Transcript for Hustle & Heat Episode 9
00:00:04
What’s up, guys? And welcome back to the Hustle and Heat podcast. My name is George from Dubz BBQ, and today I’d like to welcome a very special guest. Without further ado, I’d like to welcome the North Port Police Department Chief, Todd Garrison. Todd, welcome to the podcast. I appreciate you coming on.
Good morning. Thank you for having me. It’s an honor to be here.
Thank you for coming. Tell us about Todd Garrison.
00:00:27
Well, I’ve been in law enforcement now going on 34 years. I’ve actually been in this uniform for 40 years. I started at the age of 14 as a police explorer, and I’ve been doing this ever since. I’m a third-generation law enforcement officer. My family bloodline runs blue. Everybody in my family has been a law enforcement officer. My dad was a cop for 50 years. I’m a proud father of three beautiful daughters, and yeah, this is me.
It’s all you know, huh?
Yep.
Yeah, I feel the same way with the restaurant. I started when I was 12. It’s all I know. As far as law enforcement, did you feel pressure growing up because of your bloodline being all blue?
00:01:05
No, it was honestly natural. I always say I was born into this. I’ve never wanted to do anything else other than be a cop. Growing up, playing cops and robbers in the neighborhood, I was always the cop. Everybody else was the robber. As early as I can remember, this is what I wanted to do. I never felt pressure. My dad never said, “This is what you need to do.” But it’s an honorable profession, and I think I saw that growing up. It’s something to be proud of.
So it came natural.
00:02:07
You’re approaching eight years as Chief of North Port. In those eight years, you’ve done so much to grow the police department. What are some of the accomplishments you’ve been most proud of?
I have to say I’m proud of the men and women that wear this uniform and serve the city. That’s what I’m most proud of. I’m proud of the fact that we’ve been able to bring technology into the department at the level we have it now, especially with our real-time crime center, our license plate readers, and things like that. We’re providing a blanket of protection throughout the city that I don’t think a lot of citizens realize. We’ve really come ahead of a lot of other agencies with our technology.
So as far as the technology goes, would you like to elaborate on that?
00:03:12
We implemented a real-time information center. Some people call it a real-time crime center. It’s a focal point of technology where we have staff working with computers and access to cameras and information flowing in real time when things are happening. In the past, a crime would occur and information would be sent to detectives and followed up on days later. Now we have things developing instantaneously as crimes are occurring. We’ve put a lot of people in jail and captured a lot of people just because we have people paying attention and having access to real-time information.
Your leadership made such a positive impact that Governor DeSantis appointed you to the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. Can you tell me some of the important responsibilities that come with that?
00:04:20
It’s a huge responsibility. I’m honored the governor had the faith in me to appoint me to that position, and I don’t take it lightly. It’s a commission that oversees the training and certification of all law enforcement in the state of Florida. We set the standards. In addition to that, we review disciplinary cases throughout the state. Those cases go in front of the commission, and we have the ability to revoke certifications and never allow someone to serve as a law enforcement officer again. This profession runs in my family, and I want to protect it. The best way to do that is by keeping the profession honest and getting bad apples out.
When it comes to those standards, what’s your number one rule?
00:05:35
Honesty and integrity are paramount in this profession. If you don’t have that, you don’t deserve to wear the badge.
What are some other organizations you’re affiliated with that represent the city of North Port?
00:06:10
I’m affiliated with a lot of organizations. I think it’s important to be involved in this profession and also outside the scope of the city. I’m the Vice President of the Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police, which encompasses this area. Next year I’ll become the president of that association. I’m also a director with the Florida Police Chiefs Association and sit on the board for the entire state. I’m a member of the Southwest Florida Police Chiefs as well. This profession is changing daily, and being involved in those networks keeps us current and moving forward.
You say this profession changes daily. From when you started until now, what’s the biggest change you’ve seen?
00:07:25
Technology. When I started, we didn’t have computers in the cars. You’d get dispatched to a call, pull over, write it down, and go. You’d do handwritten reports. Now everything is technology-based. GPS in the cars, GPS on the radios, computers, body cameras, in-car cameras. None of that existed when I started. Technology has definitely changed this profession, and I think for the better. It captures bad cops, but it also captures a lot of good cops doing great things.
I agree. It’s a shame we see more bad than good sometimes.
00:08:39
As far as your career, what are some of your future goals for the North Port Police Department? How can business owners help you achieve those goals?
The biggest thing we need is a new police station. It failed the referendum, but that doesn’t negate the need. We are completely out of space. We have people working in closets, and it doesn’t create a healthy environment. The patrol officer you see is just one component. You have support services, detectives, dispatch, records, evidence, analysts, and the real-time crime center. There’s a huge part of the department people don’t see.
How can we help make people aware?
00:11:32
Getting the voice out and the message out. It’s not that Todd Garrison wants a shiny new toy. This is about the future and the generations behind me. I’ll probably never spend a day in the new building. This is about the men and women serving the city and giving them the space to do their jobs properly.
00:13:22
So with North Port growing, do you see the current station becoming unusable?
Absolutely. The building has a lot of challenges, and the spaces are overgrown. It could be repurposed for other city departments, but the need for a new police building is definitely there.
With the vote not passing, what are the next steps?
That depends on the commission and city leadership. The need isn’t going away. It will only get worse.
Is there anything else you’d like people to know about you?
00:14:03
That’s a loaded question. I love music. I played the trumpet.
You should have brought it with you.
I haven’t played in about 20 years, but I recently bought a new one and started getting back into it. Music brings me back to center. In a stressful job, it helps calm things down.
00:15:41
It’s not just the trumpet. It’s music in general. Music moves me. I listen to all genres. It depends on the mood I’m in. If I’m sitting outside with a cigar, I might be listening to blues or jazz. Music is something that centers me.
I feel like music has changed a lot over the years.
We’re starting to see an evolution with AI now. AI-generated music is already out there, and people don’t even realize it. We’re going to see a whole new evolution of music with AI.
AI is taking over everything.
It is. Even in policing, AI is being integrated into a lot of different components. It’s definitely changing things.
00:18:26
Growing up, did you play sports?
I played football through little league and high school. I also played baseball and basketball. I wasn’t good at basketball. I tried soccer once, but there was too much running.
What was your favorite?
Football. I loved football.
00:19:28
I also work for Major League Baseball now. I’m an authenticator. I go to stadiums and authenticate memorabilia that players sign. It’s behind the scenes and very one-on-one with the players because you have to witness everything being signed.
How often do you go?
Mostly during spring training since a lot of teams are in Florida. It’s a unique experience.
00:21:16
A lot of people don’t know I have a three-and-a-half-year-old daughter. Even at my age, she’s my pride and joy. She watches football with me. I’m teaching her. She says, “Go Bucs.”
I’m a Michigan fan, so I followed Tom Brady even when he was with the Patriots.
00:23:05
I feel like going to football games is such a great experience.
It is. It’s a great atmosphere and something everyone should experience.
00:24:27
What type of music do you listen to?
I listen to Arabic music, hip-hop, all kinds of stuff. I never really got into jazz, but I’m sure I’d enjoy it.
How did you get into barbecue?
00:24:58
I worked for my uncle at a barbecue restaurant for years. One day he needed a cook and told me I’d figure it out. I went in and we crushed it. I ended up working there for seven years. Eventually, I wanted to open another location, and he told me if I wanted to do it myself, go for it. So my dad and I did it, and that’s how Dubz BBQ started.
00:27:08
I grew up in restaurants. My dad used to open restaurants, build them up, sell them, and move on. I spent my childhood sitting in dining rooms doing homework. When we moved here, he bought Soup Jungle Café. People always told me I’d own a restaurant one day, but I didn’t think I would. Then I realized I hated college and being behind a desk. That’s how I ended up here.
Why barbecue?
It’s what I knew, and the smoke and charcoal connect to my culture. One day I’d love to open a steakhouse and an Italian restaurant. That’s the dream.
00:28:43
North Port reminds me of what Cape Coral was years ago. If you build it, they will come. You started small and exploded. That takes courage.
A lot of risk and sleepless nights.
That’s entrepreneurship.
00:29:40
The dream is to buy a big piece of land and build multiple restaurants. A Dubz, an Italian place, and a steakhouse. Maybe even a cigar bar.
Cigars bring people together. It doesn’t matter what you do for a living. It slows life down and lets people connect.
I agree completely.
00:31:16
Do you golf?
Not well, but I’d like to get into it more, especially as I get closer to retirement. It’s relaxing and a great way to connect with people.
We’ve got to smoke a cigar over a steak sometime.
Absolutely.
00:33:33
I like cooking a lot. I cook Latin food, Italian food, and I get recipes off TikTok and try new things. I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen. My wife doesn’t complain. She enjoys it.
I’ll have to try one of your dishes sometime.
Let’s do it.
00:34:35
I appreciate you coming on. Thanks for your continued support over the years.
Sounds good, man. Thanks, brother. I appreciate it.
We appreciate you and your support. I wish you nothing but success.
Same to you, buddy. Thank you.
