Some episodes stick with you because they carry real weight. My live sit down with Brent Colbert did exactly that. Brent is a veteran police officer, a doctoral student, and a leadership professional who has lived the highs and lows of public service. He left law enforcement during COVID, chased a new opportunity that did not work out, then rebuilt with intention. His core message lands with force: failure is okay, it is how you respond that matters.
Below is a long form recap of the ideas we covered, written to serve first responders, leaders, and anyone who wants to grow through hard seasons.
Why Failure Feels Different in Public Safety
Public safety cultures prize precision. Mistakes can cost lives, which means many cops, firefighters, and medics carry an all or nothing frame into every corner of life. That same intensity can make ordinary missteps feel catastrophic. Forget a task at home and it can trigger the same stress chemistry as a foot pursuit. Brent named this pattern and called for a reset. Not every problem is life or death. Learning to scale your response to the true risk is a form of self leadership that protects your mind, your family, and your team.
The COVID Pivot and What It Taught
Brent left policing during the pandemic and jumped into a fully commissioned insurance role. The timing was tough, the fit was tougher, and he failed. That word is important. No spin, no excuses. The next move was the breakthrough. He went back to school, finished a master’s degree, and is now closing in on a doctorate focused on leadership. The lesson is simple. You can step out, fall short, and still step forward. Growth does not require a clean record. It requires honest reflection and the next right decision.
Leadership Begins Before The Badge
We talked about the first time Brent wore stripes. Like many new supervisors, he led the way he had always worked. He focused on calls, not culture. Then he learned the hard way what leadership is not. It is not volume, rank, or a perfect resume. A supervisor once dressed him down in front of other agencies after asking a question, then threatening discipline when Brent answered. In that moment the rank held no credibility. Respect had left the room. That experience pushed Brent to study leadership deeply and to practice it with humility. Treat people the way you want to be treated, then build on that with training, coaching, and clear standards.
From Academy to Street to Classroom
Brent’s view of leadership blends academic theory with street tested reality. He believes any person on a scene should be able to make a sound decision that matches policy, law, and mission. Titles matter for accountability, not for worth. This matches what many elite teams already do. Decentralize decisions. Own outcomes. Debrief for learning, not for blame. Repeat. That approach builds confident officers and safer communities.
The Call That Goes Viral
We touched on social media and the heat that follows a 30 second clip. Brent shared a stop that matched a suspect car. The driver kept slow rolling through lights. A passenger got out and escalated. No one was hurt. No one was thrown to the ground. The stop ended without incident. An hour later a local post accused the department of brutality and bias. The narrative was false, but the internet ran anyway. The takeaway is not to fight online. It is to slow down your judgment when you watch a clip, and to teach citizens what safe, lawful stops look like long before anyone sees lights in the mirror.
Why Drug Court Works When It Works
Both of us have seen the cycle of addiction up close. Brent highlighted the value of drug courts and structured diversion. They are hard to complete by design, which forces real change. Treatment, accountability, and a future you can see are better than a revolving cell for most drug cases. The goal is not to excuse crime. The goal is to reduce it, heal families, and return people to community who can actually stay there.
Life Outside the Job
We talked about the friend gap. Many first responders spend all their off time with other first responders. That can be a lifeline, and it can become an echo chamber. Brent keeps a text thread with non-cop buddies that is mostly sports. It sounds trivial. It is not. That light contact softens the edges of a hard job and returns you to your family more human. Add one friend who does not wear your uniform. Your life will feel bigger and your work will feel lighter.
Treat Every Citizen Like Your Neighbor
A simple thread ran through the entire conversation. Treat people with respect, even when you are enforcing the law. The person in cuffs is still a person. The victim in crisis may not behave the way a training video suggests. The citizen who is scared during a stop may do the wrong thing for reasons that have nothing to do with you. Lead with the voice you would want to hear if the roles were reversed, then hold the line on safety and policy. You can do both.
Where Brent Is Headed
Brent will keep serving in law enforcement while he finishes his doctorate. Long term, he aims to coach leaders and consult with agencies through his platform, First Responder Playbook. The mission is clear. Build leaders at every level. Equip chiefs and sheriffs who were promoted for time in grade with the skills to lead people well. Give officers language and tools that turn instinct into influence.
What You Can Do With This
- Reframe failure: Write down one recent miss. Identify the lesson and the next action. Move on.
- Practice scaled responses: Ask yourself one question when stress spikes. Is this truly life or death? Adjust accordingly.
- Invest in leadership: If you wear rank, train like it. If you do not, lead anyway. Decisions and ownership start at the edge of the scene.
- Build your circle: Add one non-work friend to your weekly rhythm. Small talk counts.
- Teach the public: Share simple guidance on safe, calm traffic stops with your family and your community groups.
Failure is not final. Leadership is not a title. Service is still about people. That is the heart of Brent’s message, and it is a call that reaches far beyond a badge.
If this episode helped you, share it with a first responder, a supervisor, or a friend who is rebuilding. Then tell me one insight you are putting into practice this week.
