EPISODE 2 – Lieutenant TJ Dillon

BG: WELCOME TO THE LOCAL IMPACT PODCAST I’M BG HAMRICK AND IT’S GREAT TO HAVE YOU GUYS WITH US TODAY I AM VERY PRIVILEGED TODAY TO TALK WITH A GENTLEMAN WHO BORN AND RAISED RIGHT HERE IN OUR AREA IN PUTNAM COUNTY WHERE WE ARE AT LOCAL IMPACT THIS IS LIEUTENANT TJ DILLON AND HE IS WITH THE HURRICANE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND TJ JUST WANT TO SAY WELCOME TO THE PODCAST TODAY

TJ: WELL THANKS FOR HAVING ME I APPRECIATE IT

BG: GOOD TO HAVE YOU UM CAN YOU JUST START I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A BOOK OBVIOUSLY THAT’S THE REASON WE HAVE YOU ON ON THE PODCAST TODAY WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT UM A RECENT BOOK THAT YOU WROTE UH POLICE TRAFFIC STOPS AND UM I THOUGHT IT WAS SUPER INTERESTING BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT CAN WE GET TO KNOW YOU A LITTLE BIT

TJ: YEAH ABSOLUTELY SO UH I’M I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN HURRICANE LIKE YOU SAID I GRADUATED FROM HURRICANE HIGH SCHOOL IN 2003 AND SHORTLY AFTER 2004 I GRADUATED WEST VIRGINIA STATE POLICE ACADEMY BECAME A POLICE OFFICER AND IN 2006 CAME TO HURRICANE WHERE I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE AN OFFICER AT YOU KNOW BORN AND RAISED HERE I LOVE THIS CITY I LOVE THE CITIZENS AND I WANT TO GIVE BACK SO I DEFINITELY WANTED TO BE A HURRICANE POLICE OFFICER

BG: THAT’S AWESOME DID YOU ALWAYS THINK LAW ENFORCEMENT MIGHT BE PART OF WHEN DID THAT BUG HIT YOU THAT YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT

TJ: IT’S ACTUALLY FUNNY MY MY DAD STILL HAS A A THING FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT I WROTE WHEN THEY ASKED WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP AND AND IN THAT I ASSIGNMENT I PUT I WANT TO BE A POLICE OFFICER I’VE ALWAYS KNOWN UH IT’S ALWAYS BEEN UH IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD THAT I WANTED TO BE A POLICE OFFICER OF COURSE YOU KNOW GROWING UP UH MY HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART WHO I’M NOW MARRIED TO FOR 16 YEARS THIS JULY HER DAD WAS A POLICE OFFICER SO YOU KNOW GROWING UP ALWAYS WANTING TO DO IT AND THEN IN HIGH SCHOOL MY GIRLFRIEND’S DAD BEING A POLICE OFFICER DIDN’T HELP MATTERS SO IT UH JUST FURTHER CONVINCED ME THAT THAT’S WHAT I WANTED TO DO

BG: OH THAT’S COOL WELL I LOVED YOUR BIO WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT AND YOU EVEN MENTIONED IT THERE YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE THE COMMUNITY AND THAT’S OF COURSE WHAT THIS PODCAST IS ALL ABOUT AND THAT’S WHY WE’VE GOT YOU ON HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF YOUR YOUR PASSION FOR FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU LIVE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD UH YOUR CITY UH THE TOWN ON THE COMMUNITY THE THE COUNTY THAT WE THAT WE ALL LOVE WHAT OTHER DOORS HAS LAW ENFORCEMENT OPENED UP FOR YOU SINCE YOU STARTED UH IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WHAT OTHER THINGS HAVE HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO BE A PART OF SINCE

TJ: THAT OH THAT IT’S KIND OF BEEN ENDLESS I I’VE YOU KNOW ONE THING IS IT’S ALLOWED ME TO GET ALL KINDS OF TRAINING REALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY YOU KNOW WE HAVE A VERY SUPPORTIVE CITY COUNCIL A VERY SUPPORTIVE MAYOR AND CHIEF WHO PROVIDE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND OUR KNOWLEDGE IN THE JOB AND YOU KNOW WE GET TRAINING LOCALLY HERE BUT UH MORE IMPORTANTLY WE GET TO VENTURE OUT AND WE’VE I’VE TRAINED CLEAR ACROSS THE U.S AND GOT DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES FROM DIFFERENT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND THOSE THOSE DOORS ARE PROBABLY THE MOST EXCITING THAT I GET TO NETWORK WITH OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES KIND OF LIKE A BROTHERHOOD

BG: THAT’S COOL AND THE TRAINING THAT YOU DO CAN YOU GO INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ABOUT THAT WHAT KIND OF TRAINING DO YOU PERSONALLY PROVIDE

TJ: WELL MY MAIN THING IS WHEN I STARTED I ACTUALLY TEACH I’M AN INSTRUCTOR MYSELF SO I TEACH EVERYTHING FROM FIREARMS TRAINING TO A TASER TO USE OF FORCE COURTROOM TESTIMONY SPEED ENFORCEMENT THE LIST GOES ON SO THAT BUT PRIOR TO THAT I TRAVELED THE COUNTRY TO GET CERTIFIED YOU KNOW DOWN IN FLORIDA IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES IPTM WHERE I BECAME A CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SO DIFFERENT ASPECTS IT’S UNLIMITED WHAT YOU CAN GET STREET SURVIVAL TO UM HIGHWAY INTERDICTION USE OF FORCE AND GET A PERSPECTIVE ON HOW ALL THE OTHER AGENCIES UH WORK AS WELL SO THAT’S PRETTY COOL BRING THAT BACK TO HURRICANE

BG: YEAH LOVE THAT I LOVE THAT WE’RE WE’RE UH PRIVILEGED TO HAVE YOU AND AND HAVE THAT UH THAT TRAINING THAT YOU’VE HAD BE RETURNED BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY APPRECIATE THAT THANK YOU WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST REWARDING UH PARTS OF BEING A POLICE OFFICER NOW THAT YOU’RE A LIEUTENANT I’M SURE YOU’RE SEEING THINGS FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE BUT WHAT WHAT IS IT ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT THAT INSPIRES YOU AND AND BRINGS REWARD TO YOUR LIFE

TJ: HELPING PEOPLE I ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO HELP PEOPLE YOU KNOW BEING BORN AND RAISED UH IN THIS COMMUNITY MARRIED MY WIFE WHO’S FROM THIS COMMUNITY WE’RE RAISING OUR DAUGHTER TEENAGE DAUGHTER IN THIS COMMUNITY UH THE THE PEOPLE ARE SO GREAT AND TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THEM AND AND TO GIVE BACK TO THEM IS EXCELLENT YOU KNOW IT AND THE BROTHERHOOD OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WE WORK SO GOOD WITH UH SURROUNDING AGENCIES AROUND HERE AT ANY TIME I NEED ANYTHING I CAN JUST REACH OUT IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT DEPARTMENT THEY WORK FOR IN THIS LINE OF WORK IT TRULY IS A BROTHERHOOD AND THAT EXTENDS OUTSIDE THIS COMMUNITY OUTSIDE THIS STATE EVEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY I’VE NOTICED THAT THE BROTHERHOOD IS PRETTY TIGHT AND THAT THAT’S PROBABLY THE MOST REWARDING IS THE BROTHERHOOD THE CITIZENS AND THE COMMUNITY I WORK IN

BG: YEAH AWESOME THAT’S GREAT I’VE ALWAYS LOVED UM I’VE ALWAYS LOVED LAW ENFORCEMENT I’VE GOT A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO’VE BEEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT YOU KNOW THROUGH MY LIFE AND I’M A BIG SUPPORTER UH WHERE I CAN UM SO WE APPRECIATE YOU KNOW THE RISK THAT YOU GUYS TAKE EVERY DAY WE KNOW THE DANGERS THAT YOU FACE WE KNOW THE UM UH THE COMMITMENT THAT IT TAKES FROM FROM GUYS AND GALS LIKE YOU WHO ARE OUT THERE PROTECTING US ALL AND KEEPING US SAFE SO UM THANK YOU FOR FOR THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BOOK NOW UM THIS IS THE WHOLE REASON WE GOT YOU ON THE PODCAST TODAY TO TALK ABOUT UM THIS NEW BOOK THAT YOU CAN THAT YOU WROTE CALLED POLICE TRAFFIC STOPS CAN YOU JUST TELL US HOW THAT ALL CAME ABOUT WHAT THE BOOK’S ABOUT WHAT ITS UH PURPOSE IS HOW YOU STARTED THE PROCESS

TJ: YEAH DEFINITELY SO YOU KNOW SEVERAL REASONS ONE MY DAUGHTER SHE IS GOING TO BE GETTING HER LEARNERS SOON THIS YEAR ACTUALLY AND SO I’VE BEEN TEACHING HER YOU KNOW HOW TO DRIVE AND DIFFERENT DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE THE VEHICLE AND WHAT SHE NEEDS TO DO AND YOU KNOW SHE STARTED HAVING QUESTIONS LIKE WELL DAD WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE POLICE PULL ME OVER WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS AND I STARTED ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS I THOUGHT YOU KNOW IF SHE’S HAVING THESE QUESTIONS OTHER TEENAGERS AND OTHER OTHER NEW DRIVERS ARE HAVING THE SAME QUESTIONS AND YOU KNOW I’VE BEEN IN JULY WILL BE 17 YEARS I’VE BEEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND I’VE DEALT WITH THOUSANDS OF TRAFFIC STOPS AND AND I GET TO SEE THE THE NERVES OF THE NEW DRIVER THE STRUGGLES OF THE DRIVERS AND AND WHAT THEY KIND OF STRUGGLE WITH AND YOU KNOW UP TO THIS POINT I’VE ALWAYS WHEN YOU STOP A YOUNG NEW DRIVER TEEN DRIVER THEY HAVE QUESTIONS THEY’RE NERVOUS AND YOU KNOW EVERYBODY GETS NERVOUS ON TRAFFIC STOP BUT THEY’RE EXTRA NERVOUS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY’VE EVER BEEN STOPPED AND SO I TRY TO MAKE IT AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE FOR THEM AND I ACTUALLY USE THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE THEM ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD YOU KNOW THIS IS WHAT YOUR INSURANCE LOOKS LIKE THIS IS WHAT YOUR REGISTRATION I KIND OF GUIDE THEM THROUGH AND MAKE THEM FEEL AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE I KNOW THEY’RE ALREADY STRESSED THEY’VE BEEN STOPPED UM SO FOR THOSE REASONS IS WHY I THOUGHT YOU KNOW LET’S THE THE STRESS AND THE ANXIETY THAT THEIR EXPERIENCE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD REALLY CAN BE ELIMINATED IF THEY’RE PREPARED BEFORE THE STOP IF THEY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT SO I TOOK THAT EXPERIENCE THOSE QUESTIONS MY DAUGHTER HAD HER FRIENDS HAD AND I EXPLAINED THEM IN DETAIL IN THE BOOK WHAT ARE WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON OR MAYBE THE MOST COMMON UM TRAFFIC STOP PROBLEM THAT YOU SEE FACING WITH YOUNG YOUNG PEOPLE WHAT UH I I’M SURE IT’S YOU KNOW SOME SORT OF VIOLATION UH VEHICLE VIOLATION BUT WHAT IS UM WHAT’S WHAT’S THE TYPICAL TEENAGER’S RESPONSE TO A TRAFFIC STOP WELL OBVIOUSLY NERVES YEAH I’VE BEEN AN OFFICER FOR SEVERAL YEARS IF I’M TRAVELING AND A POLICE OFFICER GETS BEHIND ME I GET NERVOUS EVERY I THINK IT’S A NATURAL RESPONSE YOU CHECK YOUR SPEED YOU MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR SEATBELT ON AND BUT WITH NEW DRIVERS AND TEEN DRIVERS IT’S EXTRA IT YOU KNOW THEY’RE EXTREMELY NERVOUS AND YOU KNOW I’VE SEEN THEM THOUGH THEY’VE FROZE UP WHEN WHEN I HIT THE BLUE LIGHTS THAT SOME HAVE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD THEY’LL PULL LIKE IF WE’RE ON THE INTERSTATE THEY’LL PULL IN THE MEDIAN AND AND YOU MAKE APPROACH AND AND THEY CAN’T FIND THEIR STUFF THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHERE IT’S AT AND THAT THEY DO YOU KNOW THEY’LL START REACHING IN PLACES THAT YOU KNOW IT COULD BE KIND OF NERVE-WRACKING FOR THE OFFICER STOPPING THEM RIGHT AND BUT IT’S ALL NERVES YOU KNOW WE’RE TRAINED TO TO IDENTIFY THAT WE WE KNOW THEY’RE NERVOUS SO THEY GET YOU KNOW WE CAN UNDERSTAND BUT IF I COULD ELIMINATE THAT AND THAT’S WHAT I TRIED TO DO SO GOT IT AND OKAY FIRST VIOLATIONS I THINK PROBABLY THE MOST COMMON AMONG TEENAGERS ARE PROBABLY SPEED AND CELL PHONE CURRENTLY THAT’S THAT’S THE MOST VIOLATED BG: GOT IT IS THIS THE FIRST BOOK YOU’VE WRITTEN TJ

TJ: IT IS YEAH DEFINITELY AND I’M EXCITED ABOUT IT

BG: COOL DO YOU HAVE PLANS TO MAYBE DO MORE OR I MEAN IS THIS JUST A ONE-TIME IDEA BASED ON A CURRENT LIFE UH JOURNEY YOU WERE ON WITH YOUR DAUGHTER UH WHAT DO YOU THINK

TJ: I’M DEFINITELY GOING TO CONTINUE WRITING UM GOT SOME OTHER IDEAS IN MIND BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH THIS BOOK IS IT’S OUT THERE AND PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO BUY IT AND IN THE BACK OF THE BOOK I GIVE AN EMAIL THAT THEY CAN RESPOND TO AFTER THEY’VE COMPLETED THE BOOK AND YOU KNOW ASK ME QUESTIONS WHATEVER THEY WANT ANYTHING THAT I DIDN’T COVER IN THE BOOK THAT THEY MAY BE CONCERNED ABOUT AND I’LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER THOSE BUT WHAT I WANT TO DO IS TAKE THOSE QUESTIONS THAT THEY’RE ASKING THAT MAYBE I DIDN’T COVER AND PUT IT IN A SECOND EDITION OF THE BOOK

BG: YEAH THAT’S A GREAT IDEA YEAH CERTAINLY AFTER IT’S BEEN OUT THERE FOR A WHILE IT COULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO BECOME ORGANIC AND GROW AND AND FIGURE OUT UH YOU KNOW NEW NEW THOUGHTS AND PROCESSES AS PEOPLE SEE THIS WHERE CAN THE BOOK BE FOUND HOW CAN PEOPLE GET IT

TJ: YEAH YOU CAN GO ON AMAZON.COM IT’S ON AMAZON BOOKS A MILLION UM BARNES AND NOBLE UM AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY I HAVE A UH BOOK SIGNING COMING UP MARCH 26TH OKAY 6 30 TO 8 30. THEY CAN ACTUALLY BUY A BOOK THERE IT’S A LITTLE BIT CHEAPER 10 THERE IT’S 12.99 ONLINE UM BUT I’LL HAVE SEVERAL COPIES THERE FOR THEM TO PURCHASE AND IT’S ACTUALLY AT FIRESIDE GRILL IT’LL BE A FIRESIDE GRILL

BG: OKAY YEAH SORRY I DIDN’T COVER THAT NO NO THAT’S FINE NO IT’S GOOD THAT’S GREAT WELL LISTEN WE’RE REALLY REALLY GLAD TO HAVE YOU ON AND I’D LOVE TO HAVE YOU BACK TO TALK ABOUT MORE THINGS WHEN IT COMES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT YOU KNOW COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF SITUATIONS AND CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY I’D LOVE TO HAVE YOU BACK SOMETIME TO TALK ABOUT OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN DO AS A COMMUNITY TO HELP SUPPORT YOU WHO ARE HELPING PROTECT US UM BUT REALLY WE APPRECIATE IT TJ THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING A PART OF THE PODCAST TODAY ANY FINAL WORDS THAT YOU UH WANT TO SHARE ABOUT THE BOOK OR ANY THOUGHTS THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE WE CLOSE UP TODAY

TJ: I FIRST THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME UH IT’S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY I APPRECIATE YOU UH TELLING MY HELPING ME TELL MY STORY AND UH IF THERE’S ANYTHING ONCE PEOPLE BUY THE BOOK IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS WHATSOEVER I ENCOURAGE THEM TO SEND ME AN EMAIL I’D LOVE TO ANSWER THEM LOVE TO HELP THEM OUT IN ANY WAY I CAN TO EASE THEIR THEIR NERVES ON THE TRAFFIC STOP

BG: GREAT WELL THIS PODCAST IS SCHEDULED TO UH TO DROP ON MARCH 17TH WHICH IS WEDNESDAY IT’S SO WHEN WE DROP THIS PODCAST ALSO BE LOOKING FOR AN ARTICLE FROM THE PUTNAM HERALD ON THE BOOK AND ON TJ DILLON AND LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT AND MAKE SURE YOU GET ON AMAZON PICK UP A COPY OF THAT AGAIN TJ THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING A PART OF THE PODCAST THANKS FOR HAVING ME I APPRECIATE IT