gmail.com