About this episode

Captain Khaliqa Wheatley discusses crisis negotiation, leadership pressure, and the future of policing, drawing from her personal and professional experiences.

What does it actually take to talk someone off the edge… and make the right call when everything is on the line? In this episode of Beyond the Barrel, we sit down with Captain Khaliqa Wheatley, a 17-year law enforcement veteran, Crisis Negotiations Commander, and one of the most forward-thinking leaders in policing today, to break down the reality behind high-stakes decisions most people will never understand. Her story didn’t start with a badge—it started with adversity. Emancipated at just 15 after her mother struggled with mental health, and without a stable father figure, she had every reason to fall behind. Instead, she turned that hardship into fuel, building a life and career rooted in resilience, discipline, and purpose. From major crimes and human trafficking to narcotics, patrol, and leadership, she’s worked every side of the job. But she’s not just operating in the chaos—she’s studying it. As a doctoral student in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, she’s focused on fixing the hidden problems within law enforcement before they cost lives. This conversation dives into crisis negotiation, communication under pressure, mental health, and the future of policing. Off…

People in this episode

Host: Beyond The Barrel Podcast

Guest: Captain Khaliqa Wheatley

Topics covered

• Crisis Negotiation
• Leadership Pressure
• Mental Health
• Future of Policing
• Resilience
• Communication Under Pressure

Keywords

• Crisis Negotiation
• Leadership
• Mental Health
• Policing
• Resilience
• Communication

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