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The CopDoc Podcast - Season 8 - Episode 153

What happens when a basketball coach becomes a police chief? Chief John Fisher of the Bedford, Massachusetts, Police Department brings a refreshingly human perspective to law enforcement leadership, replacing command-and-control with connection and coaching.

Fisher's journey from U.S. Coast Guard service through the ranks of Nashua, NH Police Department to his current role reveals a leadership style fundamentally shaped by his parallel career coaching high school basketball for over 30 seasons. "Coaching happens in split seconds," he explains, "but you still have to fall back on a coaching mentality. Same way we do in law enforcement."

At the heart of Fisher's approach is what he calls "the coaching sandwich" – opening with value recognition, suggesting improvement, and closing with encouragement. This technique acknowledges the reality that most police interactions involve people experiencing "their worst possible moment," requiring officers skilled in human connection more than tactical proficiency. When taking command of new departments, Fisher began by listening rather than dictating, meeting individually with officers to understand their perspectives before implementing change.

Fisher challenges traditional notions of police authority, recognizing that today's departments include officers spanning from their 20s to 60s, each generation requiring different leadership approaches. His philosophy emphasizes critical thinking through questions rather than commands, preparing teams for crisis through "what if" scenarios, and building community connections that transcend enforcement.

Whether you're in law enforcement, leadership, or simply interested in organizational culture, Fisher's insights offer valuable lessons on mentoring the next generation, navigating institutional change, and maintaining optimism while facing challenging realities. Ready to rethink what effective leadership looks like? Listen now and discover why Fisher believes "I am more optimistic now than I ever have been in my career."

Contact us: copdoc.podcast@gmail.com

Website: www.copdocpodcast.com

If 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

Hey there! Send us a message. Who else should we be talking to? What topics are important? Use FanMail to connect! Let us know!

The CopDoc Podcast - Season 8 - Episode 152

What happens when a Naval Captain witnesses his crew cheering as his predecessor leaves? For Mike Abershoff, it sparked a leadership revolution that transformed USS Benfold from one of the worst ships in the Pacific Fleet to the best in the entire US Navy – all in just 15 months.

"The days of top-down command and control, my way or the highway leadership style, are over," Abershoff explains in this riveting conversation. Drawing from his bestselling book "It's Your Ship" (which has sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide), he shares how replacing fear with respect created extraordinary results.

Abershoff's methods were unconventional but effective. He interviewed all 310 crew members individually, seeing his ship through their eyes. He published the budget openly, empowering sailors to make financial decisions. He replaced divisive "diversity training" with a unity program based on mutual respect. Most remarkably, he reduced disciplinary cases from 28 to 5 per year, discovering in the process that previous leadership had unconsciously targeted minority sailors.

The parallels to policing are striking and instructive. Both military and law enforcement organizations have traditionally valued hierarchy and directive leadership, yet both face increasingly complex challenges requiring adaptability and innovation. "Just because we grew up in a system where our chain of command were buttheads to us doesn't mean we need to continue it," Abershoff advises police leaders.

Throughout our conversation, Abershoff reveals himself as a leader still learning – willing to acknowledge self-doubt, emotional connections, and the importance of seeing leadership from different perspectives. His "monkey tree" analogy (what looks like smiling faces from the top looks very different from below) offers a powerful reminder about truly understanding those we lead.

Whether you're a veteran police leader, an aspiring supervisor, or simply interested in organizational transformation, Abershoff's insights will challenge conventional wisdom and inspire a more engaged, respectful approach to leadership. Listen now to discover how small, consistent improvements can revolutionize your team's performance and culture.

Contact us: copdoc.podcast@gmail.com

Website: www.copdocpodcast.com

If 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

Hey there! Send us a message. Who else should we be talking to? What topics are important? Use FanMail to connect! Let us know!

The CopDoc Podcast - Season 8 - Episode 151

In a great conversation on The CopDoc Podcast, Steve Morreale engages with Jason Potts, Director of the Department of Public Safety in Las Vegas, Nevada, exploring the intersection of modern police leadership and evidence-based approaches to public safety. Potts, who also serves as president of the American Society of Evidence-Based Policing, offers valuable insights that challenge traditional policing paradigms.

Potts' journey through law enforcement is as diverse as it is impressive. Beginning with the Coast Guard and Customs Border Patrol, he spent 22 years with the Vallejo Police Department in California before becoming the chief in Las Vegas, where he oversees a comprehensive public safety operation including deputy city marshals, detention facilities, and animal protection services. With approximately 420 employees and a $100 million budget, his department works alongside the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to maintain safety in the city's parks, tourist corridors, and detention facilities.

What distinguishes Potts' leadership philosophy is his commitment to evidence-based policing, a concept he defines simply as "informing your decisions based on the best available data, science and research." This approach, which originated in evidence-based medicine, involves systematically evaluating policing strategies through data analysis and controlled studies. Potts describes how his perspective transformed after participating in the National Institute of Justice LEADS (Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science) program in 2016, which changed his career trajectory and ultimately led to his leadership role in promoting evidence-based approaches nationally.

The conversation reveals Potts' practical application of these principles through randomized controlled trials he conducted, including studies on license plate readers and patrol visibility with lights on versus off. These small-scale experiments yielded actionable insights that improved operational effectiveness. Potts emphasizes that evidence-based policing doesn't replace officer instinct and craft but rather complements them with systematic analysis to determine what truly works.

Leadership dominates much of the discussion as Potts reflects on the challenges of entering a new organization and implementing change. He acknowledges making mistakes by "coming in hot and heavy" and learning to "inject change at rates people can absorb." His leadership philosophy centers on building relationships and trust, explaining that "trust is the currency of life" and "trust begets trust." He discusses the importance of setting clear expectations, providing tools and training, and ensuring consistency in discipline and accountability.

Potts emphasizes the critical nature of communication and "owning the message" rather than simply passing directives down the chain of command. He wants "owners, not renters" in his leadership team—people who fully embrace their responsibility for organizational culture and outcomes. This culture-building extends to his collaborative approach to strategic planning, where he involves officers at all levels through a Chief's Advisory Board to create a document they genuinely own and support.

The conversation concludes with practical advice for departments interested in implementing evidence-based approaches: s

Contact us: copdoc.podcast@gmail.com

Website: www.copdocpodcast.com

If 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