Chief Sean Thuilliez, President of the California Police Chiefs Association and Chief of the Tustin Police Department, joins 4-Star Conversations to talk about leadership accountability, building teams that are prepared for the long term, and the balance between supporting your people and holding them accountable.

Sean reflects on the moments that shaped his approach to leadership, including the hard lesson of recognizing when someone is — or isn’t — ready to promote. We also talk about the importance of mentorship, and the reality that you can’t do this job alone.

From there, we zoom out to a broader challenge facing the profession: leadership longevity — and what’s at risk when leaders don’t invest early and intentionally in developing the next generation.

It’s a conversation about responsibility, growth, and what it really takes to develop leaders who last.

Retired Chief Max Bosel reflects on a 40+ year career in public safety — and why leadership doesn’t end when the title does.

From leading through the challenges of 2020 to mentoring the next generation, Max shares what he’s learned about resilience, relationships, and staying engaged long after retirement. We also get a look inside CPCA’s Executive Leadership Certificate Program and the work Max has helped shape to develop today’s leaders.

Join us for a conversation about perspective, purpose, and paying it forward.

What does it take to leave a department you’ve spent more than two decades in and start over somewhere new?

In this episode of 4-Star Conversations, Chief Jim Munro shares what it was like to spend 24 years with the Clovis Police Department before making one of the hardest — and best — decisions of his career: moving to Grover Beach to take on a new challenge. Starting as a Commander and later becoming Chief, Jim reflects on the leap of faith that reshaped his leadership perspective.

We talk about leading a young department, mentoring the next generation, and why great leadership isn’t about the size of the agency — it’s about investing in your people. Jim also shares his thoughts on recruitment, wellness, technology, and the unique challenges of leading in a small department.

This is a conversation about courage, adaptability, and what happens when you’re willing to start fresh — even after decades in the profession.