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 a bachelor degree 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

A video for wellness reform: 'PTSD911'
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Combating the idea that stress injuries to the brain occur only in the weak-minded is essential to embedding mental health into the first responder culture
Having the last word
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What should law enforcement leaders make of a retiring officer’s last radio call that went viral for all the wrong reasons?
Make sure your mission statement matches your actions
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A police mission statement should establish, in the fewest words possible, the ultimate measure for every decision of the agency
2022 in review: The top police news of the year
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A roundup of the biggest stories impacting law enforcement in 2022
Would you be voted out? 5 lessons for police leaders from Elon Musk’s Twitter escapades
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Musk is a living lesson in leadership, risk-taking and change. Can police leaders learn anything here?
What officers said were the biggest challenges of 2022 (and why leaders should pay attention)
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Cops want to be part of the solution to the problems and challenges they face – maybe leaders and politicians should be willing to listen to the people doing the real work
Was the Tampa chief just exercising the privilege of professional courtesy?
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Whether you are a rookie or a chief, be a good citizen and take the ticket
Honoring veterans in distress
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A web-based police training course outlines public safety de-escalation tactics for military veterans in crisis
Stretching police productivity: What are we willing to give up?
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A new report proposes the incorporation of auxiliary private security agents in non-core areas such as administration and other ancillary tasks
Make every day National First Responders Day
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Follow these steps to share your public safety agency's success stories, accomplishments and challenges with your community all year round
5 conversation starters for law enforcement and faith-based groups
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Common goals of equitable justice, public service and caring for the community make for a powerful partnership between cops and clergy
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
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