In this episode of Beyond the Barrel, we sit down with Matt Thomas, retired Chief Deputy of the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office who recently became Chief of Police in Florence, Arizona. Over 32 years, Matt rose from Detention Officer to second-in-command, serving on SWAT for 18 years—five as commander—while leading narcotics and undercover operations against cartel activity. A graduate of the FBI National Academy and bestselling author of Interceptors, Matt shares lessons on leadership, resilience, and law enforcement culture. From 60 Days In to real-world missions, this is a powerful conversation on thriving when the mission never stops. Timestamps: 02:00 Writing Interceptor 10:00 Childhood & gangs 16:00 Small-town move 19:00 Starting law enforcement 26:00 Friends in prison 33:00 Patrol & SWAT 42:00 Family sacrifices 47:00 Narc Sergeant stories 55:00 Becoming Chief https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_barrel_pod/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
