Ep 58: From Gary to Sheriff’s Race: Deputy Chief Edward Jenkins on Leadership, Legacy & Lake County

Beyond the badge… there’s a mission that never shuts off. Born and raised in Gary, Indiana, Deputy Chief Edward Jenkins has spent nearly 30 years in the fight—working his way from the Corrections Division to the front lines of homicide investigations in one of the toughest environments in the country. In this episode of Beyond the Barrel, we sit down with Jenkins as he breaks down a career built in the trenches—patrol, CSI, investigations, and time spent with the Gary Homicide Unit and Metro Homicide Task Force. This isn’t theory… this is real-world policing shaped by decades of violence, loss, and leadership under pressure. Now serving as Deputy Chief under Oscar Martinez since 2017, Jenkins is stepping into a new arena—running for Sheriff of Lake County. But this isn’t just about politics… it’s about vision, accountability, and what it really takes to lead from the front in today’s climate. This is a raw, no-BS conversation about experience, responsibility, and the kind of leadership the job demands—on the street and at the top. Because the job doesn’t end when you promote… it just gets heavier. Timestamps:  08:00 – Pension talk 15:00 – Jail struggles 22:00 – Work ethic 29:00 – Leadership style 36:00 – Homicide reality 43:00 – Missing cases 50:00 – Truth matters 57:00 – Police culture 1:06:00 – Final thoughts If you like what you hear, like, subscribe and follow the Beyond the Barrel podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_barrel_pod/⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices