189. A Within Policy On Duty Shooting Ended a Deputy Sheriff's Career | Now College Professor

Kelly Enos

In Episode 189 of the Transition Drill Podcast, retired Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff Kelly Enos shares his powerful journey from a life in law enforcement to a second career in academia and being an author. With raw honesty, Kelly recounts starting with the Culver City Police Department and then lateraling to LASD, the intensity of an officer-involved shooting that became a turning point in both his personal and professional life. He discusses the emotional and practical factors that led to his decision to leave law enforcement, the challenges of transition to civilian life, and how he found renewed purpose as a college professor, administrator, and author. This episode delivers valuable insight for military veterans, first responders, and anyone seeking to redefine their identity and mission after service.

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Kelly Enos was born and raised in Culver City, California. His father was a cabinetmaker and carpenter; his mother worked as a clerk at AAA. His parents didn't push him into a career path. Instead, they let him explore his interests. One of those early sparks came through a Christmas gift from his sister—a magic kit that led him to perform shows at parties and schools. But the true turning point came at age 14, when a police Explorer team came to his house for a neighborhood safety program. Seeing teenagers his own age in uniform flipped a switch. Soon, he joined the Culver City Police Department’s Explorer program and fell in love with the structure, camaraderie, and mission of policing.

Kelly’s journey into law enforcement was methodical and purposeful. From being a police Explorer, he transitioned into a full-time role as a Community Service Officer (CSO) immediately after high school. The CSO job allowed him to assist with everything from booking to admin work and gave him a 360-degree view of police operations. After two and a half years in that role, he became a jailer/dispatcher and then was sworn in as a full-time police officer for Culver City.

As a cop in Culver City during the 1980s, Kelly patrolled a relatively small bedroom community that bordered areas known for higher crime. Though Culver City itself saw limited violent crime, it often attracted gang members and criminals from nearby areas. Property crimes, robberies, and drug activities—especially during the crack epidemic—kept the department busy. Kelly was also involved in proactive policing efforts under a chief who valued both community interaction and professional restraint. The chief even encouraged commendable restraint reports to help protect officers against potential civil liability cases.

After three and a half years as a patrol officer, Kelly began to feel a ceiling in Culver City. Specialized assignments were often limited to short terms, and advancement opportunities were few and far between in a smaller agency. Influenced by friends who had moved to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), Kelly decided to lateral over.

The promise of broader experiences, greater opportunities, and more action drew him in. But first, he had to complete the mandatory jail duty that all new deputies faced. He served at the East Facility in Castaic, a maximum-security jail with 130 inmates per dorm and only one deputy on shift. It was a trial by fire, exposing him to a different kind of criminal behavior and allowing him to study inmates up close—what they were in for, how they operated, and how they communicated.

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After a year in the jail, Kelly was granted his request for a fast-paced patrol assignment and was sent to the Lynwood Station—one of the most intense and violent precincts in the county. Before hitting the streets, he attended patrol school, which included tactical refreshers and roleplaying scenarios on backlots of Universal Studios. New Year’s Eve was his first shift—a baptism by fire in a city that didn’t sleep. He embraced the action and unpredictability, logging countless calls involving gangs, drugs, and violent crime. Kelly was now at the epicenter of high-stakes law enforcement.

A key moment in Kelly’s law enforcement career—and arguably his life—was the officer-involved shooting that would ultimately become a turning point. During a field encounter, Kelly and his partner confronted an armed suspect. The situation escalated rapidly, and he was forced to make a split-second decision. The suspect was shot.

The aftermath, though procedurally justified, was emotionally harrowing. The administrative scrutiny, internal reviews, and psychological weight bore down on him. Like many first responders and military veterans, Kelly wrestled with what could have been, what was, and what it all meant for his future. Though he received support, he realized that the emotional tax of continuing in such a high-stress, high-stakes environment had caught up with him.

This event forced Kelly to take a long, introspective look at his career and life. He had always prided himself on professionalism and self-control, but this incident highlighted the human cost of the badge. Professionally, he was respected. Personally, he began questioning what was next. The shooting didn’t break him—it clarified him.

Family support, particularly from his wife and his sister, gave him the space to explore options. And while some encouraged him to pursue law school, Kelly knew his passion was elsewhere.

With a master’s degree in hand and a love for mentoring, Kelly transitioned into academia. He began teaching criminal justice courses, guiding students—many of whom were military veterans or aspiring first responders—through curriculum grounded not just in theory but lived experience. He eventually moved into administrative roles and authored several academic works.

Kelly found that the classroom was just as much a place of service as the street had been. He could influence future officers, instill the value of ethical decision-making, and help veterans navigate their own transitions. His legacy, now, was not only built on arrests and citations but also on mentorship and transformation.

For Kelly Enos, transition wasn’t a retirement—it was a rebirth. He didn't view his move from law enforcement to education as a departure, but as an extension of service. His story is a blueprint for military veterans, police officers, firefighters, EMS, and all first responders looking for meaning beyond the uniform.

The Transition Drill Podcast is the best podcast for military veterans, police officers, firefighters, and first responders preparing for veteran transition and life after service. Helping you plan and implement strategies to prepare for your transition into civilian life. Your transition is more than a career shift—it’s a chance to redefine your purpose, continue serving others, and build a meaningful life beyond your uniform.

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BOOK: Teaching for Criminal Justice Professionals - Kelly Enos

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