#164 20 Years On SWAT: Lessons In Leadership w/ The President of TTPOA Lt. Dan Colasanto

Welcome back to another After Dark episode here on the Iron Sights Podcast.

In this one, I sit down with Lieutenant Dan Colasanto — a veteran cop, longtime SWAT officer, and the current President of the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association (TTPOA).

We got into some real talk about law enforcement, leadership, and the evolution of the job. But what stood out most to me? Dan’s passion for his people. He trains with them, shows up for them, and they clearly show up for him. That kind of leadership matters.

This episode is a conversation with a man who still loves the job and brings that energy to every part of it. Whether you’re in law enforcement, leadership, or just here to learn — you’ll want to hear what Dan has to say.Welcome back to another After Dark episode here on the Iron Sights Podcast.

In this one, I sit down with Lieutenant Dan Colasanto — a veteran cop, longtime SWAT officer, and the current President of the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association (TTPOA).

We got into some real talk about law enforcement, leadership, and the evolution of the job. But what stood out most to me? Dan’s passion for his people. He trains with them, shows up for them, and they clearly show up for him. That kind of leadership matters.

This episode is a conversation with a man who still loves the job and brings that energy to every part of it. Whether you’re in law enforcement, leadership, or just here to learn — you’ll want to hear what Dan has to say.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:25 First Impressions of the Conference

03:13 Event Highlights

08:35 Personal Experiences & Career Reflections

13:45 Policing Tech Evolution

18:42 Public Perception & Communication

27:57 Context in Video Interpretation

29:26 Body-Worn Cameras & Accountability

40:21 Politics in Law Enforcement

46:24 Acquiring Resources

55:24 Budgeting & Grants

57:50 Equipment & Training Gaps

59:35 Community Engagement

01:08:27 The Value of Networking