What Do You Do When 42% of Your Department Walks Out the Door in Less than 2 Years? (with Chris Polen) Ep|120

Police Chief Chris Polen never thought he would become a Police Chief. In fact, early in his career, he didn’t even think he had what it took to be a police officer. Nearly three decades later, he now leads Vacaville Police Department, where he has spent 26 years rising through the ranks and helping reshape what leadership, culture, and service look like in a modern police organization. In this episode of The Chief Exchange, Chief Polen opens up about the internal battles that shaped his career, including overcoming fears of public speaking and stepping into leadership despite self doubt. We discuss what it really takes to rebuild a department’s culture after losing nearly 42% of your staff in just two years, and how bringing in a Fortune 500 leader helped introduce a new perspective on values, accountability, and behavior. He shares why leadership is about turning words into action, simplifying your mission to create clarity, and reinforcing the behaviors you want to see every single day. From launching a real time information center and embracing technology to improve community safety, to leading through the loss of an officer and staying present for your people, this conversation is about resilience, culture, and never forgetting your why.