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October 28, 2025 66 mins

After more than 40 years in law enforcement — from the courtroom to the streets — Pat Welsh has seen what happens when leadership fails… and when it saves lives.

In this episode of Dispatched & Dysfunctional, we talk about what it really means to lead with courage, serve with humility, and stay human when the job hardens everyone else.

From being abandoned in a Dublin orphanage to commanding the Dayton, Ohio Police Department, Pat’s story is one of grit, faith, and purpose. He’s lived every side of service — prosecutor, cop, commander, husband, and father — and built his Warrior, Servant, Leader mindset through experience most of us can’t imagine.

This one’s a masterclass in real leadership, humility, and what happens when you stop pretending to be bulletproof.

🔥 KEY TOPICS
  • The difference between empathy and compassion

  • Leading through faith after personal loss

  • What “culture” really means inside a department or team

  • Why ego kills teams faster than failure

  • How to serve without burning out

  • The power of humility in command

🎧 GUEST LINKS 💬 QUOTE FROM PAT

“Real strength has nothing to do with pretending you’re bulletproof. Leadership is about doing the right thing, the right way, at the right time, for the right reasons.”

🧠 ABOUT THE SHOW

Dispatched & Dysfunctional is where chaos has a pulse, leadership gets tested, and dark humor meets real survival. These are the stories from inside the headset, the rig, and the fight to stay human when the job takes everything out of you.

Calls are real. Providers are real. Names and details have been changed to protect privacy. Listener discretion is advised.

🧠 SUPPORT OUTRO

Need support right now? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. You’re not alone — not in this job, not in this fight.

Want to share your story or connect? Visit critical-run.com or message the Facebook page Dispatched & Dysfunctional.

We’re building this — for you, for them, for all of us.

🧠 Need support right now? Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. You’re not alone — not in this job, not in this fight. 📱 Follow us on Facebook: Dispatched and Dysfunctional   🌐 Visit: www.critical-run.com to connect, share your story, or just vent   🎤 Got a call that changed you? Submit your story — we’ll carry it with care (and maybe a little dark humor). ⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast contains graphic content, emotional storytelling, and dark humor based on real-life EMS and first responder experiences. Listener discretion is advised.   Any medical discussion is personal opinion, not medical advice. Always follow your local protocols, medical direction, and training guidelines. This podcast isn’t about fairy tales. It’s about real calls, real chaos, and the medics who survive both.   Dispatched & Dysfunctional — because sometimes the worst calls… make the best stories.
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