I sat down with Tanner and Coy. They and their teams are competing in this or any competition for the first time. We discuss lessons learned, equipment, training, and key takeaways to enhance your team's performance in real-world operations.

On day two of the 2025 SWAT competition, I sat down with the competition's directors: John Agnew, Sean Harris, and Jeff Kranz. We discussed the details of the event, pulling back the curtain on how the competitions are organized, where they will be held, lessons learned, ways to improve, the reasons behind the Competition, and the future of the SWAT and Sniper Challenge.

On Day 1 of the 2025 SWAT Competition, I sat down with two veteran competitors, Dave and Shaun. In this episode, we discuss the challenges of competing at a high level in our 50s. We also share lessons we've learned and explore how competition impacts and enhances our daily work and SWAT activities.

We had the honor of sitting down with Kim Pastore, the resilient wife of fallen Officer Jorge Pastore. Jorge, who served as a dedicated SWAT officer with the Austin Police Department, tragically lost his life while responding to a hostage rescue call on November 11, 2023. In this heartfelt and powerful podcast episode, Kim shares her story of that fateful day and the incredible journey she's embarked on since Jorge’s passing.

Her strength and determination shine through as she opens up about her experiences and emotions, revealing what an extraordinary and inspiring woman she truly is. Kim also founded the Jorge Pastore Foundation, an initiative dedicated to providing free training for law enforcement officers, ensuring that Jorge's legacy continues to make a difference. This conversation will leave you moved and inspired by Kim's unwavering spirit and dedication. Don’t miss it!

Law Enforcement training is essential for preparing officers to effectively and safely perform their duties. Everyone benefits from training, and by providing greater access to meaningful tactical training, we improve the lives of officers and the safety of our community. JPF was founded to honor the sacrifice of Officer Jorge Pastore and his passion for training. We are proud to provide foundation-sponsored classes at no or low cost to law enforcement officers in various areas, including firearms training, defensive tactics & wellness. In addition, we provide funding to officers seeking training outside of the central Texas area when approved by their department or association.

https://www.jpastorefoundation.com/

The American Warrior Association (AWA) is a faith-driven, research-based nonprofit dedicated to healing moral injury among service members, veterans, first responders, and their families. We provide faith-based healing, practical support, and comprehensive wellness programs to foster lasting resilience and spiritual strength.

https://www.awa-usa.org/programs/explore-awa-programs

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In the episode, we discussed the practical aspects of pistol shooting with Sean Griffith and how that applies to law enforcement.

Sean began his shooting career in the United States Marine Corps in 2008 and has been involved in the fields of training and firearms since then. From 2010 to 2012, Sean served as a martial arts instructor for the USMC, where he realized his passion for teaching and helping others reach their own goals. In 2012, Sean exited the Marines and started a career in law enforcement. Sean served as an operational officer in Maryland from 2012-2015, where he gained valuable experience in the field while honing his own shooting skills through competition shooting within the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) and training on his own time. In 2015, Sean moved from the department’s Operations Section to their Training Unit and taught firearms and tactics full time to both law enforcement personnel as well as civilians deploying overseas.

In 2017, Sean accepted a 3-year transfer to teach firearms to federal, state, and local law enforcement officers and agents full-time. During this time, he continued to develop his skills in both instructional techniques as well as shooting skills. In 2018, Sean won the IDPA National Championship in the Stock Service Pistol Division and began competing in the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) in March of 2018. By July of 2019, he had attained the rank of Grand Master, the highest shooter ranking available, in the Production Division. In November of 2019, Sean began competing with a red dot mounted pistol in the USPSA carry optics (CO) division, and by August of 2020, he had attained the rank of Grand Master in the CO division as well. Since then, Sean has had multiple top 12 finishes at the USPSA National Championship (top 12 qualifies for the "super squad" the following year).

Law Enforcement training is essential for preparing officers to effectively and safely perform their duties. Everyone benefits from training, and by providing greater access to meaningful tactical training, we improve the lives of officers and the safety of our community. JPF was founded to honor the sacrifice of Officer Jorge Pastore and his passion for training. We are proud to provide foundation-sponsored classes at no or low cost to law enforcement officers in various areas, including firearms training, defensive tactics & wellness. In addition, we provide funding to officers seeking training outside of the central Texas area when approved by their department or association.

https://www.jpastorefoundation.com/

The American Warrior Association (AWA) is a faith-driven, research-based nonprofit dedicated to healing moral injury among service members, veterans, first responders, and their families. We provide faith-based healing, practical support, and comprehensive wellness programs to foster lasting resilience and spiritual strength.

https://www.awa-usa.org/programs/explore-awa-programs

Welcome to a first-time collaboration between the Iron Sights Podcast and the TTPOA Podcast.

Recorded during the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association (TTPOA) Annual Conference, this episode brings together TTPOA hosts Brandon and Matt, Chief Bryan Williams, and myself, Scott Howell, for an unfiltered and brutally honest conversation.

We get into the real challenges facing law enforcement today—from broken leadership and cultural barriers to the lack of proper training—and most importantly, we discuss the why behind those problems.

Chief Bryan Williams is known as a cops’ cop—a leader who trains with his people, speaks the hard truth, and refuses to sugarcoat the realities of modern policing. As a USPSA grandmaster shooter and someone who is actively creating change in his department, Bryan brings raw passion and hard-earned insight to the table. This conversation is everything people inside and outside the profession wish they could say out loud. It’s real, raw, and unfiltered, just the way Bryan wants it.

So buckle up, drop the ego, and get ready for an eye-opening episode that doesn’t hold back.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

11:14 Brian Williams’ Background

14:31 Training Standards Matter

17:38 Leadership & Decision-Making

23:47 Systemic Issues In Leadership

37:15 Understanding Community Concerns

40:13 Officer Vs. Leadership Disconnect

44:54 Strong Leadership Examples

49:21 Community Policing & Perception

01:02:32 Real-World Training Gaps

01:11:10 Officer-Involved Shootings

01:18:09 Remembering The ‘Why’

01:29:33 Internal Vs. External Promotions

01:34:23 Mid-Level Management Issues

01:42:37 Community Accountability

01:51:13 SWAT Tactics & Evolution

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In the episode, we discussed the practical aspects of pistol shooting with Hwansik Kim. Hwansik talks about how important it is to be Vison Focus during shooting and other practical training methods.

We sat down with Scott Howell, a veteran health & Fitness Industry expert with over 25 years of hands-on experience as a Business Leader, Innovator, Educator, and Operator of hundreds of US health clubs, CEO of Red Dot Fitness, and host of Iron Sights Podcast.