Shows
PoliceTrainingHQPoliceTrainingHQ - Episode 15 - Blueprints from Blue to Gold: Anthony Bandiero Joins Police Training HQIn this episode of the Police Training HQ Podcast, Mike Hughes and Walt Bauer sit down with one of the most respected legal instructors in law enforcement—Anthony Bandiero, attorney, former police sergeant, and founder of Blue to Gold Training. With over 70,000 officers and 7,000 attorneys trained, Anthony shares his journey from growing up in the projects of Las Vegas to becoming a nationally recognized legal trainer.The conversation dives deep into:The flaws in how search and seizure is traditionally taught in police academies.Why depth of knowledge—and passion—matter more than ever.
2025-07-201h 16PoliceTrainingHQPoliceTrainingHQ - Episode 14 - Tactics That Work: SafeWrapIn this special episode of the Police Training HQ Podcast, we’re on the road in Corpus Christi, Texas, where I had the opportunity to attend the SafeWrap Instructor Course—a hands-on, reality-based control tactics program built for today’s law enforcement challenges.I sat down after Day 1 with Charlie Fernandez and Bernardo Figueiredo, two of the instructors leading the course. We talked about the evolution of defensive tactics, why simplicity matters under stress, and how SafeWrap fits into the bigger picture of officer safety, public trust, and effective policing.We also touch on the value...
2025-07-1146 minPoliceTrainingHQPoliceTrainingHQ - Episode 13 - Time with an ACE: Malcolm Jackson on Leadership, Legacy, and Raising the Bar in Public SafetyIn this episode, Mike and Walt sit down with Malcolm Jackson—a law enforcement and public safety leader with over 40 years of experience. Malcolm shares powerful reflections on how academy training has evolved since the 1970s, what great leadership looks like in public service, and how professionalism, ethics, and high standards are still the cornerstone of good policing.From his time leading Tarrant County College’s academy—recognized statewide as a model program—to serving as a TCOLE Academy Contract Evaluator (ACE), Malcolm offers lessons every officer, trainer, and leader should hear.We talk legacy, standard...
2025-07-071h 32PoliceTrainingHQPoliceTrainingHQ - Episode 12 - You Took the Class—Now What?In this episode, Mike and Walt break down a hard truth in law enforcement training: just because you took a high-quality class doesn’t mean you learned anything useful—at least not for long.They discuss well-known programs like Force Science, Blue to Gold, and Street Cop Training, and why even the best content fades fast if officers don’t actively engage with it after the fact.Learn practical ways to turn training into long-term retention and useful field performance, including:Teaching takeaways to othersRewriting reports using new articulation methodsS...
2025-06-171h 05PoliceTrainingHQPoliceTrainingHQ - Episode 11 - Lessons From The 10 Minute TrainerIn this episode, Walt Bauer and Mike Hughes go full nerd (their words) to unpack powerful takeaways from The 10-Minute Trainer by Sharon Bowman—a book that’s transformed the way they teach police recruits and instructors.They break down:Why attention span isn’t just a student problem—it’s a brain issueHow to use teach-backs, memory palaces, and ticket-out-the-door strategies for lasting retentionThe science behind intentional focus and why it fades fastHow breaking instruction into chunks can increase learning without sacrificing depthReal class...
2025-06-051h 15PoliceTrainingHQPoliceTrainingHQ - Episode 10 - The Power of the Teach BackIn this episode of the PoliceTrainingHQ Podcast, Walt Bauer and Mike Hughes delve into the concept of 'teach back' as a powerful learning tool in police training. They discuss how active recall and cognitive engagement can enhance retention and understanding of complex topics. The conversation emphasizes the importance of practical application, student engagement, and the neurological aspects of learning, including myelination and dendritic connections. The hosts also share real-world examples and feedback from their teaching experiences, highlighting the need for relevance and continuous improvement in police training methodologies.
2025-05-261h 00PoliceTrainingHQPoliceTrainingHQ - Episode 9 - Comfort vs. CompetenceIn this episode, Walt and Mike get personal—and pointed—about a comment that tried to dismiss their teaching model as just a “nice theory.” But they push back with experience, neuroscience, and a challenge to every instructor stuck in old methods.They break down:Why “Autonomy, Relevance, and Practical Application” isn’t theory—it’s brain scienceHow their workbook system primes cadets' brains for real applicationWhat dopamine, effort, and retrieval have to do with long-term retentionWhy some instructors cling to familiar methods, even when they’re not effective...
2025-05-171h 01PoliceTrainingHQPoliceTrainingHQ - Episode 8 - Updates, Plans, and Shout OutsIn Episode 8 of the Police Training HQ Podcast, Mike and Walt take a break from heavy training topics to share a quick update with listeners. They talk about where they’ve been teaching lately, what’s coming up next, and some exciting plans to roll out video-based training reviews. You’ll also hear about upcoming guests and a few well-deserved shout outs to friends and supporters of PoliceTrainingHQ.It’s a casual check-in to keep our community in the loop—and a chance to say thanks.Subscribe and stay tuned—new training content and guest interviews a...
2025-05-1028 minPoliceTrainingHQPoliceTrainingHQ - Episode 7 - Beyond Step 3: Unlocking Real Learning in Police TrainingIn this episode, Mike Hughes and Walt Bauer dive deep into the learning retention process and how most police training stalls out at Step 3—Working Memory Activation.Drawing from brain science, real-world experience, and instructional design, they break down the 8-stage learning retention process, showing how instructors can move beyond information overload and into true long-term learning and real-world transfer.Highlights include: The brain structures and chemicals that power retentionWhy feedback, emotion, and sleep matter more than repetitionTools and techniques to drive retrieval and applicationWhat’s keeping most training stuck—and how to break throug...
2025-04-1042 minPoliceTrainingHQPoliceTrainingHQ - Episode 6 - If I Were in Charge: Recruits on Real Training That WorksIn this episode, Walt Bauer sits down at Sul Ross University with two police recruits and a university officer to talk about their week of training with Police Training HQ. The group reflects on the scenarios, teach-backs, and active learning strategies used during the week—methods grounded in the PTHQ model of Autonomy, Relevance, and Practical Application.Walt turns the table and asks: “If you were in charge of training, what would you do?” Their unanimous answer? Scenarios. The conversation dives into why hands-on, realistic training beats lecture-heavy instruction and how it better prepares officers for the street...
2025-03-3040 minPoliceTrainingHQPoliceTrainingHQ - Episode 5 - Making Training Stick: From "AHA" to "TADA"Recorded in Alpine, Texas, this episode features a wide-ranging and reflective conversation between Walt Bauer and lifelong educator Kyle Bauer. As Walt trains future officers at Sul Ross University’s cadet program, the two men dive into the heart of what makes learning stick. Kyle shares stories and insights from decades in education, focusing on those pivotal “AHA” moments—when understanding finally lands—and how great training guides students all the way to the confident “TADA” of application. It’s a thoughtful exploration of teaching, learning, and the joy of witnessing real breakthroughs in the classroom or on the training floor.
2025-03-2746 minPoliceTrainingHQPoliceTrainingHQ - Episode 4 - A Student’s Perspective on Real-World TrainingIn this episode, we’re doing something a little different. Instead of just hearing from us about the value of solid police training, you’ll hear from someone who actually sought it out on his own. We sit down with an officer who made long trip to train with Walt Bauer, diving into a broad discussion on law, search and seizure, and other critical skills and topics.We’ll also take this opportunity for a shameless plug—our training works. But don’t just take our word for it. This officer found our approach so beneficial that he made th...
2025-03-1935 minPoliceTrainingHQPoliceTrainingHQ - Episode 3 - Autonomy, Relevance & Practical ApplicationIn this episode we talk about the foundational principles of our classroom methods: autonomy, relevance & practical application.
2025-02-1644 minPoliceTrainingHQPoliceTrainingHQ - Episode 2 - At The WhiteboardIn this episode we talk about subject-matter expertise and teaching without the PowerPoint crutch.
2025-02-0539 minPoliceTrainingHQPoliceTrainingHQ - Episode 1 - IntroductionEpisode 1 is about who we are and what we do at PoliceTrainingHQ.
2025-01-0824 min