Welcome back to Kleitsch's Corner and the Life With Nick podcast. Today's guest is Deputy & K-9 handler, and my former college roommate, Sam Broome.

We begin the podcast with having Sam detail an intense, yet highly important element of training as someone would enter the police academy which entails understanding self-defense, how to tactically handle a stressful situation, for example, an active shooter and how everyday people transition into Law Enforcement. We then work into the meat of the podcast where we discuss all things Law Enforcement. At the core of what it means to be a successful deputy, is truly leveraging the power of communication. Almost every situation with an officer involved unfortunately gets viewed as a tense situation. We always think we are in trouble, and it is normal for citizens to feel tense, but this is where effective communication makes or breaks a situation. This is where Sam does his best to understand first what is going on while having a plan for the worst-case situation.

“We often see people at their worst and how you handle that situation all comes down to being prepared while being able to communicate effectively. That is the difference between a great outcome or a situation getting out of control.”

Key takeaways:

• Why effective communication is so critical in stressful situations.

• Operating in Law Enforcement, Along with K9 handling.

• Why & How the K-9 unit is leveraged.

Additionally, Sam discusses his process when he gets called into action and how most law enforcement officers take information given to them, and with that, how they develop a tactical plan before entering the scene. We must not forget these are our neighbors, family members and friends who are signing up to handle worst case scenarios, but it is fascinating to hear their perspective of how they approach a call.

To get to the potatoes of the podcast, Sam and I dive into a really fun segment where Sam shares all things K-9 handling. Outside of learning about Sam's perspective as it pertains to becoming a deputy, this was the most fun part of the podcast. The highlights include: How Sam got into K-9 handling, What K-9 handling is all about, and how Sam trains his dogs for action! Zander makes an appearance on the podcast audio and Sam shares Zander's incredible journey of making it to Grundy Center Iowa.

P.S. - For all the hunters out there, Sam showcases his expertise, appreciation and passion for hunting!

Enjoy!