Episode 84 TCOLE Director Gretchen Grigsby and Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Racing Commission Aaron Grigsby

"Check in on each other."

Today’s episode will welcome on two true Texas servants in Gretchen and Aaron Grigsby as they will detail their lives of service and how they found each other to form this true partnership.

Both are homegrown true Texans and both, albeit via different routes, traveled a path that led them to the Lone Star State’s Capitol, Austin Texas.

Gretchen worked for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security, Texas Senate Committee on Agriculture, Rural Affairs and is currently the TCOLE (Texas Commission on Law Enforcement)   Director of Government Relations.

Aaron enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served as a combat engineer and was a member of the Pistol and Rifle Teams.  Afterwards he joined the Texas Department of Public Safety in January of 1997. He served several roles in his career with DPS, from 1997 to 2020, that included Highway Patrol, Narcotics, and the legendary Texas Rangers. He now is the Deputy Executive Director of Operations at the Texas Racing Commission.

However, before the TxRC,  Aaron took his talents to Round Rock Police Department in 2020 and this profession put that experience and talents to the test on June 7th, 2021, at a Round Rock Hotel. This incident will play a major role in today’s story as it put the Grigsby couple to the test as they both struggled through the fear, the anger, and uncertainty of surviving a law enforcement shooting in today’s world. They took this incident and the recovery head on like they have done personally and professionally their entire lives and careers.

We are also honored to welcome on a very special guest cohost in Round Rock PD Commander Melissa Grubbs as she stepped up in June of 2021, and led by example and displayed true leadership after she took care of the people that mattered most that day…….Her troops And his family.

Dallas Police Child Abuse Detective Kristen King sitting in to cohost.

When I first spoke to Gretchen about this episode, their primary goal was to introduce this story for first responder families out there that wrestle with the fear that when their loved ones leave to serve that they may never come home to know that THEY ARE NOT ALONE.

Both of these amazing Texans have offered to speak with or help other families out there that have endured critical incidents and are still recovering from loss, tragedy, or just guidance on how to process.  

P.S. I have to mention their sweet pups, Hope and Felicia. 

 

Critical Incident:

OIS July 2005

OIS June 2021 at the Home2 Suites Hotel in Round Rock Texas during an active shooter situation.

Texas Law Enforcement Peer Network | Texas Commission on Law Enforcement

www.Texaspoliceofficersmemorial.org