Episode Details

Ask retired traffic cops what their best job was: it was working Motors.

Ask retired SWAT cops: it was being on "the Team."

Ask K9 officers.. it was working with the dog!
School cops: working with kids.

So what do you ask the guy who worked SWAT, Traffic, Narcs, K9, promoted all the way up to Captain.. and at the height of his career... requested a voluntary double demotion back to Patrol Sergeant because he wasn't feeling the admin life and wanted to be boots on the ground, leading a team on the street again?

Well, you find a way (or ways) to talk it through on a format such as this podcast!

Meet John Pagel, a police leader who I got my start under.  It's not in the interview, but I remember getting my first reprimand just before my first year wrapped.  I remember him intentionally hitting me up in passing.  He told me no cop worth anything had a spotless file.  This painted a lesson that you have to have the right values and intentions in the job, but mistakes will happen, and you have to own them and keep moving forward.  For a young guy who was still trying to make a name for himself, that moment of encouragement meant a lot.  (*I kept my file pretty dang clean after that!)

We talk about John's long-existing desire to be a police officer, and how young John even thought he wanted to be a Chief someday!  Discussions about life, purpose, transitioning healthfully out of police work and knowing "when it's time" were huge focal points in this interview.

John’s full bio:

John enjoyed a 33 year career with the Kent Police Department, 29 as a commissioned officer and 4 years as a Community Education Specialist.  

During his career John worked in patrol, traffic, K9, SWAT, training, narcotics and detectives.  Rising through the ranks, John attained the rank of captain but realized his heart was working with people so he returned to the rank of sergeant and retired at that rank.  

As a community education specialist, John worked with the community on important events such as National Night Out, Coffee with the Chief, and other community meetings.  He was also a member of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and is extremely proud to have been on the committee to write the 2016 version of the Washington State Strategic Highway Safety Plan known as “Target Zero.”  

After retiring, John obtained his real estate license and now works as a real estate agent.  John has been married for 37 years and has 2 adult children and 3 grandchildren.

Clearly a man who has done so much and isn’t slowing down yet!  Listen and enjoy!

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