In my old hall, before I moved to the foriegn language, there was an elder that was like my grandfather. My family was close to him, he studied with my mom and dad, and he is the one that visited to tell us my dad had passed because my mom was too shook up. We were very tight.
Him and his son were "cool" elders. Then we had to answers questions about something that happened (long story, don't feel like rehashing - but it was not a JC, just questioning us for something stupid). And they both turned on my sister and brought up stuff that she had told them both in private, basically secrets.
And yeah, you guessed it - my "spiritual grandfather" told everything, right in front of all the other elders. Just f***** her right there balls deep. I was aghasted and really hurt by that azz.
At that point, I lost all respect for him and his dick son. I look back now, and I think that was the moment I started having doubts. Especially when they brought up the whole "We can't let Jehovah's organization be tarnished in the public eye" I was like, what?????? First time I had ever heard that, and it stuck.
So I wouldn't trust ANY elder, at all, no matter how cool they are with you or nice to you or if you've known them for 50 years or they studied with you.
They all have an agenda, and will turn on you to protect themselves and JW.org.