TIETOJA TÄSTÄ JAKSOSTA
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.
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