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This week's episode is a conversation with Betsy Smith, aka Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith, and boy does she have some spunk!

It was such a fun convo and we touched on some topics we haven't necessarily covered on this show...like being a female in law enforcement...especially in the 80s - 90s.

For those of you who don't know Betsy, you're missing out...but, as a short intro...she is a retired LEO, Police Trainer, National Spokesman for National Police Association, on the Executive Board for The Wounded Blue, a cancer survivor, a wife, mother, fur mom, and now grandmother.

As you can see, retired life has NOT slowed her down at all!

Betsy talked about being a farm girl in Illinois in the 60s and 70s, and how she knew in Junior High that she wanted to be a cop. There were no female characters in the cop TV shows at that time and it inspired her. She was a police dispatcher in HS/College and became a cop in 1980, where she spent 29 years in a Chicago Suburb.

Betsy had a heck of a "welcome to policing" moment in the academy that I'm sure the person making the statement thought would make her leave...but it only made her more determined. She spent time on patrol, undercover (favorite role), on a task force, was an FTO, a Detective, a Sergeant, and eventually turned down Lieutenant. Betsy even starred on a Reality TV Show her last year and a half.

Due to Betsy's extensive experience in speaking, writing, and training...I asked her for advice to those looking to get into that during or after their career. She said to prepare NOW...start writing articles, do informal trainings, and go to conferences.

When asked how life has changed after law enforcement, she stated she is far less cynical, she has embraced her faith, and focused on fitness for health.

If you are not connected with Betsy, you can connect with her on Instagram, here, and on LinkedIn, here.

FYI- This conversation was recorded prior to The Wounded Blue Survival Summit, which is mentioned at the end of this episode and while that conference is now in the past...you can check out their upcoming Summit by following them on social media.

If you haven't already...make sure you follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @_nextshift_ AND @the_jessflores

If this podcast resonates with you or you feel like it could help someone else, please feel free to share it with them and/or on your social media platforms...but be sure to tag me so I can personally say THANK YOU!

Be sure to subscribe by clicking the + sign at the top and if you feel called to do so, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review.

You can NOW wear the mission of The Next Shift Podcast, with merch! Check out our current designs, here.

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This week's episode is a conversation with Vickie Speed, Founder of Blue Cancer Connect and widow of LASD Detective Mitch Speed.

I don't know a single person who has not been impacted by cancer in one way or another. I want this episode to not only be in remembrance of Vickie's Husband, but also in remembrance of all our brothers and sisters in blue, taken too soon by this horrible disease.

If you don't know Vickie or aren't connected with her, I highly suggest connecting with her and finding out how you can support this incredible organization she has built, by turning pain into purpose.

In this episode, Vickie talks about the day Mitch found out he had stage 4 cancer, the 26 month battle he fought, and ultimately his passing. She also talks about how the department stepped up to help, how she got through the battle and the struggles that came afterward, getting into therapy, helping her adult son through the loss and losing his way, and eventually finding strength through the struggle and starting Blue Cancer Connect.

Her strength is admirable and you can tell that so much of it comes from her faith. In fact, she described Mitch as having faith that could move mountains and how he never questioned or got mad at God after the diagnosis, but instead, asked how they could use it to serve others. Vickie says Mitch used the 26 months after his diagnosis to bring others closer to God.

Four years after his passing, Vickie recalls being awakened by God and he told her to write, "Blue Cancer Connect." She woke up the next day and didn't know what it meant...but it eventually became an organization to help others facing the challenges of cancer.

Vickie talks about what the organization is able to do, not only for organizations, but for the individual facing the diagnosis. Whether you're a LEO, family member, or civilian PD employee, Blue Cancer Connect is here to help you. You can check out their website, here and check them out on Instagram, here.

You can connect with Vickie via email at info@bluecancerconnect.com

If you haven't already...make sure you follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @_nextshift_ AND @the_jessflores

If this podcast resonates with you or you feel like it could help someone else, please feel free to share it with them and/or on your social media platforms...but be sure to tag me so I can personally say THANK YOU!

Be sure to subscribe by clicking the + sign at the top and if you feel called to do so, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review.

You can NOW wear the mission of The Next Shift Podcast, with merch! Check out our current designs, here.

See you Next Shift

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This week's episode is a conversation with Sarah Patterson, prior Sergeant with LAPD. I first heard her story on The IA Guy podcast and was flabbergasted with what I heard. You can listen to that episode, after this one, here.

I reached out to her, not only because I wanted to be there for her...but also to share a type of transition story that has not yet been shared on this podcast, despite how often it seems to happen after 2020.

Sarah is not only a prior cop...she is a wife, mom, real estate agent, and law school student.

Sarah was one of those people who didn't grow up wanting to be a cop. She was a cross fitter and owned a Crossfit gym, where several LAPD worked out. One day, she was offered a ride along and that was all it took for her to get hooked!

Sarah loved the job and didn't mind working in the shit of things. She was promoted to Sergeant and that is when it happened...the start of her career ending.

What Sarah describes about the call that changed everything, is something almost every cop/Sergeant can relate to. It is something that so many have done. It is also something so many can't relate to at all. Sarah talks about the IA process and how it can leave you feeling left out to dry, feeling like a failure, confused, and encourages EVERYONE to know your policies and to ALWAYS get outside representation.

If this episode resonates with you, realize you are NOT alone and there are people out there who "get it." Sarah is willing to chat with you and DEBRIEF is always open to you.

If it does NOT resonate with you and/or you find it hard to believe, because it hasn't happened to you or someone you know...I'm glad it hasn't, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Ask yourself how we can ensure these things don't keep happening to good people.

Sarah has learned the hard way, what it's like to not have a backup plan and to prioritize the job over family and God. She now realizes her priorities were backwards and while the circumstances suck, she's thankful for the lessons.

Sarah is still in a fight to get her job back, despite having moved forward. Make sure you follow and connect with her on Instagram, here. She's already had so many reach out and share similar stories...which always helps the pain of sharing yours.

If you haven't already...make sure you follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @_nextshift_ AND @the_jessflores

If this podcast resonates with you or you feel like it could help someone else, please feel free to share it with them and/or on your social media platforms...but be sure to tag me so I can personally say THANK YOU!

Be sure to subscribe by clicking the + sign at the top and if you feel called to do so, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review.

You can NOW wear the mission of The Next Shift Podcast, with merch! Check out our current designs, here.

See you Next Shift