In this powerful and honest episode of The Coptimizer Podcast, Chief Chad Dick shares his life-changing journey through The Chiefs Reset—a four-month metabolic health pilot program designed specifically for law enforcement professionals in Indiana. As a veteran of the Indiana State Police and now Chief of Police in Jasper, Indiana, Chad opens up about the silent epidemic affecting police officers: insulin resistance and its wide-reaching impact on health, performance, and longevity.

Through a combination of lab testing, low-carb nutrition, fasting protocols, and consistent accountability, Chad not only transformed his physical health but also redefined his approach to leadership and wellness. This is not just a story about weight loss—it’s about leading from the front, building resilient departments, and rethinking how we care for our most valuable resource: our people.

Top 10 Takeaways from This Conversation:

1. Insulin Resistance is a Hidden Crisis
   Especially dangerous in high-stress professions like policing, it often remains undetected until serious illness sets in.

2. Early Detection Saves Lives
   Comprehensive lab testing, such as the LPIR score, can identify risk years before symptoms appear.

3. Lifestyle Changes Are Powerful
   Chad reduced his LPIR score from 70 to 12 through nutrition and fasting—without any medication.

4. Departments Are Missing the Mark
   Most law enforcement agencies still lack structured wellness and metabolic health programs.

5. Food Matters More Than Fitness
   The program emphasizes that roughly 80% of health outcomes are driven by nutrition.

6. Metabolic Health Equals Operational Readiness
   Better metabolic health results in improved focus, energy, and emotional resilience.

7. Personal Accountability Drives Change
   Chad logged his meals, measured ketones, and relied on peer support to stay consistent.

8. Genetics Must Be Considered
   Genetic factors like LP(a) contribute to cardiovascular risk—knowing your numbers is essential.

9. Prevention Is More Cost-Effective Than Crisis Care
   Investing in prevention helps avoid costly outcomes like diabetes, heart disease, and extended sick leave.

10. Health is Holistic
    This is not a crash diet. It’s a long-term metabolic restoration program rooted in science and sustainability.

Whether you’re a chief of police, a wellness coordinator, or a decision-maker in public safety, this episode offers a transformational roadmap grounded in science and lived experience. Discover how optimizing one leader can impact an entire department—and why The Chiefs Reset could be the key to boosting officer health, morale, and performance for years to come.

Listen now at TheCoptimizer.com or on your favorite podcast platform.

Interested in joining The Chiefs Reset? Reach out to learn how your agency can participate in the next cohort.

“What if we treated our first responders like professional athletes?”

In this powerful episode, retired Chief Patrick Flannelly welcomes Alec Wons, founder of Ready Rebound and a former strength coach for NFL athletes, for a raw and solution-driven conversation on the urgent need to transform how we support the physical and mental health of first responders.

Alec’s mission is deeply personal—and deeply necessary. He draws from elite sports performance, business innovation, and personal tragedy to reimagine recovery and resilience for those who protect and serve. From expedited injury recovery to mental health resources, Alec lays out a compelling blueprint for how agencies can support their people before burnout, injury, or tragedy takes its toll.

Together, Patrick and Alec explore:

• Why traditional wellness programs fail—and what actually works
• The hidden cost of shift work and outdated injury protocols
• How trauma, stress, and musculoskeletal injuries silently erode performance and morale
• Why systemic change is needed to treat officers like high-performing tactical athletes
• The leadership imperative: How chiefs can drive meaningful culture change

Plus: Learn how Alec’s new book and his work with fire and police departments nationwide are creating momentum for a better future—and why now is the time to act.
🧩 It’s not just about surviving the job—it’s about bouncing back stronger.

In this gripping episode of The Coptimizer Podcast, retired ATF Deputy Assistant Director and 9/11 responder Peter Forcelli joins host Patrick Flannelly for an unfiltered conversation about the untold story behind Operation Fast and Furious—one of the most controversial federal operations in U.S. law enforcement history.

With firsthand insights, Forcelli debunks political myths and explains how a poorly managed, local operation spiraled out of control, endangering lives and undermining trust in federal agencies. But this episode goes far deeper than headlines.

Together, Patrick and Peter explore:

• The infighting and dysfunction that plague federal law enforcement systems
• How Peter’s decision to blow the whistle led to years of surveillance, stress, and professional exile
• The personal toll of high-stakes policing, from PTSD to post-9/11 cancer, and the painful journey to seek help
• Real talk about law enforcement leadership—what integrity looks like when the system doesn’t have your back
• A hard look at the cost of silence, the power of standing up for what’s right, and how agencies fail when accountability is absent

In this gripping episode, Patrick Flannelly sits down with Ken Strange Jr., a man whose life reads like a novel—but every word is true. From teaching English in Saudi Arabia to pursuing global fraud cases for the FBI and USAID, Ken's career is a one-of-a-kind journey through geopolitics, counterterrorism, border operations, and personal growth.

Ken recounts his early exposure to terrorism, his encounters with figures like Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, and the intricate work of investigating complex international fraud. He shares wild tales from remote outposts like Sandy Bay, Haiti, and Senegal, where survival sometimes meant turtle meat by candlelight. His work has placed him at the heart of America’s global efforts—from the “House of Death” case in Juarez to overseeing multi-million-dollar investigations across continents.

More than just a memoir of action, Ken’s reflections are rooted in the importance of balance, purpose, and faith—especially for law enforcement officers facing the toll of the job. Patrick and Ken explore the deep connections between service, wellness, and spiritual grounding in one of the most wide-ranging interviews to date.

🧠 Why you should listen:

• Hear how a diverse background can lead to an extraordinary career

• 
  
• Learn why balance and belief are essential in high-risk professions

• 
  
• Get behind-the-scenes insights on major FBI and USAID operations

• 
  
• Explore global issues from the eyes of a seasoned investigator and public servant

In this new episode of The Coptimizer Podcast, Chief Scott Hughes from Hamilton Township, Ohio, joins Patrick Flannelly for an in-depth exploration of modern policing. We dive into critical topics including leadership, officer wellness, technological innovation, and community collaboration. Chief Hughes shares candid insights about transforming police culture, implementing wellness programs, and supporting officers through mental health resources and on-duty workout policies.

Highlights include:

● The importance of storytelling in leadership
● Modernizing policing through technology and training
● Strategies for building trust within law enforcement agencies
● The critical role of mental and physical wellness for police officers
● Collaborative approaches to regional law enforcement challenges

Whether you're a law enforcement professional, community leader, or simply interested in understanding the evolving landscape of policing, this episode offers compelling perspectives on creating positive change in one of America's most challenging professions.
A must-listen for anyone passionate about public safety, leadership, and community service.

In this deeply thoughtful episode of The Coptimizer Podcast, Patrick Flannelly is joined by Erik Hein, a resilience expert and international trainer from the Netherlands, whose journey from hardship to high-performance leadership offers lessons for police professionals everywhere.

Erik opens up about his difficult upbringing — losing his father to cancer, growing up on the streets, and building himself up through martial arts and academic discipline. From these roots, Erik has forged a career in law enforcement training that blends resilience, mental skills, and tactical fitness with a global outlook on modern policing.

Together, Patrick and Erik examine:

• Mental toughness and the “soul over force” philosophy

• 
  
• How learned helplessness shows up in policing

• 
  
• Lessons from European police academies

• 
  
• The U.S. attrition crisis and recruitment gaps

• 
  
• How to foster supportive environments that build officer resilience

• 
  
• The value of mentorship, wisdom transfer, and lifelong fitness

In this episode of The Coptimizer Podcast, Patrick Flannelly sits down with Pat Heffner, a retired police officer and seasoned instructor for the Northwestern University School of Police Staff & Command, to explore one of the most overlooked aspects of modern policing — resource allocation.

With decades of experience in law enforcement and education, Pat brings a pragmatic and data-driven lens to a topic that often flies under the radar of command staff. Together, we discuss the critical importance of staffing analysis, beat redesign, workload balance, and how failing to properly allocate resources can undermine even the most well-intentioned policing strategies.

Whether you're a chief, a line supervisor, or a community member trying to understand how police services are delivered, this episode offers an honest, practical deep-dive into what it takes to align staffing with service demands — and why it matters more than ever in today’s public safety environment.

🔑 Topics include:

• The fundamentals of police resource allocation

• 
  
• Why many departments struggle with staffing analysis

• 
  
• Real-world examples from Pat’s work with police agencies

• 
  
• How data can drive better decision-making for deployment

• 
  
• The connection between morale, burnout, and misaligned staffing

David Riedman is the founder of the K-12 School Shooting Database and a graduate from the Naval Postgraduate School. He conducts research on gun violence in schools and authored multiple peer-reviewed articles on homeland security policy, critical infrastructure protection, and emergency management.