Explore every episode of the podcast CATO Podcast

On May 6, 2023, a mass shooting occurred at the Allen Premium Outlets mall in Allen, Texas. An Allen Police Department officer was already on the scene for an unrelated call for service when he bravely pursued the suspect and ended the incident.  Allen Police Department Deputy Chief (then Lieutenant) Kris Wirstrom responded and acted as the Incident Commander. Nine people were killed, and seven others were injured.

In this episode of the CATO Podcast, Marcus speaks with Deputy Chief Kris Wirstrom, breaking down the active shooter incident, lessons learned, and the impact on our profession. Marcus was fortunate enough to represent CATO at the 2024 North American Active Assailant Conference, where he heard Kris Wirstrom speak. He's one of those guys who makes you proud to be part of our profession. We trust you'll find his reflections and insight as valuable as Marcus did.

Allen Premium Outlets Active Shooter Event - ALERRT/AIR video:

https://app.frame.io/presentations/1c76c14b-4ba3-4460-8245-860d9e823e4f

Marcus interviews Travis Norton about his doctoral research on active shooter response at the University of Southern California.  Travis was one of the authors of CATO's latest two-day course, Active Shooter Incident Leadership.  Travis contributed much of the research and content for this POST-approved course, which addresses the common failures and challenges inherent in Active Shooter response.  To learn about the class, where it is next or to host it, go to CATOTRAINING.ORG.

"Good intelligence is the linchpin for all tactical operations."

-Sid Heal

Marcus, Adam, and Kris discuss Chapter 8 of Sound Doctrine: A Tactical Primer. The group discusses information versus intelligence, the parts of the intelligence cycle, and situational awareness. They also cover the common operational picture and how you can reduce friction during your next operation.

 

On June 15, 2023,  Denver Police Sergeant Justin Dodge was working the Denver Nuggets celebratory parade when he found himself caught under the wheels of an 80,000 lb fire truck carrying the players.

Lying in the street, Dodge promised himself that if the tourniquets held and he could get to the hospital in time, he would stage an epic comeback. Eight surgeries later, including one that amputated his leg inches below the knee, he's back! 

Justin works as a full-time SWAT team supervisor and has found a new passion in motivational speaking. The subject of a PBS documentary, Justin, is just a phone call away for anyone struggling. 

We hope his testimony inspires you to build resiliency so you can become the hero of your own story. 

Learn more at https://heavyvictory.com/

Follow him on Instagram at: @heavy_victory_

 

It's been said that it's more important how you think than what you think. CATO VP, Marcus Sprague, was fortunate to represent CATO at the Ohio Tactical Officers Association Conference in Sandusky, Ohio. 

  In this episode of the CATO podcast, Marcus sits down with Executive Director Pat Fiorilli of the Ohio Tactical Officer Association and retired Las Vegas Metro Sergeant Mike Quinn.  Both of these men are great thinkers and have a wealth of knowledge and experience in training and developing professionals in our field. Marcus spent the week at the OTOA Conference and can't say enough about what a top-notch training event they put on. We discuss what training in Ohio looks like, their challenges, and some of the lessons learned.    For more information about the OTOA, go to https://otoa.org/    

In this episode of the CATO podcast, we connect with Stephanie Samuels, a police psychologist and founder of CopLine, a national suicide hotline for law enforcement. We'll explore Samuels' research related to first responders and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Samuels and many others believe that TBI is often misdiagnosed as PTSD, but is instead a major contributor to PTSD symptoms. She is part of a group that is researching the first responder community to better understand the effects of TBI and PTSD. CopLine is the only completely anonymous suicide hotline for police officers that is staffed by fellow law enforcement.  

CopLine wants to aid in reducing the stigma associated with asking for help. They believe (as CATO does), that it is imperative for police officers to have a safe place to talk about anything occurring in their life. For more information about CopLine, please visit www.copline.org. Whether you or someone you know is having a "bad day" or a full-blown mental health crisis, CopLine is here with the motto "Cops Understand Cops".

Call the hotline: 1-800-COPLINE or 1-800-267-5463. 

In this episode of the CATO Podcast, Marcus talks with First Responder Wellness Clinical Coordinator Teal Ankeny. Teal's background places her in a unique position to understand some of the wellness challenges facing the first responder community. She and the team at First Responder Wellness have dedicated themselves to serving our community and have achieved a variety of positive results in preventing and treating some of our profession's negative impacts. 

To learn more about First Responder Wellness, visit the First Responder Wellness Website.

CATO Team Leader Instructors Kenny Brayton and Kris Jenny sit down with Marcus to reflect on lessons learned while teaching CATO's SWAT Team Leader course over the last five years. The trio discussed common challenges shared by the majority of teams, how teams address these challenges and the things that great teams do consistently well. 

 

One of our Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin, said it best, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!” It's a critical element to tactical operations and we're discussing it on the latest CATO Podcast. Kris Jenny and Marcus analyze the importance of planning and how to evolve from a collaborative response to a coordinated response. They present a primer on what planning really is, what it looks like, and when and how you should document it. 

CATO Vice President, Marcus Sprague, had the honor of attending a meeting with several tactical associations from all across the country. He took advantage of the opportunity and asked a few folks to discuss some of the issues we all face. The group discussed leadership, recruiting, selection processes, annual testing, keeping training fresh and engaging, and how they deal with the challenge of finding training locations.

Marcus was joined by Sheriff Eric Blankenship of the Alabama Tactical Officers Association, Lt. George Bradley and Jon Brock of the South Carolina Tactical Association, and Barry Cape, Vice President of the Rocky Mountain Tactical Team Association. 

 

Marcus and guest-host, Kris Jenny, discuss Part 2 of Chapter 7 of Sound Doctrine: A Tactical Primer, Sid Heal's 2000 book, which has become an indispensable part of tactical training. Kris and Marcus finish their discussion on the final portion of Chapter 7 of Sound Doctrine.  They review fundamental tactics such as The Hammer and Anvile, Envelopment, and the Pincer Movement.

 

Marcus sits down with Retired Sergeant Jeff McGreevy and the founder of First Responder Wellness, Dr. Stephen Odom.  Dr. Odom and Jeff discuss their experiences serving the 1st responder community, what works with peer support programs, and a few things some organizations are doing wrong.  Dr. Odom does a deep dive on setting yourself up for longevity and how we need to take a long term, preventive approach to mental health wellness.

 

To learn more about First Responder Wellness, visit the First Responder Wellness Website.

Marcus and guests Travis Norton and Kris Jenny discuss Part 1 of Chapter 7 of Sound Doctrine: A Tactical Primer, Sid Heal's 2000 book, which has become an indispensable part of tactical training. The group discusses Sid's insightful and compelling advice on strategy and tactics, as well as maneuvering in time, and how we can apply this thinking to current tactical situations.

So, this episode is a little different than our usual podcast here at CATO.  For anyone who has listened to our previous episodes, you know that anytime spent with retired Command Master Chief Jason Tuschen is time well spent.

We also enjoy our conversations with Dr. Graham Simpson.  So, when Brent and I were asked to sit down with Dr. Simpson, Jason and retired Navy Seal William Branum, we said yes.

This is an unscripted round table where the group talks about the health and performance challenges that both of professions share and discusses what you can do to ensure a healthy retirement.

As a sidenote, Will has his own company and Ted Talk.  I highly encourage you to check it out.

 

Opt Health is graciously offering a Law Enforcement Discount. This discount allows for: 

50% off the initial labs and Dr consult (normally $195 - discounted rate $97.50) 30% off the premium monthly membership dues (normally $245 - discounted rate $171.50)   Visit Law Enforcement/First Responder Discount on Opt Health's website to sign up today! 

At CATO we believe that history is the repository of all lessons and to ignore history is do doom yourself to repeat it.  At the 2023 conference in San Diego, we asked the infamous SAS team leader Rusty “No Gloves” Firmin to debrief the lessons learned from the 1980 Iranian Embassy Siege.  I asked fellow CATO board members Toby Darby and Josh Wofford to sit down with Rusty so he could share his wisdom with those who could not see him at the conference.

I spent a fair amount of time with Rusty before and during the conference and was impressed by his humility, sense of humor and how our profession shares many of the same struggles he  as experienced throughout his career an ocean away.

I highly recommend his book on the six day hostage taking called GO GO GO!

The assault planning and training, strategy and tactics are described in detail, and the personal stories of the gunmen revealed -- who they were, where they came from, why they did it and Saddam Hussein's direct involvement.

For more information about Rusty, The Iranian Embassy Siege, and to get a copy of his new book please visit his website: https://www.rusty-firmin.com 

Marcus and CATO Secretary Jon Cabrera sit down to discuss SWAT audits and some of the themes we have seen team's struggle with throughout the state. The pair also discusses what the CATO Community can do better when it comes to working on their mental health. From wellness programs to less common resources, Marcus and Jon bring their personal stories to the table in this episode of the CATO Podcast. For more information about SWAT audits or wellness programs and resources, please contact Jon directly: secretary@catotraining.org.

Marcus asked CATO board member Jon Cabrera to sit down with fellow board member Matt Alexander and his teaching partner Frank Harper as the group discusses the common training challenges facing the training and utilization of sniper teams.

In this CATO Podcast, the group discusses Chapter 6 of Sid Heal's Sound Doctrine: Envisioning and Achieving the End State. This chapter is filled with examples of how you can better understand and apply the following critical concepts: Assessing the situation, developing and defining an operational end state, Concept of Operations (CONOPS), assigning missions, and issuing orders. Join us for this discussion to explore the strategy behind these fundamental tactics. 

Marcus sits down at O2X headquarters with John Vargo to discuss how this human performance company is leveraging the latest science and technology to enhance human performance for first responders throughout the country. All too often, law enforcement programs are unevenly focused on mental well-being or physical well-being. John and the team at O2X leverage a scientific, holistic approach to address the specific issues facing tactical populations, including high rates of injury, elevated cancer and cardiac health risks, and behavioral health issues. While originally designed to meet the unique demands of tactical athletes, the science-backed methodology has been successful with Olympic and collegiate athletes, professional sports organizations, and other top-tier organizations.    To learn more about O2X, visit:  https://www.o2x.com/ Listen to the O2X Tactical Performance Podcast on the platform of your choice. 

Marcus, Adam Sharki, and Brent Stratton sit down with the legendary Bob Scales.    Bob Scales is a former King County Deputy Prosecutor and Special Assistant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington. He worked for 14 years (and three mayors) as a Public Safety Policy Advisor for the city of Seattle. Bob represented the Seattle Police Department during the 2011 DOJ pattern-or-practice investigation and served as the Compliance Coordinator under the federal consent decree.  He now serves as the CEO of Police Strategies, where he and his team help law enforcement agencies throughout the country to form strategies that fight bad data and combat those who use it to fit their own narrative.   Bob shares his experience with federal and state DOJ consent decrees and the Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory (RIPA) Board.  This podcast episode provides an important perspective on what you can do (at any rank) to recognize this battlespace, avoid pitfalls and collect better data to avoid a state or federal consent decree.   

For this podcast, Marcus joins CATO Board of Directors members Kris Jenny and Kenny Brayton. Kris Jenny is a Sergeant with the Napa Police Department and Kenny Brayton is a CATO instructor and Sergeant with the Ontario Police Department. Together they welcome special guest, Bobby Crees of the Pasadena Police Department. Crees, a CATO Region Representative and a graduate of the CATO Strategic Leadership Program, will join the discussion about Chapter 5 of Sound Doctrine. The group reviews each of the Tactical Principles that are present in all conflicts, and highlights what you can do to tip the scales in your favor during adversarial events.  

Marcus and Travis Norton co-host a conversation about the various ways we train and support large-venue operations from an operator’s point of view. They are joined by Austin who works for a major metropolitan police agency in Northern California. Austin shares his experiences as part of a full-time SWAT team and how their team's approach to supporting large-venue operations has evolved over the years.

Marcus and attorney Gene Ramirez discuss the latest amendments to the California Police Canine Bill (Bill 742), which was placed into inactive status by the bill's author as this podcast was being recorded. This bill will most likely return during the next legislative session, so there is still work to be done. Marcus and Gene also discuss Constitutional Policing: what it is and why it is such a hot topic throughout the country.

Marcus speaks with author and presenter, Jack Enter, about his recently published article entitled, “Sheep Dog to Bureaucrat." CATO invited Jack to return to the podcast to discuss how the structure, roles, and even the promotional process in law enforcement, can turn "WE" leaders into "ME" leaders. Recognizing how it happens may prevent you from becoming a "me-focused" bureaucrat as you rise through the ranks.

 

Jack began his career as a law enforcement officer in 1972. Since that time, he has worked as a street officer, detective, vice/narcotics investigator, manager and as the administrator of a law enforcement agency in the suburbs of Atlanta. Jack obtained his Ph.D. in 1984, and has worked as a professor and administrator in the university setting. He also served as one of the security planners for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. Jack has lectured throughout the United States and abroad on the subject of leadership, as well as profiling interpersonal violence and the future of crime and policing. He has authored two books: Challenging the Law Enforcement Organization (2006; Revised 2022) and Law Enforcement Leadership in the Midst of Change (2022). To learn more about Jack, or pick up one of his books, visit https://jackenter.com  

In this episode of the CATO Podcast, Marcus sits down with CATO President and co-host, Brent Stratton, and frequent CATO guest, Travis Norton, to discuss why we need to formalize the structure that supports Command and Control, some lessons learned, and what you can do today to reduce friction in your command post. The group discusses the importance of building trust throughout the chain of command, and why you need to support the formation of Emerging Organizational Networks.

Learn from the Best: Medal of Honor Recipient Master Sergeant Earl Plumlee   CATO joins forces with tactical expert and host of The Debrief, Jon Becker, as he sits down with Medal of Honor recipient Master Sergeant Earl Plumlee. This podcast features the most exciting excerpts from Brent and Jon's interviews with Master Sergeant Plumlee. Earl is an amazing storyteller and he shares the harrowing events of that fateful day in August, 2013 when he earned the Medal of Honor--with both humility and humor. These important conversations reveal a great deal about tactical lessons learned and highlight the importance of training and initiative.    

Kenny Brayton and Marcus sit down with Captain Dustin Kulling to discuss the key components required to design effective training. Learn how to apply the Theory of Constructed Emotion to police decision-making training and how action competency facilities and wellness training enhance the regulation of the stress response.     Captain Kulling is a 28-year law enforcement veteran who has spent much of his adult life studying how we learn. He is a California POST Master's Instructor, has earned a Masters of Education degree, and is currently working on his Ph.D. in Communication. He spent the majority of his career in narcotics and has been involved in tactical teams at a variety of ranks.  

This episode of the podcast discusses Chapter Three of Sound Doctrine. Marcus and guests Travis Norton and Adam Sharki discuss Command and Control, the challenges of selecting a commander, and what it means to command effectively.  

Attorney Gene Ramirez was a founding member of CATO and has spent the last several decades defending law enforcement officers in civil court. Gene discusses California Assembly Bill 742, which bans law enforcement's use of bite dogs. Gene also discusses his lessons learned from defending officers and how we arrived at a push by the legislature to ban police bite dogs. For more information on AB742, click here https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB742. Gene Ramirez can be contacted at epr@manningllp.com

Marcus sits down with Nolan Cleall, who has served on a mid-sized Northern California agency's HNT Team for the last ten years. The two discuss his experiences on a collateral Hostage Negotiation Team. They review common approaches to training SWAT/HNT integration and cover some tools you can implement today to develop a comprehensive approach to solving tactical problems. Nolan is also a whiskey aficionado and has some surprising things to say about peanut butter whiskey. Nolan can be reached at ncleall@sbcglobal.net

Lt Travis Norton and Lt Adam Sharki join Marcus to discuss the concept of "novelty." What does it mean? Why does it make us all amateurs? They'll cover strategies you can use today to enhance your response to these "novel" and critical events.

CATO President Brent Stratton sits down with Nick Sprague, the President of the Rocky Mountain Tactical Team Association (RMTTA). The two discuss how to take care of your team, both professionally and personally. They also cover the importance of debriefs--even when they hurt--and the similarities and differences between CATO and RMTTA. Finally, they explore Brent's obsession with Peanut Butter Whiskey...we try not to judge.

In this episode, Brent and I sit down with retired Navy Seal Command Master Chief Jason Tuschen and world-renowned author, Dr. Graham Simpson, who is the medical director for Opt Health. 

Military and first responders share many similar health problems during and after their service. I asked Jason and Dr. Simpson to explore the common health issues found in our communities and how we should be addressing them.

In the past, we’ve discussed how our body keeps score, so think of this episode as a continuation of that conversation. Are we doing the best for our bodies so, when we survive this career, we can actually enjoy all the things we said we were going to do?

 

Eternity HFLC NON-VEGETARIAN DIETARY GUIDELINES

Marcus Sprague and Kris Jenny sit down with Fire Training Division Manager Jim Etzin.  Jim has been involved with the tactical community since serving as a corpsman in Desert Storm and as a combat medicine instructor for the 1st Marine Division.  Jim attended LASD SEB SWAT school and has dedicated his life to enhancing our response to large events.  He is also the founder of the  North American Active Assailant Conference (NAAAC). Jim's unique blend of education and experience has also led him to develop a High Risk Unified Command class that discusses lessons learned from real life events, as well as how law enforcement, fire and EMS can work together to enhance our response and save more lives.

Is your ropes program ascending to meet the needs of contemporary tactical problems? Marcus Sprague sits down with a longtime friend of CATO, Dana Vilander. Dana has partnered with CATO in presenting Tactical Rope Access courses and has decades of experience in the tactical community as an operator and medic. They discuss Dana's unique background and how he blended his tactical experiences with his medical training and rescue work to form VTC training.

Kevin Cyr (RCMP SWAT) joins Marcus with Echelon Front's Codey Gandey.  Codey is part of the Echelon Front staff and is the lead for their First Responder Training program.  Codey has worked with a variety of agencies and has personally worked with Kevin's full-time swat team in British Columbia.  The group discusses common challenges agencies face and how Echelon can help your team succeed.

Marcus sits down with the Deputy Director of the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center to discuss the importance of fusion centers.  Randy started his career as a patrol officer in Atlanta Georgia. However, he spent the majority of his career working for the Drug Enforcement Agency.  His final assignment with the DEA was as the Regional Director of the Middle East.  After a brief stint in the private sector he became the Deputy Director of NICRIC.  Randy shares his lessons learned and his perspective spans from patrol to the Middle East and how what officers do can impact LE efforts around the world.

Marcus Sprague, Kris Jenny, Travis Norton and our guest, Kevin Cyr, discuss active shooter training and response and some of the lessons of the past that we have yet to learn. While the nation mourns the tragedy in Uvalde, it would behoove us to discuss what we can do now to better prepare ourselves, our teams and our communities. This discussion is not intended to specifically address Uvalde, as we believe that would be premature.    Kevin Cyr is a SWAT Commander for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in the greater Vancouver metropolitan area. He has over 21 years of experience in law enforcement with a variety of specialty and leadership assignments. We like how Kevin thinks and enjoy his articles. Check him out on LinkedIn or come see his presentation at this year’s CATO Conference in Reno, November 9-12th.  

Brent and Marcus sit down with Jon to discuss his relationship with CATO and how he has crossed paths with several pioneers of the tactical community. Jon's unique background has given him the opportunity to receive thousands of hours of tactical training as a civilian and work with a variety of tactical teams throughout law enforcement and the military. Jon uses his experiences to blend a unique outside perspective into the debrief, one which leverages a passion for the tactical community combined with an insider's access and knowledge. https://thedebrief.live/

In this episode, Brent and Marcus talk with the founding members of the Honor Hike Foundation. Each year members of this organization hike one mile for every fallen Law Enforcement Officer from around the country, creating a moving memorial. The foundation also supports the officers' families and their agencies. The Honor Hike Foundation was created by a group of active and reserve law enforcement officers and during the hike the participant carries only the gear they need to survive, a Thin Blue Line American Flag, and dog tags made in honor of each fallen officer. This year several CATO members joined the hike along the Appalachian Trail and carried dog tags in remembrance of Deputy Sheriff Phillip Jesse Campas from Kern County Sheriff's Office, who was killed 7/25/21 and Detective Luca Pietro Benedetti from San Luis Obispo Police Department, who was killed 5/10/21. 

 

To learn more about this noble cause and to show your support visit their website honorhikefoundation.org and donate what you can. 

For this exciting podcast, Marcus is joined by CATO board member and training cadre member, Sergeant Kristofer Jenny, and Travis Norton, a southern California lieutenant. The three sit down with the infamous Gordon Graham to discuss Black Swans, Gray Rhinos, and what you can do now to impact your team, your agency, and our profession. Graham, a 33-year veteran of law enforcement and the co-founder of Lexipol, is also a risk management expert and a practicing attorney. He packs the conversation with real takeaways you can use today to improve your decision-making and avoid the next Gray Rhino!

In this episode of the CATO podcast, Brent and Marcus sit down with CATO's Demonstration Response Chair, Adam Sharki, and CATO Training Cadre member, Kris Jenny, to discuss Chapter 2 of the Sound Doctrine, Crisis and Conflict. The group discusses the definition of a crisis, the five characteristics present in all crises and why you should be able to explain them to those you serve with, your superiors, and potentially a jury. The group also discusses how to apply these principles in day-to-day operations.  

Neuroscientist Dr. James Engall, co-founder and President of Blast Analytics and Mitigation Inc., sits down with Brent and me to discuss the results of BAam360's research and mitigation with the Navy Seals, how they are bringing about awareness and mitigation strategies related to blast exposure in the military, and why it led them to develop Operations Blue Shield where they leverage their knowledge to help the law enforcement community.

There are a lot of layers to these issues, and the circles these folks travel in continue to overlap with CATO. We can foresee this becoming a partnership that can help mitigate these types of risks for those in our profession. For the record, James Engall is a doctor, and we are talking about medical issues, so if you are experiencing any of the symptoms discussed, please seek medical help and talk to your doctor.

We will be posting additional information on the website and in the show notes. As always, I hope you enjoy the show and see the value in the work these folks have done with the military and how it can save law enforcement lives.

 

Operation Blue Shield Promo

US NAVY Brain Health

Frank's PSA

GOFUNDME: Operation Blue Shield Campaign

GOFUNDME: LEO Concussion Prevention Program

Marcus and Brent sit down with a panel of experts to discuss California Assembly AB481, affectionately known as the Military Equipment Bill. Panel members have spoken with the folks from Lexipol as well as other attorneys and experts throughout the state and come together to discuss the major components of the law, including some of the poorly written and unclear portions. The group also offers suggestions on the intent of the law and what you can do to ensure you and your agency remain in compliance. While this group does represent a variety of experience and expertise, and they have vetted their opinions with several legal experts, you should consult your agency's legal team for their interpretation of the law.

Panel members include CATO President Brent Stratton, who serves as an Assistant Chief in the Central Valley with a background in the tactical teams, internal affairs, and DOJ oversight. Panel member Adam Sharki is a Lieutenant for one of the largest cities in Southern California and has a variety of experiences at his agency and serves as our Demonstration Response Chair. Panel Member Kris Jenny is a Sergeant at a small to medium size agency in Northern California and is charged with the AB481 compliance for his agency. Kris is an SLP2 graduate, a member of the teaching cadre, and was recently appointed to the CATO Board of Directors. Travis Norton is a Lieutenant in Southern California who is a lethal force expert and chairs the CATO After Action Review Team.

Brent Stratton, Marcus Sprage and Adam Sharki discuss Sid Heal's book, 'Sound Doctrine'. They discuss what they like about the book and why they feel it should be the cornerstone for the foundation of tactical learning. This will be the first of several episodes that break down 'Sound Doctrine' and how you can apply it to resolve today's tactical problems.  

Marcus is joined by CATO SWAT Team Leader Cadre members Kenny Brayton and Kris Jenny, CATO's After Action Review Chair Travis Norton, and CATO's Demonstration Response Chair Adam Sharki for a panel discussion on the component parts of California Assembly Bill 48 and what you need to know to ensure that your demonstration response and use of force is within policy. We'll discuss what you can do to make sure your demonstration response program's training, documentation, and deployments are consistent with this new law.

Marcus sits down with Sergeant Tom Datro, host of the POLICING IN AMERICA podcast. Sergeant Datro works for one of the largest police departments on the West Coast and created his podcast to address difficult challenges facing law enforcement today. In this episode of the CATO podcast, Marcus and Tom discuss a variety of topics such as de-escalation, leadership, culture, the importance of empathy throughout the organization, and several other challenges facing our profession. Learn more about Tom's podcasts at policinginamerica.com

Jeff Felts, from Center Mass, is our guest on the latest episode of the CATO Podcast with Marcus Sprague and Kris Jenny, CATO Training Cadre member. As a young sniper, Jeff found himself well trained, but poorly prepared for a very dynamic hostage situation. This setback sent him on a journey to improve his training and resulted in the formation of Center Mass, the National Patrol Rifle Conference and Championship, and the patrol rifle utilization survey. Each year, participants from around the country compete in a variety of patrol rifle scenarios taken from the streets of America. 

Jeff retired from law enforcement after serving for twenty years as a Police Officer and Sergeant in suburban Metro Detroit. He is also a veteran of the Army, where he was an MP and in the reserves as an Infantry Drill Sergeant. He also served for 12 years in a part-time capacity with the Western Wayne County Special Operations Team as an Operator, Sniper, and Sniper Team Leader. He holds an associate degree in criminal justice, a bachelor's degree in business administration, and is a graduate of Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. Jeff is a certified special weapons and tactics instructor, tactical rifle instructor, sniper instructor, pistol instructor, and President of Center Mass, Inc., and serves as an Advisory Board Member of the American Sniper Association (ASA).

 

Links of interest:

CMI website  https://shop.centermassinc.com/

NPRC main page  https://shop.centermassinc.com/info/national-patrol-rifle-conference-championships

Patrol Rifle Utilization Survey  https://shop.centermassinc.com/info/patrol-rifle-utilization-survey

CMI Training info  https://shop.centermassinc.com/info/leo-training-services

CMI FB page:  https://www.facebook.com/centermasslivonia

NPRC FB page:  https://www.facebook.com/NationalPatrolRifleConference 

 

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We don't often talk about one of the greatest threats facing our profession. This adversary is hard to name, difficult to identify, and is rarely talked about openly, yet each year it kills more and more dedicated men and women in law enforcement and the military. We all agree these professions leave a mark when you're done. For some, this mark can cost them their happiness, family, and even their life. In an effort to find the best information and tools to address this adversary, we reached out to Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, a pioneer in the field of PTSD research and treatment, a world-renowned psychiatrist, author, researcher, and educator. He’s been researching post-traumatic stress since the 1970s, its effects on the body, and how a variety of modalities can reduce those impacts. He is the author of the bestselling 'The Body Keeps the Score,' which we highly recommend that everyone read. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk has dedicated his professional life to helping people heal from their traumas, and when we heard about and expressed interest in a brand new 4-week online course on PTSD launching October 20, 2021, Dr. van der Kolk's team graciously offered a limited-time promo code for a discounted rate to our members. CATO is receiving nothing in return for promoting this class, we are not associated with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk or this course in any way, we simply care about our community and want to pass on all resources that can help our community deal with trauma and PTSD. For more information about this 4-week course, and the promo code which expires October 20th, please go to English 4 Week | Bessel van der Kolk, MD.. Joining me as co-host for this episode is Alex West. Alex served multiple tours during his time in the Navy, and led some of the greatest folks our country has to offer through a variety of hot spots around the world. He has dedicated his post-military life to helping veterans and was CATO's keynote speaker at our last annual training conference in San Diego. He also was our guest in podcast episode #3, which we recommend you check out. Alex is truly committed to the CATO Community and joins us today to help veterans and first responders survive the effects of PTSD during and after their careers.

 

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma: van der Kolk M.D., Bessel

Marcus and Brent sit down with retired Alexandria Virginia Captain Tom Panther. Captain Panther, a former SWAT Operator and Commander, was one of the men charged with coordinating the response to the Pentagon attack on 09/11/01. While we hope to never repeat the experiences of 9/11 and the attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, there are a lot of lessons to be learned. Panther shares his story and lessons learned from a law enforcement perspective. While he is retired now, the event had a profound impact on his personal and professional life. It also solidified his commitment to a controlled and disciplined response to catastrophic events by utilizing the ICS process. Panther is currently an adjunct faculty member of the TEEX Enhanced Incident Management/Unified Command for All Hazards course, a no-nonsense course packed with practical exercises to prepare students to manage a variety of complex incidents. For more information on that course go to teex.org/class/MGT314