Cole Langdon joined the Lynnwood Police Department as a college intern with the Police Cadet program in the summer of 1996. At twenty and a half years of age, he was hired as a police officer and sent to the academy. After graduating from the Basic Law Enforcement Academy, Langdon worked as a patrol officer for several years before transferring to the Traffic section. While there, Langdon served as a collision investigator and police motorcycle instructor. Langdon applied for and successfully transferred to the K-9 unit, where he worked with two cross-trained dogs, Tanner and Buddy. While in K-9, Langdon served as a master trainer for the Washington State Police Canine Association, training and certifying teams throughout the region. During that time, Langdon also served on a regional SWAT team as a team member and, ultimately as a squad leader.
After 11 years with K-9, Langdon was promoted to sergeant. After supervising a patrol squad for several years, he transferred to the department’s Community Health and Safety Section (CHSS), which works to address complex issues impacting the community through collaboration, education, and empowerment. From CHSS, Langdon was promoted to the rank of commander. Langdon commanded the Patrol division, which included Patrol, K-9, and Traffic sections, before transferring to the Administrative Services division.
While in the Administrative Services division, Langdon managed department functions related to internal affairs, hiring, training, accreditation, volunteer coordination, and CHSS. Langdon was then appointed to the rank of deputy chief overseeing the Bureau of Field Operations, which includes the Patrol and Detention divisions. Langdon currently serves as the team commander for the North Sound Metro SWAT team, which provides service to 10 municipalities in the Seattle metropolitan area.
What motivated you to be a LEPSL ambassador?
My love of this profession motivated me to be a LEPSL ambassador. This program has provided me with relevant and applicable skills to lead my police department. Each course has directly applied to my work as a police chief and has helped to accelerate my growth as a police leader. I believe any aspiring or current police leader should strongly consider the LEPSL program.
Why did you choose the LEPSL program? What made LEPSL stand out in comparison to other schools/programs?
A deep dive into LEPSL’s course content quickly revealed that this program would connect me with cutting-edge law enforcement leaders and provide me with classes that would equip me with tangible skills to make me a better police leader. Very little in the abstract, and very much in the applied skills of police leadership.
What were your concerns about starting a graduate program?
Time. I have three young children, I was in my first year as a new chief, and I was worried that I wouldn’t have time to complete my coursework. It had also been over 20 years since I had been in school. I quickly found this program to be value-added and looked forward to the discussion boards and course content to help me improve as a leader.
How did the LEPSL program help you achieve your career goals?
This program helped me to reach my goal of becoming a police chief by providing me with skills and knowledge that could be directly applied to my work in near real-time. What I was learning in the course in the evening was helping me to do my job better during the day. I can’t say enough about how LEPSL equipped me with the knowledge and skills to be a better police leader.
What advice would you share with prospective LEPSL applicants?
If you care about this profession and have a desire to serve as a formal leader at the next level, jump into the program. Anything worth having is worth sacrificing for and I can tell you that the sacrifices and time commitment are manageable and worth it!
What was your favorite LEPSL course?
Conflict Resolution
What were you balancing while participating in the LEPSL program?
When I first started, I was a deputy chief of operations who also oversaw a 10-agency regional SWAT team in the Seattle area. I was married, had three children, and was in the middle of applying to become a police chief. I was busy and very nervous about taking something else on. After being selected to be the chief, I took on all the responsibilities that came with being a new chief (no coasting!).
How did you stay motivated throughout the program in the face of competing priorities in your life?
My motivation came from recognizing and realizing the return on my investment. I was gaining knowledge and skills that served to make me better at my day job. As a new police chief where there isn’t really a how-to manual or an easy button, I found this program to provide some refuge as I could connect with other police leaders and have a safe space to bounce ideas off of them.
LEPSL Graduating Class:
2024