Revolutionizing Policing Through Humanity with Joe Smarro

Marine Corps combat veteran and former police officer Joe Smarro shares his powerful journey from the battlefield to the forefront of mental health advocacy. Known for his role in the Emmy Award–winning documentary Ernie and Joe: Crisis Cops, Joe opens up about childhood trauma, military service, and the personal struggles that fueled his mission to change how public safety handles mental health crises. This conversation offers hard-earned lessons on leadership, compassion, and creating lasting change in communities nationwide. Sponsored by Eco-Cool HVAC Guest Bio:  Joe Smarro is a Marine Corps combat veteran, former San Antonio Police Department officer, and nationally recognized mental health advocate. Featured in HBO’s Ernie and Joe: Crisis Cops and a TEDx speaker, Joe co-founded SolutionPoint+ to train public safety agencies, schools, and organizations in crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and wellness strategies. He is the author of Unarmed, a guide blending his life experiences with actionable communication and de-escalation skills, and is dedicated to reshaping the culture of policing through empathy and human connection. Main Topics: ·         Joe’s childhood trauma and its long-term impact·         Military service before and after 9/11·         Transition challenges from military to civilian life·         Policing realities vs. public perception·         Co-founding and serving in a police mental health unit·         The creation and mission of SolutionPoint+·         The making and impact of Ernie and Joe: Crisis Cops·         Mental health, addiction, and personal recovery journey·         Leadership failures and their role in first responder suicides·         Key lessons from Joe’s book Unarmed·         Freedom, personal autonomy, and living intentionally Resources mentioned: ·         Joe’s Website: https://solutionpointplus.com/ & https://joesmarro.com/·         Episode Sponsor: Eco-Cool HVAC·         Supporter: Real Life Prosthetics·         Supporter: Full Circle Boards·         Supporter: Sincerely Sawyer Photography ·         Book: Unarmed – https://amzn.to/45nBGPf·         Documentary: Ernie and Joe: Crisis Cops (HBO)·         TEDx Talk – I See You by Joe Smarro·         Federal Bureau of Prisons (training client)·         Public Transit Agencies in California·         Michelle White Child Adolescent Mental Health TrainingSend us Fan MailCelebrate the Magic of Words in Bel Air, Maryland!https://bookfairatbelair.org/Eco-Cool HVACYOUR FRIEND IN THE SUMMERS & WINTERS! Heating & Air Conditioning Service and Repair, Furnace & BoilDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTokSponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCastSubscribe by Email