What lessons can safety professionals take from the realities of frontline policing? In this episode, officer and veteran Catlin Chiasson shares an inside perspective on how empathy, communication, and emerging technologies are reshaping both policing and workplace safety.

With over 14 years of service across Indigenous and urban communities, including the Edmonton Police Service, Catlin offers a candid look at the human side of policing. He explores the challenges of earning trust, the weight of split-second decisions, and the role compassion plays in high-stakes situations.

For supervisors, safety officers, and executive leaders alike, Catlin’s experiences underscore a central truth: real safety depends on people, not just policies.

Catlin reflects on:

  • The mindset needed to communicate under intense pressure
  • How work in Indigenous and urban communities shaped his view of trust
  • Why empathy isn’t optional—it’s essential for survival
  • The expanding role of technology in transparency (body cams, in-car video, AI tools)
  • How debriefs, open leadership, and mental health support sustain long careers in high-pressure fields

His biggest takeaway?

“Speak to the person in the uniform, not the uniform itself.”

If you’ve ever wondered how frontline safety leaders remain grounded amid the most difficult moments of people’s lives, this episode is for you. Catlin’s perspective is both a call to action and a reminder that safety begins with human connection, stronger communities, and truly seeing the people behind the badge.