Mike Wynn (Reducing School Shootings, Use of Force and First Responder Resilience) - Episode 1227
Behind The Shield
James Geering
4.9 • 695 Ratings
🗓️ 14 April 2026
⏱️ 117 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Mike Wynn is the Director of The Quell Foundation’s First Responder Resilience Project (FRRP), where he leads the development and execution of strategic programming focused on supporting the mental health and well-being of first responders nationwide.
A former Chief of Police for the Pittsfield (MA) Police Department, Mike brings nearly 30 years of leadership experience in law enforcement, training, and community engagement. He has served as a use-of-force and defensive tactics instructor, developed department-wide training programs, and was appointed by Governor Charlie Baker as an inaugural commissioner on the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST-C).
Mike is deeply passionate about officer wellness and resilience, and throughout his career has championed progressive training, mental health awareness, and leadership development. He is a member of several national law enforcement organizations, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), and regularly consults on policy, leadership, and use-of-force standards.
Mike holds a Bachelor of Arts from Williams College and a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from Anna Maria College. He is also the author of Rising Through the Ranks: Leadership Tools and Tactics for Law Enforcement. He lives in Pittsfield with his wife and their two adopted sons.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Behind a Shield podcast. As always, my name's James Gearing, and this week it is my |
| 0:04.0 | absolute honor to welcome on the show, veteran law enforcement officer, former chief of police, |
| 0:10.8 | and the director of the Quill Foundation's first responder resilience project, Mike Wynn. |
| 0:17.2 | Now, in this conversation, we discuss a host of topics, from Mike's own journey into law |
| 0:22.6 | enforcement, his progression through the ranks, use of force, school safety, his own powerful |
| 0:31.7 | mental health story, forging resilience, and so much more. Now Now before we get to this incredible conversation, |
| 0:39.3 | as I say every week, please just take a moment. Go to whichever app you listen to this on, |
| 0:45.4 | subscribe to the show, leave feedback and leave a rating. Every single five-star rating truly does |
| 0:53.1 | elevate this podcast, therefore making it easier for others to find. |
| 0:57.5 | And this is a free library of well over 1,200 episodes now. |
| 1:03.4 | So all I ask in return is that you help share these incredible men and women stories |
| 1:09.2 | so I can get them to every single person on planet |
| 1:13.3 | earth who needs to hear them. So with that being said, I introduce to you, Mike W I want to start by saying thank you so much for taking the time and coming on |
| 1:45.9 | the Behind the Shield podcast today. |
| 1:48.4 | Thank you for the opportunity to be here. It's an honor. |
| 1:51.2 | So where on planet Earth be finding you this afternoon? |
| 1:54.9 | I am currently in my home office, in my hometown of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where I spent most of my career. |
| 2:02.6 | Brilliant. |
| 2:03.6 | Well, let's start the very beginning of your timeline. |
| 2:05.6 | So tell me where you were born and tell me a little bit about your family dynamic, what your parents did, how many siblings? |
| 2:12.6 | Sure. |
| 2:14.6 | So I was born right here in Pittsfield, in the hospital that still serves our community. |
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