For most officers, retirement is a finish line they measure in days and years, but few are ready for what happens when the radio goes silent and the badge comes off for good. And recently, that reality hit home nationwide when a Police1 article on police retirement went viral, striking a nerve with thousands of current and former officers.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley talks with a retired deputy chief about the fear, isolation and loss of relevance many officers feel after they leave the job, and what agencies and officers can do now to make that transition healthier for cops and their families.

Jason Kates started his law enforcement career with the Oak Brook (Illinois) Police Department in 1992, rising through the ranks to sergeant, lieutenant and eventually deputy chief before retiring in 2021. A Marine Corps veteran, Kates now hosts “My Journey With the Badge,” a podcast and YouTube channel where he interviews retired officers about their careers, the trauma they carry and the challenges of life after policing.

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