Dear John,

Every day in this country, public safety decisions are made by people who have never walked a beat, processed a case, comforted a victim, or faced the impossible choices our systems produce. These decisions shape lives, yet they’re too often made with minimal insight from those who actually know the system from within.

That’s where LEAP’s Speakers Bureau comes in.

LEAP isn’t a membership organization. We are something far more focused: a national network of current and former law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, and public safety professionals who volunteer their expertise to advance smarter, more compassionate approaches to public safety. LEAP speakers go through a rigorous vetting process, and only a small percentage of individuals are accepted, ensuring we elevate the most credible voices in the field.

What began nearly 20 years ago as a handful of retired officers bravely speaking out despite the risks has grown into one of the most trusted and influential groups of justice-system experts in the country.

LEAP speakers do this work because they believe in it. Every keynote address, every legislative testimony, every media interview, every community forum—it’s all volunteer. It’s from the heart, in service of truth.

This year alone, LEAP speakers have:
• Briefed lawmakers at the city, state, and federal levels
• Testified on legislation that affects millions of people
• Provided technical assistance to community responders and first responders
• Shaped public safety conversations in national and local media
• Guided coalitions working toward safer, more equitable solutions

When a LEAP speaker shares their story—the mistakes they’ve seen, the harm they’ve witnessed, and the courage it takes to stand for something different—people listen. Their expertise helps to change minds, policy, and lives.

Here’s what sets the LEAP Speakers Bureau apart in today’s public safety landscape: 

A network of 379 speakers, and growing — We have one of the largest national collectives of current and former law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, and public safety professionals whose real-world expertise strengthens debates, decisions, and public understanding.

Representing 45 states, Washington, D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands, and England — We bring unmatched geographic and professional diversity to the policies, conversations, and communities shaping public safety.

Featured in leading national outlets that shape the national conversation — LEAP speakers have appeared in USA Today, The Atlantic, MSNBC, Esquire, CBS News, and other high-profile publications, amplifying lived experience and expert insights where public safety narratives take shape.

In the days ahead, we’ll also be sharing stories from LEAP speakers themselves—how this work shapes them, why they choose to do it, and the impact they see every day.