#ILEETALive with Justin Witt – Leadership Before the Rank: How Louisville PD Is Reimagining Training, Mentorship, and Technology Integration

📓 ILEETA Live Show Notes – October 2025 Episode

The October 2025 episode of ILEETA Live welcomed an insightful conversation with Sgt. Justin Witt of the Louisville Metro Police Department, spotlighting innovation in field training, leadership development, and the intersection of coaching, culture, and community within modern law enforcement.

Hosts Joe Willis, Todd Fletcher, and Brian Hill opened the night with critical reminders:

• Instructor Proposals for #ILEETA2026 are due October 31

• Early Bird Conference Registration ($399) ends October 31

• Scholarship window opens December 1

• Journal article submissions due December 10

They also shared encouraging trends—record-high proposal submissions, rising first-year registrations, and a growing number of departments leveraging ILEETA’s new bundle pricing for groups of 5+.

Then came the feature conversation.

Sgt. Justin Witt, a respected trainer, FTO leader, and Emerson Hour alum, shared lessons from his background in competitive sports, field supervision, and training design. He offered powerful insights on:

• Failure as a Foundation: Drawing from his baseball career, Witt explained how sports helped him build emotional resilience and navigate high-pressure moments—traits directly transferable to policing.

• Evolving FTO Models: Louisville PD is shifting away from legacy models like San Jose and PTO toward a blended, department-specific program that includes scenario variability, VR/AR technology, and customized evaluation standards that reflect trainee needs.

• Training with Purpose: Witt urged agencies to evaluate their curriculum not for what’s worked in the past, but for what today’s learners need now—especially Gen Z recruits raised in a digital world with unique communication and cognitive patterns.

• Leadership as a Culture, Not a Position: Witt emphasized the importance of preparing all officers—not just supervisors—for leadership. He shared how Louisville is aligning its culture around proactive development rather than reactive promotion.

• Technology’s Double-Edged Sword: While praising tools like AI, VR, and simulators, Witt acknowledged challenges like trainer resistance and tech limitations. Still, he argued it’s imperative for trainers to “become conversant” in emerging tools to stay effective.

• Wellness Beyond Programs: “You can have a wellness program—or a culture of wellness,” Witt said. He highlighted that leadership is the true foundation for officer well-being, and that psychological safety starts with competent, connected leaders.

The episode also introduced viewers to Louisville’s partnership with the John Glenn College at Ohio State (CAPS) and the Tri-City Leadership Institute (Louisville, Nashville, Knoxville), two innovative leadership pipelines preparing front-line supervisors for tomorrow’s challenges.

Instructor Development Segment

Rob Rose returned with a short but powerful video on “The Power of Storytelling” in training. He reminded viewers that storytelling isn’t fluff—it’s how we embed wisdom into memory. “Start small,” he said, “and you’ll see big results.”

Closing Wisdom from Witt

Witt closed with a challenge for every trainer and officer: Be present where you are. Don’t wait until you’re promoted—lead now. And if you’re trading your passion and purpose just for a pension, it’s time to reflect.

“We betray our younger selves when we let passion fade. Stay connected to why you started this career.”

📍 Whether you’re building your FTO program, mentoring Gen Z recruits, or crafting your first Emerson Hour talk—this episode is packed with insight, strategy, and heart.

📬 Subscribe to ILEETA Live updates and join us next month for a special conversation with Raul Rivas.

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