Former California police sergeant Adam Sturgeon shares his journey of trauma, faith, and redemption.
For 16 years, Adam served as a police officer, working gang units, narcotics enforcement, robbery task force, and even the COVID incident management team. He faced life-and-death moments, including a shooting that left him questioning everything he believed.
Behind the badge was a man wrestling with trauma, grief, and doubt about God’s goodness. From officer-involved shootings… to the struggles of policing after George Floyd… to building a new life as the founder of White Shepherd Coffee—Adam’s story shows the cost of service and the hope of redemption.
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Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome & Introduction to Adam Sturgeon
02:00 – Adam’s bio: 16 years as a police officer, gang/narcotics enforcement, robbery task force
04:00 – Officer-involved shooting: a suspect tries to stab Adam and his partner
07:00 – The emotional aftermath: “He could’ve been me”
10:00 – Growing up in California and family background
13:00 – Police academy training in Long Beach
17:00 – Policy changes from Rodney King to George Floyd
22:00 – Classmate shot in week three of training – a sobering reality
27:00 – Learning how to talk to people vs. using force
31:00 – The struggle with faith: “Does God even exist?”
36:00 – Robbery task force and life on the streets
38:00 – COVID Task Force: freezer trucks, fear, and city protocols
40:00 – Closing & Engage Your Destiny mission