Lexipol is proud to announce that co-founder Gordon Graham, alongside fellow California Highway Patrol veteran Bruce Wiedmer, is featured in the inspiring short documentary “Beyond the Stop: The CHP New Zealand Story.” This powerful film showcases their dedication to public safety and the profound impact of thoughtful and compassionate law enforcement practices.
“Beyond the Stop” explores the philosophy of looking beyond routine traffic stops to uncover opportunities for deeper connections, impactful interventions and meaningful service. Gordon and Bruce share personal stories that highlight the importance of leadership, creativity and empathy in law enforcement, including how a chance encounter led Gordon and Bruce to organize an event for children living with cancer who were visiting Los Angeles from New Zealand. That event led to seven CHP motor officers touring New Zealand to raise money for the children.
Gordon and Bruce’s reflections demonstrate how thoughtful actions can drive transformative outcomes, highlighting the critical role proactive policing plays in fostering lasting, positive change.
Gordon also stresses an important lesson for public safety supervisors: “When someone comes up to a boss and says, ‘I have an idea…,’ don’t immediately say no. Instead, think it through. This trip never would have happened had my sergeant said no – that would have been the end of it. But he said, ‘check with the captain’ and it grew from there.” Supervisors, Gordon stresses, play a critical role in encouraging frontline personnel to think beyond the immediate call – which in turn drives performance excellence. “If you shut them down without listening, that is the last time they will ever try to benefit the agency,” he says.
Watch the documentary to see their inspiring journey and the lasting impact of their commitment to public safety.
