He started as a 23-year-old All-American powerlifter and ended as a DHS OIG Special Agent in Charge who investigated Border Patrol shootings, Secret Service scandals, and the largest fentanyl seizure in U.S. history.
In this raw Reasons We Serve interview, retired federal agent Paul Leonard reveals what really happens inside the Office of Inspector General — the agency with first right of refusal on criminal misconduct by federal officers. From blank naturalization certificates worth $50k on the black market to a doctor who threatened to shoot the warden… and the day a dirty LAPD officer nearly killed him.
In this raw Reasons We Serve interview, Paul breaks down: • How powerlifting got him recruited into federal law enforcement • What OIG really does (and why it differs from OPR) • High-stakes cases involving INS corruption, Border Patrol shootings, and cartel-compromised agents • Surviving near-misses, leadership lessons, and why fitness still matters after 33 years
Stick around for the fitness advice that could save your career and your health.
Book: Built by History (Amazon) Instagram: Paul J. Leonard (PLUSA) Gym shoutout: ATP Powerlifting Gym, Chandler, AZ
Welcome to our channel, Reasons We Serve, a podcast dedicated to exploring the motivations, challenges, and realities of working in law enforcement. We dive deep into the personal stories of officers, discuss different career paths, and break down the roles of various agencies—from local police departments to state and federal law enforcement.
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