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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