A Pathway to Financial Fitness for Law Enforcement


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Most people do not become police officers for the pay, and very few police departments provide any type of financial training. The focus of this presentation was the benefits of financial fitness as they relate to reducing stress and increasing officer safety. A standard police academy offers more than 1,000 hours of training in criminal law, officer safety, driving, shooting, and defensive tactics. In-service training often includes day and night fire, various required topics, active shooter, internal affairs updates, and legal updates. In short, we provide an extensive amount of training in areas to make you successful on the job. You also can benefit from information and training to increase your financial fitness.

  • 1. At the conclusion of the session, participants will have an increased understanding of the benefits of financial fitness.
  • 2. At the conclusion of the session, participants will have an increased understanding of the importance of budgeting and debt management.
  • 3. At the conclusion of the session, participants will have an increased understanding of the basic concepts of investing and planning for retirement.

Brandon Post

Captain (Ret.)

Institute for Intergovernmental Research

Captain Brandon Post retired from the Provo, Utah, Police Department (PPD) in 2021 after 20 years of service. Captain Post most recently served as Commander of the Patrol Division. Before this assignment, he served as the Commander of the Special Operations Division, where he supervised the department’s major crimes, special enforcement, community-oriented policing, and school resource officer teams. Captain Post was also the Commander of both the SWAT team and the Hostage Negotiations Team and served as the PPD Public Information Officer. Captain Post began his law enforcement career in 2000 as a dispatcher in the Emergency Medical and Police Dispatch Unit. As a police officer, he became a firearm and defensive tactics instructor. He became a member of the SWAT Team in 2005, eventually serving as a squad leader, a marksman/observer, and team leader. He is fluent in speaking, reading, and writing Spanish. Captain Post is a senior research associate with the Institute for Intergovernmental Research, where he provides instruction on officer safety and wellness. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in political science from Brigham Young University in Provo and his associate’s degree in criminal justice from Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. Captain Post is a graduate of the 273rd Session of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy.

David Perry, Masters in Public Administration

Chief of Police (Retired)

Institute for Intergovernmental Research

Chief David L. Perry (Ret.) is a Senior Research Associate for the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR). In his position, he is responsible for developing and delivering classroom / web-based or online training programs and technical assistance as well as providing on-site facilitation for federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies. His responsibilities also include providing primary support to all areas of program engagement. The Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR) is a Florida-based nonprofit corporation specializing in criminal justice (law enforcement focus) and Officer Safety and Wellness issues.

As the former Assistant Vice-Chancellor and Chief of Police for the University of North Carolina serving from 2019 to 2021, his responsibilities were to oversee all aspects of Public Safety. Perry has previously served as police chief for Florida State University, Clemson University, and Albany State University. Perry has worked in law enforcement and campus safety for 25 years. He has provided campus safety assessments throughout the country to assist with the overall improvement of safety in many communities. Perry has also presented in-service training courses to campus, federal, municipal, and tribal law enforcement agencies.

In addition to serving as the Past President for the North Florida Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), David is a past president for the Florida Police Chiefs Association and past president for the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators where he represented colleges and universities around the world.

David is a graduate of Albany State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice (1993). He holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Albany State University (2002). He has also completed the basic police recruit training academies in Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, and North Carolina.

Deborah Meader

Policy Advisor

Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice

Christopher Gandia, CFP®

Captain (Ret.)

Londonderry New Hampshire Police Department

Christopher J. Gandia, CFP® Captain Christopher J. Gandia, retired from the Londonderry, New Hampshire, Police Department (LPD), formerly assigned as the division commander for the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. His career encompassed 25+ years of law enforcement experience and 28 years of financial experience. Interwoven career paths of finance and law enforcement created unique opportunities and experiences for him. After earning his degree in 1993, Captain Gandia turned to law enforcement in 1996, when he began his career with the LPD as a patrol officer. He also served as a sergeant, lieutenant and recently retired as captain in 2022. His career has included various tasks such as fiscal management, budgetary planning, internal auditing, organizational development, strategic planning, departmental training programs, and personnel leadership initiatives. In addition, from 1999 to 2014, he served on the Southern New Hampshire Regional SWAT Team. Captain Gandia’s prior experience includes Pricewaterhouse Coopers, LLC, as an external auditor, and Zoom Telephonics as a financial analyst. He also performed as a lead instructor for the National Sheriffs’ Association and the National Domestic Preparedness Coalition. Captain Gandia earned a bachelor of science degree in accountancy from Providence College, an advanced certificate in financial planning from Merrimack College, and his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation in 2003.

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