Chief Joel F. Shults, Ed.D.

Passion for the Job

Joel Shults operates Street Smart Training and is the founder of the National Center for Police Advocacy. He retired as Chief of Police in Colorado. Over his 30-year career in uniformed law enforcement and criminal justice education, Joel served in a variety of roles: academy instructor, police chaplain, deputy coroner, investigator, community relations officer, college professor and police chief, among others. Shults earned his doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri, with a graduate degree in Public Services Administration and bachelors in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of Central Missouri. In addition to service with the U.S. Army military police and CID, Shults has done observational studies with over 50 police agencies across the country. He has served on a number of advisory and advocacy boards, including the Colorado POST curriculum committee, as a subject matter expert.

His latest book The Badge and the Brain is available at www.joelshults.com.

Follow Joel on Twitter @ChiefShults.

Contact Joel Shults

Full list of Chief Joel F. Shults, Ed.D. results

5 steps to future-proof police leadership training
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Are leadership courses adequately preparing leaders for the next decade?
How to effectively participate on boards, task forces and committees
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Your expertise will be of significant value to the group, but sometimes letting others add to the conversation gains credibility in the long run
What does Biden’s executive order on police reform mean for policing?
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The document urges action in the face of rising violent crime and the coexisting challenge of recruiting and retaining police officers
Are you taking care of your wounded officers?
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Police leaders and influencers must be advocates for disabled LEOs, both for those who hope to return to work and those who never will
6 things to know about the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial
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Symbols and ceremonies are important ways for us to remember fallen LEOs
Does geography make a difference in police life?
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A WalletHub report ranks the best & worst states to be a cop, but do the rating metrics match what officers want from a police career?
Does your department rate 5 stars?
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A new program can help agencies gather real-time feedback about individual officer interactions with the citizenry
Why officer wellness programs are no longer optional
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Agencies that show that they value their personnel will have healthier retention rates and easier recruitment
7 steps to closing the communication gap that probably exists in your agency
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Intentional seeking of feedback must become a cultural trait of law enforcement leadership
Are leaders willing to hear from the cops on the beat?
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Police1's State of the Industry survey identifies deficits of communication and collaboration
Precision policing: The next law enforcement era
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A principle of precision policing is to respond to micro criminal populations rather than subject larger populations to police sweeps hoping to catch chronic offenders
Beyond 'Thank you for your service': How to encourage citizen support of law enforcement officers
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Nurturing positive community relationships is an integral part of maintaining a positive trajectory for police morale, enthusiasm and commitment
Report details progress of President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing recommendations
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Recommendations still offer a worthy template for today’s law enforcement agencies seeking to improve the level of trust in their communities
2021 in review: The top police news of the year
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A roundup of the biggest stories impacting law enforcement in 2021
What officers said were the biggest challenges of 2021 (and why leaders should pay attention)
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The attention of LE executives is always drawn to the day's headlines, but visionary leaders construct long-term strategies for long-term challenges
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