ABOUT THIS EPISODE
On this episode of Straight Lines Eastern Pennsylvania, presented by the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, host Tim Neiman welcomes Chad Bruckner — Army combat veteran, fifteen-year police officer currently serving at Lehigh University, author, screenwriter, and filmmaker.
Chad traces his path from a childhood shaped by financial instability and a drive to care for others, to enlisting in the Army at seventeen, to leading an infantry squad in Iraq at just twenty-four — an experience he says exposed and amplified everything about his values, work ethic, and character. He opens up about the emotional weight of watching 9/11 unfold from his barracks in Fort Lewis and how it reignited his commitment to serve, ultimately shaping his transition into law enforcement. Chad speaks candidly about the politicization of policing today, the importance of listening to understand rather than simply responding, and the staggering fact that less than one percent of Americans work across police, fire, EMS, and corrections combined to keep society running. He closes with practical advice for anyone looking to break into law enforcement or criminal justice: there's no single pipeline, so be your own advocate, find a mentor, and put yourself in front of real people rather than waiting on an email.
A must-listen for veterans navigating a transition into civilian service careers, young people considering law enforcement or criminal justice, and anyone who wants a first-person account of what it really takes to serve, in and out of uniform.
