Jared Reston (Surviving a Murder Attempt, First Responder Fitness and the Importance of Training) - Episode 1151

Behind The Shield

James Geering

Health & Fitness, Mental Health, Fitness

4.9 • 667 Ratings

🗓️ 19 October 2025

⏱️ 112 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Jared Reston is a law enforcement veteran and the founder of Reston Group Critical Solutions. We discuss his journey into policing, fitness standards, the importance of realism in training, surviving a murder attempt, weapon design, the Charlie Kirk assassination and much more.

Jared retired from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office after 20 years of service. 17 of those years were on their Full-Time SWAT team. Jared was also assigned as a Detective in the Department of Homeland Security/Gang Investigations Unit, and he was the assistant team leader and lead firearms instructor for the SWAT team. Jared has been involved in the successful resolution of over one thousand S.W.A.T. missions, including several lethal force incidents.

For his actions in a January 2008 shooting, he was awarded The President of the United States “Medal of Valor”, American Police and Hall of Fame’s "National Police Officer of the Year", Fraternal Order of Police’s "Florida Police Officer of the Year", and the State of Florida’s "Law Enforcement Officer of the Year."

Jared has had the opportunity to train with, and be trained by, some of the finest firearms and tactics instructors in the country. His goal is to use his training and experience to give Armed Professionals the tools to successfully resolve their own critical incidents.

After retirement, Jared went to work at Safariland as the N. Florida/ S. Georgia account manager. Jared truly enjoys his continuing service to law enforcement by bringing them the very best equipment through his position at Safariland.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to the Behind the Shield podcast. As always, my name's James Gearing, and this week it is my
0:03.9	absolute honor to welcome on the show, 20-year law enforcement veteran and the man behind
0:09.4	Reston Group Critical Solutions, Jared Reston. Now, in this conversation, we discuss a host of topics
0:17.4	from his journey into the world of law enforcement, the importance of fitness in the
0:21.9	first responder professions, the impact of officer involved shootings, mental health, the Charlie
0:29.4	Kirk murder, weapon design, and so much more.
0:34.1	Now before we get to this incredible conversation, as I say every week, please just take a moment.
0:39.3	Go to whichever app you listen to this on.
0:41.8	Subscribe to the show, leave feedback and leave a rating.
0:46.7	Every single five-star rating truly does elevate this podcast, therefore making it easier for others to find.
0:53.8	And this is a free library of well over 1,100 episodes now.
0:59.4	So all I ask in return is that you help share these incredible men and women's stories
1:05.0	so I can get them to every single person on planet Earth who needs to hear them.
1:11.0	So with that being said, I introduce to you Jared Reston. Enjoy.
1:40.5	Thank you. Well, Jared, I want to start by saying, this is a long time coming.
1:42.0	I just mentioned that before we hit record.
1:44.4	Your name has come up many times as far as guest recommendations. I don't know why these paths never intersected, but we are finally here,
1:50.2	so I want to welcome you on to the Behind the Shield podcast today. All right. Thank you. Thanks for
1:55.8	having me. So where on planet Earth be finding you this afternoon? I'm in Florida, in Jacksonville, Florida.
2:02.6	Beautiful, not too far from me.
2:03.7	I'm in Ocala, so down the road.
2:07.1	All right, well, I would love to start at the very beginning of your timeline.
	...

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