350: Front-Line Police Leadership (Learning, Teaching, Training) w/ Chief Jeremy Story

In the world of policing, leadership is not just about authority; it’s about learning, growing, and mentoring others through the challenges faced along the way. In this episode, I am joined by Chief Jeremy Story, who emphasizes the importance of experiential learning and robust training in law enforcement. His journey is a testament to how mistakes can lead to profound growth and the cultivation of effective leadership qualities. Beyond a significant background in tactics, Chief Story is a front-line, demonstrative leader, competing in the fitness tests and obstacle courses he asks of his own people.  (This is one of the reasons I was drawn to have him on the show!) We discuss a range of topics, including the interplay of human nature, officer complacency, and how training plays a role.  Among insights are comparisons to other industries, and how learning from them and their practices can help build quality, consistency, and true risk mitigation for officers and the communities we serve. -- Jeremy Story has served as the Las Cruces police chief since July of 2023. Before that, Story served as the Deputy Chief of Operations and has been a commissioned officer since graduating from LCPD's 38th Academy in 2007.  In Story's 19 years with the Las Cruces Police Department, he has overseen the department's Academy, SWAT team, Traffic Unit, Gang Unit, and LCPD's Honor Guard Unit. He is a certified instructor for the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy, teaching courses in the use of force, active shooter response, physical fitness, search & seizure, reality-based training, SWAT, and tactical trauma care. He is also a master instructor for firearms and instructor development.  Story earned his bachelor's degree in criminal justice from New Mexico State University and his master's in public administration from Columbia Southern University. Before joining LCPD, Story served as a staff non-commissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps. You can contact him at: [email protected] Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line! To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content: Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com  ! Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more!  Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow. Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show. Need help with entry-level, promotional testing, career & mindset coaching? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide: bluegritwellness.com/shop  Email at [email protected] ------------------------------------- Want to safeguard your health and the health of your team? United Diagnostic Services brings hospital-grade diagnostic technology directly to first responder agencies, making early detection of heart disease and cancer simpler than ever. For more information, visit udshealth.com ------------------------------------- *the opinions expressed in all episodes of this podcast and related materials do not reflect on any departments agencies.  music credit: Drive by ASham...