Policing Matters

This episode was recorded at Axon Week 2024. Axon Week 2025 will take place April 22-25 in Phoenix, Arizona. Learn more at https://www.axonweek.com/.

Please note that the first five minutes of this episode features a visual drone demonstration. To view the video of this, visit https://www.police1.com/drones/police1-reports-from-axon-week-the-evolution-of-law-enforcement-with-drone-technology.

In this special episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley talks with Adam Bry, CEO of Skydio, and City of Miami Beach Police Department Sergeant Anthony Loperfido about the revolutionary role of drones in modern law enforcement. The discussion, recorded live at Axon Week 2024 in Miami Beach, delves into the capabilities of Skydio’s latest X10 drone, designed with direct feedback from public safety professionals.

They explore how these advanced drones are transforming police operations, from providing real-time aerial intelligence to enabling autonomous, remote-controlled missions that can significantly enhance officer safety and operational efficiency. This episode sheds light on the future of drones as first responders and their potential to redefine the landscape of public safety.

For a behind-the-scenes look, visit this Policing Matters podcast article on Police1.com/policing-matters to see Jim in person!

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Axon, a global leader in public safety technology. To learn more about Axon's ecosystem of hardware and software products for policing defense and security, visit Axon.com.

Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs are rapidly transforming public safety by providing police departments with advanced tools to enhance their response capabilities. These programs allow drones to be deployed immediately when a call for service comes in, arriving on scene before officers to provide crucial real-time aerial views. As DFR programs continue to evolve, they are revolutionizing emergency response, offering quicker, more efficient situational awareness and improving outcomes in critical incidents.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, we dive into how Fremont, California, is leading the way with a joint police and fire DFR program. By collaborating across departments, Fremont’s DFR initiative is transforming emergency response times and enhancing situational awareness for both police and firefighters.

Host Jim Dudley interviews three key members of the Fremont DFR program: Lieutenant Heidi Kindorf and Sergeant Ken Kwok from the Fremont Police Department, and Deputy Fire Chief Heather Mozdean from the Fremont Fire Department. Together, they shed light on the city’s unique, collaborative drone as first responder (DFR) program, where police and fire departments work side-by-side to deploy drones in emergency situations. The guests discuss how this joint effort enables faster response times, better situational awareness, and more effective coordination between police and fire personnel.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

This episode was recorded at Axon Week 2024. Axon Week 2025 will take place April 22-25 in Phoenix, Arizona. Learn more at https://www.axonweek.com/.

In this special episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley sits down with Rick Smith, the visionary founder of Axon, formerly known as TASER International. Smith talks about the advancements discussed during Axon Week, including the TASER 10, virtual reality-based training and the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on policing.

The conversation delves into how these innovations are poised to enhance officer safety, increase efficiency and reduce critical incidents. With real-world examples and insights, Smith explains the journey from early TASERs to the latest TASER 10, emphasizing its potential to outperform traditional firearms. The episode also explores how virtual reality is revolutionizing training methods, making them more effective and accessible. Additionally, the discussion covers AI tools like Draft One, which streamline report writing, allowing officers to focus more on community engagement and proactive policing.

For a behind-the-scenes look, visit this Policing Matters podcast article on Police1.com/policing-matters to see Jim and Rick in person!

The 2024 anniversary of 9/11 marks 23 years since the tragic events that forever altered the course of history and the landscape of public safety.

As we move further from that fateful day, the significance of remembering and learning from 9/11 grows even more critical. For many, especially younger generations, 9/11 is transitioning from a lived experience to a historical event, making it essential for public safety professionals to ensure that the lessons identified are not only remembered, but actively applied in today's ever-evolving emergency response environment.

In this special crossover episode of the Policing Matters, Better Every Shift and Inside EMS podcasts, Cohosts Jim Dudley, Aaron Zamzow and Rob Lawrence highlight the importance of remembering 9/11 not just as a historical event but as a continuing influence on how public safety agencies operate today.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is sponsored by Verizon Frontline, the advanced network and technology for first responders. To learn more, visit verizon.com/frontline.

In an era where law enforcement faces unprecedented challenges, the call for evolved leadership has never been louder. As communities demand greater transparency, accountability and empathy from their police forces, leaders in policing are tasked with not only responding to these demands but also proactively shaping the future of public safety. This conversation delves into how innovative leadership strategies and a renewed focus on culture are paving the way for a more adaptive and resilient policing framework.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Chief Jack Cauley and recently retired Under Sheriff Chris Hsiung, two leaders with distinguished careers in law enforcement and a shared commitment to modernizing police culture. Chief Cauley, who has led the Castle Rock (Colorado) Police Department since 2012, has been a pioneering figure with his “one by one” policing philosophy, which emphasizes individual care and psychological safety. Under Sheriff Hsiung brings his extensive experience in leadership development and community engagement, contributing to his role in shaping forward-thinking law enforcement practices.

Both leaders are also integral members of The Curve, a nonprofit organization dedicated to revolutionizing police leadership. Founded by Simon Sinek and a collective of police chiefs and sheriffs, The Curve provides cutting-edge leadership development and resources to forward-thinking law enforcement leaders. Through their involvement with The Curve, Chief Cauley and Under Sheriff Hsiung are actively working to modernize police culture from the inside out, fostering environments where both officers and communities can thrive.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

The use of force in law enforcement is a critical and often controversial topic. Traditional methods, such as prone restraint, have come under scrutiny due to their potential for escalating situations and causing harm. As the landscape of policing evolves, there is a growing need for innovative techniques that prioritize safety, effectiveness and de-escalation.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley is joined by returning guest Rener Gracie, a prominent figure in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the head of Gracie University. Rener introduces the SafeWrap system, a groundbreaking technique developed to address the shortcomings of traditional prone restraint methods used by law enforcement. With his extensive experience in training officers, Rener discusses how SafeWrap can transform police practices, reduce injuries and build better relationships between law enforcement and the public.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by Skydio. Learn more about how Skydio enhances public safety and operational efficiency by visiting Skydio.com.

In an era where drug policies are evolving, the challenges faced by law enforcement have never been more complex. With the decriminalization and legalization of certain substances, the narrative around drug enforcement has shifted. Yet, the reality on the streets tells a different story. Organized crime, black markets, and overdose deaths continue to rise, posing significant threats to public safety.

On this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Mike Sena, Executive Director of the Northern California High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area and the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center, who provides a candid look into the ongoing fight against drug trafficking organizations and the societal impacts of drug-related crime.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by Skydio. Learn more about how Skydio enhances public safety and operational efficiency by visiting Skydio.com.

The evolving landscape of law enforcement recruitment and training brings both significant challenges and promising opportunities. As police departments strive to attract and retain new talent, some agencies are shifting away from traditional training models toward approaches that resonate better with Gen Z recruits.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Hank Prim, Supervisory Special Agent and State Law Enforcement Standards and Training Administrator in South Dakota, about South Dakota's approach to law enforcement training, particularly the shift from high-stress, military-style academies to a more collegial and problem-based learning environment. Prim discusses the unique challenges faced by rural law enforcement agencies in recruitment and retention and underscores the importance of building trust within the community by training officers to interact with empathy and professionalism. Prim also shares his views on integrating technology, such as virtual reality, into training to enhance scenario-based learning and better prepare officers for real-world situations.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by Skydio. Learn more about how Skydio enhances public safety and operational efficiency by visiting Skydio.com.

The phenomenon of contagious fire, where police officers are influenced to discharge their firearms upon hearing gunfire from their peers, has been a subject of concern and speculation in law enforcement circles.

Recent research spearheaded by a coalition of law enforcement professionals and academics has provided empirical evidence supporting the existence of this phenomenon. The study, titled "An Experimental Test of the Contagious Fire Thesis in Policing," delves into the mechanics and implications of contagious fire, offering valuable insights that could reshape training and operational strategies in policing.

In this week’s episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with the experts who contributed to this groundbreaking research, including John DeCarlo, retired police chief and professor of Criminal Justice at the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences and Eric Dlugolenski, an assistant professor at Central Connecticut State University and a retired police sergeant, who led the study in conjunction with the Farmington (New Mexico) Police Department and the Las Vegas Department of Public Safety. Also joining the discussion are Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe and Chief Jason Potts, the Public Safety Director in Las Vegas.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by Skydio. Learn more about how Skydio enhances public safety and operational efficiency by visiting Skydio.com.

Effective policing isn’t just about enforcing laws; it’s about building trust and cooperation with the community. Yet in some communities, there’s a lack of confidence or even mistrust toward the police.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley explores how proactive community engagement can transform police-community relations. He is joined by Dr. Rachel Santos and Dr. Roberto Santos, researchers from the Department of Justice and professors at Radford University in Virginia, who discuss their recent publication "Operationalizing Proactive Community Engagement," which offers actionable strategies for police departments to improve their interactions with communities.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

How can we bridge the gap between law enforcement and the communities they serve?

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley explores this pressing question with Jasur Talipov, a college freshman and founder of "Trust the Badge," a nonprofit organization and podcast dedicated to building trust between law enforcement officers and the communities they protect. Through his platform, Talipov brings together law enforcement officials, government representatives and community leaders to discuss critical issues, share perspectives, and work toward enhancing mutual respect and understanding.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

In the complex and often high-stakes world of law enforcement, officers are frequently called upon to navigate crises involving individuals who may be armed, in severe emotional distress, or posing a danger to themselves and others. The expectation is clear: resolve the situation swiftly and with minimal force. However, this is easier said than done.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley delves into these challenges with Dr. Jeff Thompson, a retired NYPD detective who now serves as a research scientist specializing in de-escalation and hostage situations at Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Thompson shares his valuable insights into the art and science of crisis negotiation, the importance of resilience, and the mental health practices that can help officers perform their duties effectively while maintaining their wellbeing.

LETS Corp is the technology company behind LETS Respond, one of the most sought-after smart solutions by law enforcement to prevent and de-escalate crises. Endorsed by law enforcement agencies from LA to New York, LETS Respond helps bring enhanced awareness and safer resolutions in response to hostage/crisis situations. With LETS Respond, you’ll instantly save costs, and improve time to response and resolution, without ever needing to deal with the hassle of setting up a throw phone. Explore the benefits by visiting letscorp.us/respond today.

In every organization, leadership is crucial. Vision and strategic planning can propel an agency forward, but these cannot occur in isolation. Leaders often hesitate to share their strategies for achieving goals and outcomes. Yet, great leaders share their vision and include others in the planning process to reach these goals.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley explores these themes with Chief Christopher Cook, who has dedicated his career to enhancing leadership through improved communication. His new book, "The Art of Strategic Communication: A Police Chief's Guide To Mastering Soundbites, Storytelling, And Community Engagement," has quickly become a must-read for law enforcement leaders.

LETS Corp is the technology company behind LETS Respond, one of the most sought-after smart solutions by law enforcement to prevent and de-escalate crises. Endorsed by law enforcement agencies from LA to New York, LETS Respond helps bring enhanced awareness and safer resolutions in response to hostage/crisis situations. With LETS Respond, you’ll instantly save costs, and improve time to response and resolution, without ever needing to deal with the hassle of setting up a throw phone. Explore the benefits by visiting letscorp.us/respond today.

The National Association of Police Athletic/Activities League, Inc. (PAL) stands as a beacon of community engagement, fostering positive relationships between law enforcement and youth through mentorship, recreational activities and educational programs.

With over 300 chapters across the United States and the world serving two million youths aged 5 to 18, National PAL aims to prevent juvenile crime and promote healthy development. By providing safe spaces and supportive environments, PAL empowers youth to build trust with police officers, learn valuable life skills and envision brighter futures. The organization's comprehensive approach includes enhancing infrastructure, developing strategic plans and creating nationwide curriculums to address critical issues such as substance abuse, ensuring that PAL continues to make a significant impact on communities across the country.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley talks to Sergeant Kenny Raglin, the newly elected President of National PAL, and Sergeant Christopher Hill, the organization's new CEO. Both guests share their personal experiences and insights into how PAL programs are making a significant difference in communities across the nation.

Sergeants Raglin and Hill bring a wealth of experience and passion to their leadership roles at National PAL. Raglin, a former PAL kid from Philadelphia, and Hill, who supervised community service programs in Howell Township, New Jersey, discuss their vision for expanding PAL's reach and impact. They highlight the importance of enhancing infrastructure, developing strategic plans and creating comprehensive nationwide curriculums to address issues such as substance abuse.

The conversation underscores how PAL not only benefits the youth but also rejuvenates the spirits of participating officers, creating a cycle of positive influence and community engagement.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley welcomes Thor Eells, Executive Director of the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA).

With over 30 years of experience in law enforcement, Eells shares his expertise on current NTOA activities and trends in SWAT training and deployment. He discusses challenges facing tactical teams today, including civil unrest, evolving standards for SWAT teams and the importance of regional cooperation among agencies.

The conversation also explores the implications of recent legislation on law enforcement practices and the role of advanced technology in enhancing tactical training and operations.

LETS Corp is the technology company behind LETS Respond, one of the most sought-after smart solutions by law enforcement to prevent and de-escalate crises. Endorsed by law enforcement agencies from LA to New York, LETS Respond helps bring enhanced awareness and safer resolutions in response to hostage/crisis situations. With LETS Respond, you’ll instantly save costs, and improve time to response and resolution, without ever needing to deal with the hassle of setting up a throw phone. Explore the benefits by visiting letscorp.us/respond today.

Drug addiction is often described as a public health crisis, with the United States seeing a significant rise in overdose deaths over the past two decades. Despite various approaches ranging from harm reduction to using alternative drugs for rehabilitation, the effectiveness of these strategies remains questionable. With overdose deaths soaring from 10,000 to over 100,000 annually, it raises the question: is it time to reconsider our approach and perhaps start a new War on Drugs?

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with retired DEA agent Mike Brown, who has dedicated over 32 years to fighting drug trafficking. The discussion centers around the escalating crisis of fentanyl addiction and overdose deaths in the United States, highlighting the challenges faced by law enforcement and the need for improved bilateral cooperation and innovative strategies to combat the issue.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and its Office for Bombing Prevention (OBP) are at the forefront of maintaining national security, working closely with local police to prevent and respond to threats involving explosive devices.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley sits down with Jeff Dade, section chief of OBP, to discuss the vital partnerships, advanced training programs and innovative technologies that enhance the resilience of America's critical infrastructure against potential attacks.

LETS Corp is the technology company behind LETS Respond, one of the most sought-after smart solutions by law enforcement to prevent and de-escalate crises. Endorsed by law enforcement agencies from LA to New York, LETS Respond helps bring enhanced awareness and safer resolutions in response to hostage/crisis situations. With LETS Respond, you’ll instantly save costs, and improve time to response and resolution, without ever needing to deal with the hassle of setting up a throw phone. Explore the benefits by visiting letscorp.us/respond today.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing various industries and policing is no exception. AI offers tools that can enhance efficiency, accuracy and overall effectiveness in law enforcement. However, the adoption of these technologies also raises critical questions about privacy, bias and the ethical use of AI in public safety.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Chief Philip Lukens on how AI is being used in policing.

With a career spanning nearly three decades, Chief Lukens has been at the forefront of integrating innovative technologies in policing. As a leading expert in AI, he has been instrumental in pioneering the use of artificial intelligence in tandem with community policing, significantly enhancing police operations and optimizing patrol methods. Learn more about Chief Lukens’ policing initiatives here.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by Skydio. Learn more about how Skydio enhances public safety and operational efficiency by visiting Skydio.com.

Recently, we saw a first-of-its-kind arrest of two middle school students who created deepfake nude images of their classmates. This arrest marks a new milestone for law enforcement as they consider how to address the use of generative AI relative to child sexual abuse material and nonconsensual deepfakes — by even juvenile offenders.

The rapid advancement of AI technology has brought significant benefits, but it also poses new challenges, especially for law enforcement agencies. AI-generated images and voices can be incredibly realistic, making it difficult to discern authentic evidence from fabricated content. This new landscape requires investigators to develop sophisticated techniques and legal frameworks to keep pace with these technological innovations.

In this episode, Policing Matters podcast host Jim Dudley speaks with Heather Mahalik Barnhart, Senior Director of Community Engagement at Cellebrite, about the complexities law enforcement faces due to AI advancements. Heather highlights the difficulty in distinguishing real from AI-generated images, the legal ambiguities surrounding AI evidence and the mental toll on investigators. She also shares practical advice on securing personal and family digital presence, emphasizing the importance of updated security settings and awareness.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

In the latest episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley sits down with Alison Esposito, a former NYPD Deputy Inspector who is now making a bid for Congress. The episode dives into the pressing issues facing law enforcement today, including the movement to defund the police, the repercussions of policy changes following the 2020 protests, and the challenges of law enforcement recruitment and public perception.

Alison Esposito brings nearly 25 years of experience with the NYPD to the table, where she rose to the rank of Deputy Inspector and commanded the 70th Police District. Following in the footsteps of her father, NYPD Chief Michael Esposito, Alison joined the force because she believes that those who are in danger, and cannot defend themselves, have the right to be safe, free and protected.

Her career, marked by a commitment to public safety and community service, now extends into the political arena where she aims to influence law enforcement policy on a national level. As a candidate for Congress, Esposito focuses on strengthening public safety, supporting law enforcement officers, and addressing the consequences of recent criminal justice reforms. For more information, click here.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

In this week’s episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley welcomes Sheriff Scott Rose, host and producer of the "Officer Down Memorial Podcast," to discuss the genesis of his podcast and the importance of advocating for the families of fallen LEOs and mental wellness resources for law enforcement.

Elected as the 26th Sheriff of Dodge County, Minnesota in 2014, Rose brings a personal and generational commitment to the profession, with a family history deeply rooted in law enforcement. During the episode, Rose discusses the impact of cumulative stress, PTSD among officers, and the importance of remembering and honoring the sacrifices of fallen officers.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by Skydio. Learn more about how Skydio enhances public safety and operational efficiency by visiting Skydio.com.

Effective police leadership transcends the mere management of law enforcement personnel; it involves inspiring change, fostering community trust and navigating complex socio-political landscapes. Leaders in law enforcement face unique challenges that require not only a deep understanding of law and policy but also strong interpersonal skills and strategic vision. This calls for specialized training programs that address the specific needs of police leadership at various levels.

In a recent episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley engages with retired NYPD Chief Kenneth Corey, who now plays a pivotal role at the Policing Leadership Academy in Chicago. Chief Corey discusses the nuances of leading a large police force, the transformative power of mentorship and the Academy's innovative approach to training police commanders. This episode provides valuable insights into the complexities of police leadership and the critical role of continuous education in enhancing the efficacy and ethical standards of law enforcement officers.

Learn more about the Policing Leadership Academy.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by Skydio. Learn more about how Skydio enhances public safety and operational efficiency by visiting Skydio.com.

The U.S. corrections system is at a crossroads, grappling with high recidivism rates and the growing need for a shift from punitive approaches to more rehabilitative and supportive measures. By integrating data-driven applications and fostering relationships between inmates and corrections staff, there’s potential to reform how jails and prisons operate. This not only aims to better assess risks but also to ensure the safety of both correctional officers and incarcerated individuals, preparing them for a successful reintegration into society.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley welcomes Dr. Brian Lovins, a criminology expert and principal at Justice System Partners, and past president of the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA). Dr. Lovins discusses the application of data-driven technologies in corrections and emphasizes the importance of relationship-building in rehabilitation. The conversation delves into how corrections agencies can use these tools to ensure safety, facilitate rehabilitation and prepare inmates for life after release.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

Every day, law enforcement officers put themselves in harm's way to ensure public safety and are often severely injured in that process. The repercussions of on-duty injuries can extend far beyond the physical. The aftermath often brings a cascade of challenges that affect not only the injured officers but also their families and colleagues.

In this episode of the "Policing Matters" podcast host Jim Dudley speaks with Dr. Patricia Kay Reyna about her family's ordeal following a devastating on-duty accident that left her husband, Humberto Reyna, a North Carolina State Highway Patrol Master Trooper, with a traumatic brain injury.

Currently working with the Center on Brain Injury Research and Training at the University of Oregon, Dr. Reyna discusses her transformative journey from a finance professional to a traumatic brain injury expert and advocate. Her story sheds light on the physical, emotional and bureaucratic struggles that ensue following such injuries in the line of duty.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

In recent years, law enforcement agencies across the United States have navigated through tumultuous waters, marked by heightened scrutiny and significant shifts in operational norms. This complex landscape has given rise to a phenomenon known as de-policing, where officers may exhibit reluctance to engage proactively due to various external and internal pressures.

Doctoral candidate Jacob Foster from Arizona State University, alongside Dr. Michael Rossler at Illinois State University and Dr. Charles Scheer at the University of Southern Mississippi, embarked on a rigorous investigation into the nuances of de-policing. Their research, born out of the desire to empirically examine the anecdotal experiences surrounding modern law enforcement challenges, provides an empirical foundation to understand how external events like the Ferguson effect and the George Floyd incident, coupled with internal departmental dynamics, influence police behavior.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Foster, Rossler and Scheer about their findings, which were recently published in Police Practice and Research, and how they illuminate the complexities of policing in an era of unprecedented scrutiny.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

In the history of American policing, the need for strong, effective leadership has never been more apparent. As law enforcement agencies across the nation grapple with evolving challenges, the role of leadership in navigating these complexities comes into sharp focus. Leadership is not just about guiding an organization through its daily operations; it's about setting a vision, inspiring trust, and fostering a culture of integrity and accountability.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with recently retired Captain William Fraass, who took his 27 years of law enforcement experience and wrote a book on leadership titled: “Leadership in Law Enforcement: 10 Key Traits and What Law Enforcement Agencies Can Do To Develop These in Future Leaders.” His book is not just an accumulation of personal experiences but a comprehensive study that includes interviews with law enforcement professionals, historical analysis and a deep dive into what makes a leader effective in the high-stakes realm of policing.

In a profession as demanding as law enforcement, mental wellness and health are paramount, yet often sidelined. Addressing this critical aspect, the latest episode of the Policing Matters podcast delves into the innovative approaches and best practices for fostering mental health and wellness among officers.

Chief Dave Norris of the Menlo Park (Calif.) Police Department and Chaplain Jared Altic from the Kansas City (Kan.) Police Department join host Jim Dudley to shed light on the proactive measures and support systems necessary to ensure the well-being of those who protect and serve.

Chief Norris and Chaplain Altic share their extensive experiences in handling critical incident aftermaths and emphasize the importance of preemptive strategies for mental wellness. From establishing peer support programs and chaplaincy initiatives to leveraging technology and community resources, our guests offer a comprehensive overview of how agencies can build a supportive environment for their officers.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

The landscape of law enforcement in the United States is in a constant state of evolution. From the transition to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) from the traditional FBI Uniform Crime Report (UCR) to the growing need for comprehensive officer training and community engagement strategies, police departments nationwide are navigating a complex web of changes and challenges.

These shifts underscore the critical need for innovative approaches to support law enforcement agencies in their mission to serve and protect. As the demands on police officers grow more complex, the importance of access to high-quality training, resources and technical assistance cannot be overstated.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley talks to David T. Snively, a program manager for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), to explore how the Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC) program can assist law enforcement agencies in navigating current challenges.

This initiative offers police agencies access to tailored training and resources designed to meet their unique needs. Through this conversation, listeners gain a deeper understanding of how CRI-TAC empowers agencies to improve their operations and foster better relationships with the communities they serve.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

The transition to retirement for law enforcement officers is a journey that often begins much earlier than the last day on the job, yet it is a topic that doesn't always receive the attention it deserves.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley shines a spotlight on the future well-being of law enforcement professionals, a timely discussion set against the backdrop of First Responder Wellness Week.

Guest Troy Anderson, who serves as the Executive Director, Officer Safety and Wellness, for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), shares expert insights into making this critical transition a successful one.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

The concept of evidence-based policing has increasingly become a focal point in discussions about law enforcement reform and innovation. At its core, evidence-based policing seeks to bridge the gap between scientific research and policing strategies, utilizing the best available evidence to inform, challenge and ultimately enhance the decisions, policies and practices within the law enforcement community.

This approach not only aims to improve the effectiveness of policing methods but also strives to foster a greater degree of accountability and transparency within the field. By grounding decisions in empirical evidence, the law enforcement community can more confidently address complex challenges, ranging from crime prevention to community relations, in an increasingly data-driven world.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley sits down with Dr. Jerry Ratcliffe, a leading figure in the realm of evidence-based policing. With a career that began in the UK before transitioning to an academic role at Temple University, Ratcliffe brings a unique blend of practical experience and scholarly insight to the conversation. The author of "Reducing Crime: A Companion for Police Leaders" and "Evidence-Based Policing: The Basics," and host of the Reducing Crime podcast, Ratcliffe’s perspectives shed light on the critical role of evidence-based practices in shaping the future of law enforcement, advocating for a policing model that is not only responsive but also anticipatory, driven by data and committed to continuous improvement.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

In the realm of criminal investigations, cold cases have always presented unique challenges and frustrations for law enforcement and affected families. Yet, the advent of advanced forensic technologies, especially DNA analysis and genealogy, has revolutionized our ability to solve cases that were once thought to be lost to time.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Lindsey Wade, a Senior Law Enforcement Specialist at RTI International, about the intricacies of cold case investigations, highlighting the critical role of emerging technologies and the unwavering dedication of investigators in bringing long-awaited justice.

With 21 years of experience as a Tacoma, Washington police officer and detective, Lindsey Wade has investigated a wide array of crimes, including sexual assaults, child abuse, missing persons and homicides. Notably, she played a pivotal role in creating the Tacoma Police Department's Child Abduction Response Team (CART), the first CART in Washington state to be certified by the Department of Justice. Since retiring from active duty, Wade has continued her mission to solve cold cases, utilizing DNA evidence to uncover the truth behind unsolved crimes. She recently published a true crime memoir titled, “In My DNA: My Career Investigating Your Worst Nightmares,” and is the author of "DNA’s delayed justice: The fight to fill the gaps in CODIS," published on Police1.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

The policing landscape on the West Coast has faced significant scrutiny and challenges, from policy decisions and rising crime rates to issues surrounding homelessness, drug abuse and mental health.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Brian Marvel, a seasoned San Diego police officer and the current president of the Police Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), to discuss the formation of the West Coast Law Enforcement Coalition and its efforts to address these pressing concerns. The episode offers a deep dive into the intricacies of policing, the impact of legislation and the quest for effective solutions to improve public safety and law enforcement professionalism.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

The resolution of cold cases represents a beacon of hope and justice in the often murky waters of criminal investigations. As time passes, the challenges in solving these cases magnify, yet the importance of bringing closure to victims' families and holding perpetrators accountable never wanes. With advancements in forensic technology and investigative methods, law enforcement agencies are experiencing a renaissance in cracking cases that have remained unsolved for years, if not decades.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks to Detective Matt Hutchison of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety in California about his innovative approach to investigating cold cases that have led to remarkable successes in solving crimes long thought unsolvable. Joining the force in 2008 and becoming a detective in 2015, Hutchison's career is a testament to the power of persistence, cutting-edge forensic science, and the collaborative effort between law enforcement and the community.

Hutchison's insights into the world of cold case investigations not only shed light on the complexities and challenges of these endeavors but also celebrate the triumphs of justice achieved through dedication and innovation. This episode of Policing Matters is a compelling reminder of the impact that law enforcement officers can have on the lives of those seeking closure and the relentless pursuit of truth that defines their work.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Axon's Moonshot initiative has an ambitious goal to drastically reduce gun-related deaths in encounters involving police officers and the public. The primary aim of the Moonshot initiative is to reduce these fatalities by 50% within 10 years.

In this episode of the "Policing Matters" podcast, host Jim Dudley engages with Axon's experts to unravel the complexities of officer-involved shootings and the potential for reducing gun fatalities. Axon has initiated an ambitious project: the Axon Public Safety Gun Fatality Database. This database, a product of meticulous research and analysis in collaboration with the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR), aims to provide groundbreaking insights into shooting deaths involving officers and civilians from 2021 through June 2023 across all U.S. jurisdictions.

The discussion pivots on the genesis and objectives of Axon's Moonshot goal and the database. Guests Mike Wagers, Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Axon, and Ty Nguyen, Senior Data Scientist, discuss the unique approach and methodology behind the database, highlighting how it stands apart from existing studies. The episode also explores the initial findings and their implications for enhancing law enforcement training, decision-making and safety.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

When called upon to use your firearm in the line of duty, you need to know that the firearm sighting and accuracy are as reliable as possible.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Chris Broomell about the balance between standardizing firearms for operational efficiency and allowing individual officers the flexibility to choose their weapons. Key topics discussed include the importance of firearm sighting and accuracy, the role of test and evaluation (T&E) programs in weapon selection, and the challenges faced by smaller agencies with limited budgets in acquiring and maintaining their firearms and safety equipment.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

Polis Solutions recently announced the commercial release of TrustStat, a multi-modal AI system for the analysis of police body-worn camera (BWC) video. TrustStat integrates three kinds of advanced AI technology to enable police agencies and communities to examine key patterns in interactions between officers and the public. Identifying these patterns empowers agencies and communities with valuable, actionable data on police-community trust and other critical public safety issues.

In today’s episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Jonathan M. Wender, Ph.D., president and co-founder of Polis Solutions, about the benefits body-worn camera analysis can bring to police departments, officers and the communities they serve.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

In the realm of law enforcement, the start of a new year often brings about reflection and the pursuit of innovative approaches to age-old challenges. At the heart of this transformative period is a crucial, yet frequently overlooked aspect: budgeting and resource management within police departments.

Activity-based budgeting (ABB) is a pioneering approach that intricately links police workload with financial planning. This method presents a stark contrast to traditional budget models, offering a more nuanced understanding of how resources can be allocated effectively to meet operational needs. As this concept gains traction, it promises to reshape the landscape of policing, leading to a more efficient and responsive approach in law enforcement agencies.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with the creator of activity-based budgeting for law enforcement, Dr. John Shane, a former police captain and current professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Their discussion illuminates the intricacies of ABB and its implications for law enforcement agencies.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Since 2020, communities nationwide have seen an increase in large-scale sideshows that have endangered passers-by, the police and the participants, as well as plaguing neighborhoods with noise and associated criminal activities.

In this episode of the "Policing Matters" podcast, host Jim Dudley talks to Sergeant John Ampol of the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) about the policies and training SDPD has put in place to manage sideshows, emphasizing collaboration with allied and prosecution agencies, extensive training, and enforcement strategies focusing on impounding vehicles and addressing ancillary crimes like ghost guns, drug trade and fraud.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Every year, Police1 columnist Terry Dwyer breaks down United States Supreme Court rulings of significance to law enforcement. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, Terry joins host Jim Dudley to discuss this year's summary.

Terry retired from the New York State Police after a 22-year career as a Trooper and Investigator. He is now a tenured Professor in the Justice and Law Administration Department at Western Connecticut State University and an attorney in private practice representing law enforcement officers in disciplinary cases, critical incidents, and employment matters. He is the author of the forthcoming "Legal Issues in Homeland Security" from Looseleaf Law Publications.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

In this special year-end episode, Policing Matters podcast host Jim Dudley is joined by fellow State Your Case columnist Chief Joel Shults to take a deep dive into the critical issues impacting law enforcement in 2023.

Jim and Joel discuss many issues including the current political climate, NIBRS collection, use of force technology, pursuit response, officer safety and much more!

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

Regardless of the topic or issue in law enforcement, whether it is about operations, hiring, retention, or safety, everything comes down to leadership. We're not just talking about leadership by rank, but individual leadership as well. Today’s guest on the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Lexipol, has written about leadership and he certainly lives it.

Andrew A. DeMuth Jr. is the lead presenter for LeadingBlue.com, a company that provides leadership training nationwide to law enforcement and private sector audiences alike.

Andrew currently serves with the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office managing CODIS, the statewide DNA collection program with more than 500 participating law enforcement agencies. Before that, he was with a municipal police department for 25 years. Seventeen of those years were in leadership roles managing patrol squads and later the investigations division.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Behavioral Threat Assessment Management (BTAM) stands as a crucial first line of defense in preempting and mitigating acts of mass violence, offering a systematic approach to identifying individuals who exhibit threatening or concerning behaviors. By analyzing these behavioral cues and assessing the potential risks they pose, law enforcement and threat assessment professionals can proactively intervene, providing support or taking action to prevent tragic incidents before they unfold.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by OfficerStore.com, host Jim Dudley speaks with Dr. Jack Rozel, a Professor of Psychiatry and Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Pittsburgh, about how law enforcement, behavioral sciences professionals and the community can work together to identify those at risk of committing acts of mass violence. 

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

Policing can create a range of emotions and feelings such as fear, excitement, grief, anger and sadness. Do officers ever catch a break and enjoy some levity and laughter? While policing is mostly serious business, wouldn’t it be great to be entertained by someone who knows about comedy and police work? Today's guest fits that role. Vinnie Montez, a Colorado police officer with more than two decades of service, also happens to be a successful comedian.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by OfficerStore.com, host Jim Dudley speaks with Vinnie about how his journey to better mental wellness led to a career in comedy. 

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

In 1954, the 83rd U.S. Congress amended the 1938 act that had made Armistice Day a holiday, striking the word “Armistice” in favor of “Veterans.” President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the legislation on June 1, 1954. From then on, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars. According to the Department of Justice COPS Office, nearly 25% of American law enforcement officers have a military background.  We thank them for their service.

Sadly, the rate of suicide for veterans is roughly 57% higher than the general public for a variety of reasons, from PTSD to substance abuse to other mental health issues. With this in mind, The Independence Fund, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, initiated the Veterans Justice Initiative under the guidance of Clark Pennington, a former police chief. The initiative's goal is to enhance law enforcement's comprehension of the challenges faced by veterans and facilitate their access to the necessary treatment. The first year was such a success that the state of North Carolina officially extended funding through its recently passed state budget.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Lexipol, host Jim Dudley speaks with Clark Pennington about the program, the goal of which is to confront deeply rooted mental health and substance abuse issues within the veteran community.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Policing strategies based on data and research are needed more than ever in order to deflect criticisms of race, economics and other biases.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Lexipol, host Jim Dudley speaks with Dr. Phllip J. Cook, a criminologist and researcher, about the need to develop effective strategies and programs to reduce gun violence and hold offenders accountable.

Dr. Cook, who co-authored "Policing Gun Violence" with Anthony Braga, is a renowned researcher and co-author of the Boston Gun Project's Operation Ceasefire. He has been a member of the Duke University faculty for 50 years, and is currently Professor Emeritus of Public Policy Studies.

Dr. Cook was one of the first scholars to undertake research on gun violence prevention. In 2020 his contributions in this area were recognized by the award of the Stockholm Prize in Criminology. 

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Given the nature of the job, police officers will always sustain injuries. If you make an arrest, you may encounter a resistive suspect; if you make a traffic stop, an ensuing pursuit may lead to a traffic collision. Sometimes an injury may be obvious and apparent, but some may be deceptive. Have you ever “shaken it off” after a knockdown, drag-out fight? Ever get out of a minor vehicle fender bender and walk it off? Sure you have. 

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Lexipol, host Jim Dudley speaks with Stephanie Samuels, a psychotherapist who works exclusively with police officers, about her research into the role repeated head injuries play in mental health disorders in law enforcement. and a probable link to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in officer suicides.

Stephanie is also the founder and director of Copline, a 24/7 hotline answered by retired LEOs to engage with callers who want to talk about anything from a bad day to a full-blown mental health crisis. Active and retired officers and their families can call the line. Call 1-800-COPLINE to access the service.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Amid all the grumblings about law enforcement over the years, there have been bright spots of support, which can be hard to see among all the negative chatter.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by OfficerStore.com, host Jim Dudley speaks with Craig W. Floyd, founder and president of Citizens Behind the Badge (CBB), a nonprofit advocacy organization formed in 2020 to end the disastrous “defund and defame the police” movement and ensure that our nation’s law enforcement professionals receive the support and respect needed and deserved to keep America safe.

Craig is also the founding chief executive officer emeritus of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), a nonprofit organization he helped establish in 1984 to honor the service and sacrifice of America’s law enforcement officers. Craig retired from the Memorial Fund at the end of December 2018.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by OfficerStore.com, host Jim Dudley speaks with Alicia Wadas, who has been honored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for her exceptional service in the public interest. 

The award is a one-time, first-ever recognition that spotlights her impact while serving as president of the FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association (FBINCAAA), an FBI community outreach partner.

Alicia Wadas is a successful businesswoman with Lavidge, a Phoenix advertising agency, where she has been for 20 years and is currently the chief operating officer and executive vice president.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

Force is inevitable in law enforcement situations with non-compliant suspects. Police officers know how to use de-escalation, but sometimes voice commands are not effective in dealing with subjects under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or if they are in a mental health crisis. De-escalation does not work well when a suspect flees, so what are your options?

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Lexipol, host Jim Dudley speaks with Kevin Mullins from WRAP Technologies about the BolaWrap, a remote restraint device officers can use to safely detain individuals without injury or the need to use higher levels of force.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Ghost guns are firearms that are privately assembled and untraceable. They can be assembled from "buy build shoot" kits or from other parts, or they can be 3D-printed. Unlike other guns, these weapons don't have serial numbers.

Google “ghost guns” to see the ubiquity of them and that they have been used to assault law enforcement officers and commit crimes by people who most likely would not be able to lawfully purchase a firearm otherwise.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Lexipol, host Jim Dudley speaks with Tom Chittum, who recently retired from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), about the proliferation of ghost guns, as well as the value of gunshot detection systems.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

The future of policing is in the hands of our best recruiting efforts. In a world where most careers have swift hiring procedures, why does law enforcement take up to nine months? Can we continue to rely on passive strategies like billboards to attract quality applicants? 

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Coach George Rush, a legend in the realm of college football with an impressive record of 326 wins, 22 conference titles, 7 state titles and 7 national championships in his 38-year career. Post-retirement, Rush has taken on a new challenge – working with the San Francisco Police Department on their recruitment efforts.

Can the strategies that led to overwhelming success on the football field be replicated in the law enforcement recruitment process? Tune in to find out as Coach Rush shares his experiences, strategies and vision for the future of police recruitment.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

A critical incident causes a full-on agency response, perhaps it involves fatalities, or perhaps it involves the use of force. The scene is secured and the media creates a narrative about the event that is not quite right. Does your agency respond? Does your agency have a policy? How soon does the agency chief or sheriff explain the facts to the media and the public?

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Judy Pal, founder and principal of 10-8 Communications LLC, about best practices in crisis communications – both internal and external to your agency. Judy is a co-author of the recently released "Strategic Communications for Law Enforcement Executives" published by the COPS Office.

Prior to teaching and consulting full-time, Judy Pal was an assistant commissioner with the NYPD serving as an advisor to the Police Commissioner. Before that, she was Director of Operations for FBI-LEEDA, Chief of Staff with the Baltimore and Milwaukee Police Departments, and served as a member of the command staff overseeing public information with the Atlanta, Savannah and Halifax (Canada) police departments. 

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

Imagine you are a law enforcement officer first on scene of a mass shooting, or a choking child, or another officer or civilian has been critically injured and needs immediate attention. Are you up to the task? Is it even something you have been trained to handle?

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Lexipol, host Jim Dudley speaks with Eric Thomas O'Neal about adding yet another dimension to today's law enforcement officer, that of a trained emergency medical responder.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

In this special crossover episode of the Policing Matters, Better Every Shift and Inside EMS podcasts, cohosts Jim Dudley, Aaron Zamzow and Chris Cebollero come together to discuss preserving the legacy of 9/11 responders and to assess our readiness to respond to a large-scale MCI in our communities.

Together, they dive into technology trends used to improve the security of citizens and first responders, from license plate readers to crime mapping, facial recognition, drone surveillance and AI analysis.

Tune in as our panel discusses:

• Keeping the 9/11 legacy alive with new generations
• How awareness of occupational cancer and mental health concerns is more prevalent today
• Community preparedness and incident command
• 9/11-related illness and its continued impact and devastation today
• How AI can contribute to the security of citizens and first responders
• The importance of information sharing and security

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by Verizon Frontline. The advanced network for first responders on the front lines. Learn more at verizon.com/frontline.

In the sphere of public safety, we often overlook the crucial role of those people who answer 911 calls, gather necessary information, and relay it to law enforcement personnel. There's a vast amount of unseen work, and more often than not, the circumstances are filled with high stress.

Carbyne, a leader in cloud-native emergency call management, in partnership with NENA: The 9-1-1 Association, recently announced the groundbreaking findings of their inaugural "Pulse of 9-1-1 State of the Industry Survey." This first-of-its-kind survey unveils compelling insights into the critical challenges faced by the 9-1-1 call center staff.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Karima Holmes, MPA, vice president of public safety at Carbyne about the survey's results. Karima Holmes has served as executive director at emergency communications centers (ECC) across the U.S. where she overhauled technical infrastructure and critical public safety programs. Holmes has also leveraged her industry experience to establish partnerships with local, federal and international public safety and homeland security response agencies.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

Law enforcement officers may encounter situations where an individual may be unresponsive, appearing confused, agitated, or acting in a manner that doesn’t quite fit the situation. How can an assessment be made to help connect with this person?

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities or IDD continue to be overrepresented in the criminal justice system as suspects, defendants and incarcerated persons, often because the manifestations of their disability can cause suspicion. This is especially true for individuals with invisible disabilities, such as autism. People with IDD may also unknowingly confess to a crime they didn’t commit. After arrest, the problem worsens as they often can’t assist in their own defense and often alienate juries.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Leigh Anne McKingsley, director of The Arc's National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability, about how law enforcement can improve response to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Topics covered include how officers can identify and best respond to a person with a disability, the use of modified Miranda warnings, Crisis Response and Intervention Training (CRIT), success stories after officer training and much more. 

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

Artificial intelligence technology is impacting all aspects of our lives. In today's episode, sponsored by Lexipol, host Jim Dudley speaks with ZeroEyes' Chief Customer Officer and Co-Founder Dustin Brooks about how his company uses AI to detect firearms. 

ZeroEyes is a proactive visual gun detection and situational awareness software platform based on computer vision and advanced machine learning AI. It is layered on existing digital security cameras at schools, businesses and government offices. The technology is designed to identify illegally brandished guns and instantly send images to the ZeroEyes Operation Centers, which are staffed by military and law enforcement veterans for human verification.

Once these experts verify that a gun has been identified, they dispatch alerts and provide situational awareness and actionable intelligence, including visual description, gun type and last known location of the shooter, to local staff and law enforcement as fast as 3 to 5 seconds from detection. 

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Dustin Brooks is the chief customer officer and co-founder of ZeroEyes. Before founding ZeroEyes in 2018, Dustin worked at Global Asset Technologies as a military instructor developing Navy SEAL candidates. He served as a U.S. Navy SEAL for six years.

Brooks earned his MBA from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University, and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Pennsylvania State University.

Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube

• Prevention, disruption & response: The strategies communities must deploy to stop school shootings
• On-demand webinar: Building safer schools
• On-demand webinar: Developing effective strategies to prevent and respond to school shootings
• How can we stop school shootings in America?
• Building a multi-disciplinary school threat assessment team
• How a threat assessment team tracks students of concern
• An 8-step plan to stop school shootings
• Reflecting on a year since Uvalde: Improving incident response and school safety

There is no question that advancements in technology are helping communities fight crime as the number of law enforcement officers continues to diminish. But are we the technology efficiently and effectively? Are we integrating various applications to address crime prevention? Can we do it in small, medium and large agencies, and in urban and rural areas?

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Lexipol, host Jim Dudley speaks with Jamie Hudson, Real-Time Information Center Manager at the Elk Grove (California) Police Department, about how his agency is using technology to harness information and intelligence.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Jamie Hudson is the Real-Time Information Center (RTIC) Manager at the Elk Grove (California) Police Department. He has led the RTIC since its opening in 2019 and together with his dedicated group of RTIC professionals, has built it into a model for other agencies to use as a resource when exploring building their own. Jamie was an inaugural Board of Directors member of the National Real Time Crime Center Association and currently serves on the Association’s Advisory Board. Jamie and the Elk Grove Police Department team held the Real-Time Symposium in May 2022, which was the first of its kind in the real-time center space, which was then continued by the NRTCCA. 

Jamie began his career as a police dispatcher and after 28 years, moved from the dispatch world into the real-time world. He is a California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Master Instructor and a career-long learner. He co-owns IXII Group, Inc., a training and consulting company. Jamie has been an instructor and presenter for 26 years.

• National Real Time Crime Association
• The 3 fundamentals of an effective real-time crime center
• Crime surging? Here’s how technology can help
• How a camera registry program can benefit both law enforcement and the community

The death of George Floyd in 2020 from the unlawful actions of a Minneapolis police officer sparked the largest protests in U.S. history – resulting in the erosion of community trust in law enforcement, particularly for youth.

After connecting with distraught students who expressed confusion and fear at several organized protests in the summer of 2020, then Fremont Police Captain Sean Washington recognized that the youths’ voices needed to be heard. 

When he later became police chief in Fall 2021, he made it one of his priorities to listen – resulting in the establishment of the Chief’s Youth Advisory Board, enabling a direct line of transparent communication between Fremont youth and the Fremont Police Department (FPD).  

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Lexipol, host Jim Dudley speaks with Chief Sean Washington about the work of the youth advisory board. 

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Police Chief Sean Washington joined the Fremont (California) Police Department in 1997 and worked several assignments gaining experience as a detective, field training officer, SWAT team member, arrest control instructor, driving instructor, and member of the School Resource Officer unit. Chief Washington was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2007, lieutenant in 2011, and captain in 2015 as commander of the Special Operations Division. He was appointed police chief on October 1, 2021.

As police chief, he is responsible for all aspects of the Fremont Police Department, including emergency services provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Fremont Police Department has 319.5 full-time employees of which 199 are sworn positions. The Department is a full-service law enforcement agency and also provides some services by contract to other agencies.

Chief Washington remains actively involved in Special Olympics Northern California and other community-based events, such as hosting Shop With a Cop and mentoring local children. Previously, he also led one of the nation’s first Electric Patrol Vehicle Pilot Programs in 2019 when the Fremont Police Department deployed its first fully electric-powered vehicle, a Tesla Model S 85, as part of its patrol fleet.

Chief Washington earned a Bachelor's degree (Criminal Justice) from California State University, Hayward in 1997 and a Master's degree (Administration of Justice) from San Jose State University in 2007. In 2015, Chief Washington graduated from the Police Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Command College, Class #57.

• https://www.fremontpolice.gov/home
• About the Chief's Youth Advisory Board
• Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn
• The Leadership Beat: Fremont Police Chief Sean Washington details how his agency seeks to serve by hearing the perspectives of both their personnel and their community

Ever walk the beat or head into a coffee shop and hear, “See that police officer over there? If you don’t behave, they will arrest you!”

Most officers have heard a parent say those exact words to a wide-eyed child and it infuriates them. Wouldn’t it be great to have a positive image of police and deputies portrayed to children?

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Lexipol, host Jim Dudley speaks to veteran NYPD officer Adrian S. Goodwin about her mission to deliver that positive image through her newly released children's book titled "Twins in the City: Let's Learn About Police Officers."  

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

We often discuss the impact of vicarious trauma witnessed by public safety personnel. Not many in the profession joined with the intent of being mental health counselors to those on the street. The city of Aurora, Colorado has a series of programs that takes the pressure off law enforcement officers by pairing them with civilian mental health clinicians.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Lexipol, host Jim Dudley speaks with Courtney Tassin, LPC, who is the Crisis Intervention Program Manager for the City of Aurora, Colorado where she oversees four mental health/emergency services collaboration programs to include an alternative response, law enforcement co-response, targeted violence prevention program and a cold weather emergency activation team.

Prior to this role, she served three years on the Aurora Police Department’s co-responder model, the Crisis Response Team, and was then chosen to build the City’s first alternative response model, the Aurora Mobile Response Team.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

The "Small Town Dicks" podcast follows big-time crime in Small Town, USA, with each episode featuring the detectives who broke the case in their small town, and includes assets like jailhouse phone calls, suspect interviews and 9-1-1 calls to explore the case from all angles. The show is anchored by veteran, identical-twin detectives Dan and Dave, retired cold case investigator and "New York Times" bestselling author Paul Holes and hosted by actress, Yeardley Smith, the iconic voice of Lisa Simpson.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Lexipol, host Jim Dudley speaks with Dan and Dave about the podcast, which has built a dedicated following during its nearly six-year run.

Follow online, and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. 

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

In light of serious problems in our schools – from student disruptions, fights, even stabbings and shootings – are we doing enough to maintain the peace in our schools without getting caught up in administrative infractions?

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by L3Harris, host Jim Dudley speaks with Jerrie  Newport, one of three Threat Assessment Coordinators for the NEWESD and the Student Threat Assessment program. Jerrie facilitates and trains Level 2 community-wide threat assessment teams using the Salem-Keizer/Cascade threat assessment model for Ferry, Pend Oreille and Stevens Counties.

• Prevention, disruption & response: The strategies communities must deploy to stop school shootings
• An integrated technological approach to school attack prevention and response
• Bystanders: One key to preventing school violence
• On-demand webinar: Building safer schools
• Building multi-disciplinary school threat assessment teams
• What law enforcement can learn from averted acts of school violence

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by L3Harris. When seconds matter count on dependable coverage on and off campus. L3Harris offers flexible and affordable portables. Communicate on the move with Wi-Fi voice and data, GPS, and app-based devices that keep you connected. Schedule your demo today.

Law enforcement recruiting is an issue we have been scrambling to address across the country. Our guest today has some ideas that have been put into action with some great initial results.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Staccato, host Jim Dudley speaks with Marvin "Ben" Haiman, who serves as the Chief of Staff for the Metropolitan Police Department, about how the agency is using data-driven initiatives to improve recruiting. Mr. Haiman oversees the daily operations of the Executive Office of the Chief of Police and is responsible for broad agency management and implementing strategic agency objectives. 

About our sponsor

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Staccato. Choose the handgun trusted by over 900 law enforcement agencies across the country. With Staccato, you can feel confident knowing you aren’t sacrificing incredible accuracy for reliability. Whether you’re protecting your family at home or on duty, Staccato has your back. Military and law enforcement receive discount pricing through the Staccato Heroes Program. Visit www.Staccato2011/heroes-program.com to learn more.

Recruitment resources from the Metropolitan Police Department

• Recruiting website
• Recruitment videos

Subscribe to Police1's newsletters here.

The movies show us exactly how hostage negotiation works. Cut to the helicopters, searchlights, the holed-up hostage taker and the hostage negotiator approaching on foot, arms extended, without cover and wearing no protection aside from the nylon windbreaker that says “Hostage Negotiator” across the back.

In reality, only a very small percentage of law enforcement officers become crisis negotiators, and face the reality of impromptu callouts with little information and less-than-ideal settings from which to work.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Staccato, host Jim Dudley speaks with Jonathan Pultz, a 25-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department and author of the book “Negotiating Like Lives are on the Line.”

Jonathan is currently a tactical team leader on the LAPD's SWAT team and a crisis negotiator. He has a Master’s degree in Dispute Resolution and a certificate of Negotiation Mastery from Harvard Business School online. Jim and Jonathan discuss the training and experience necessary to become a good negotiator, barricade response scenarios, incident debriefings and more.

About our sponsor

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Staccato. Choose the handgun trusted by over 900 law enforcement agencies across the country. With Staccato, you can feel confident knowing you aren’t sacrificing incredible accuracy for reliability. Whether you’re protecting your family at home or on duty, Staccato has your back. Military and law enforcement receive discount pricing through the Staccato Heroes Program. Visit www.Staccato2011/heroes-program.com to learn more.

We often talk about policing in urban areas on the show – from mid-sized cities to large metropolitan areas and all related issues confronting law officers. But in this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Staccato, host Jim Dudley speaks with the sheriff of a large department in Arizona, located at the southernmost tip of the U.S. at the intersection border with New Mexico on the Mexico border, where deputies patrol in extremely rural areas. 

Sheriff Mark Dannels, a 38-year veteran of law enforcement, has served as the 26th Cochise County Sheriff since November 2012. Discussion points in this episode include staffing, funding, border-related crime and drug interdiction.

About our sponsor

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Staccato. Choose the handgun trusted by over 900 law enforcement agencies across the country. With Staccato, you can feel confident knowing you aren’t sacrificing incredible accuracy for reliability. Whether you’re protecting your family at home or on duty, Staccato has your back. Military and law enforcement receive discount pricing through the Staccato Heroes Program. Visit www.Staccato2011/heroes-program.com to learn more.

Front-line officers are the backbone of every law enforcement agency, and some officers have the ability to perform without second-guessing or unreasonable restrictions. Great leaders give those officers a degree of confidence and autonomy by providing them with the training and resources to lead every day. 

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Staccato, host Jim Dudley speaks to Chief Gerald W. Garner about how to turn good chiefs into great leaders.

Chief Garner has spent his 53-year career seeking to disseminate leadership training. He has authored several books including the "Basic Handbook of Police Supervision: A Practical Guide for Law Enforcement Supervisors," "Police Chief 101: Practical Advice for the Law Enforcement Leader" and "Making Sergeant: The Biggest Leap in Law Enforcement." His most recent publication is "Leading the Small Police Department."

About our sponsor

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Staccato. Choose the handgun trusted by over 900 law enforcement agencies across the country. With Staccato, you can feel confident knowing you aren’t sacrificing incredible accuracy for reliability. Whether you’re protecting your family at home or on duty, Staccato has your back. Military and law enforcement receive discount pricing through the Staccato Heroes Program. Visit www.Staccato2011/heroes-program.com to learn more.

Law enforcement underwater sonar operations and recovery teams perform a variety of tasks, many of which are crucial to solving crimes, finding missing people and assisting in disaster situations

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Staccato, host Jim Dudley speaks to underwater recovery expert Ray Wichus who retired after nearly three decades as a Conservation Police Officer with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Ray worked in the field as a firearm trainer, a fitness monitor officer, and a SONAR operator and trainer. 

Jim and Ray discuss some of the challenging responses in the field of underwater recovery, as well as Ray's work in the Reptile Undercover Unit.

About our sponsor

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Staccato. Choose the handgun trusted by over 900 law enforcement agencies across the country. With Staccato, you can feel confident knowing you aren’t sacrificing incredible accuracy for reliability. Whether you’re protecting your family at home or on duty, Staccato has your back. Military and law enforcement receive discount pricing through the Staccato Heroes Program. Visit www.Staccato2011/heroes-program.com to learn more.

Law enforcement officers may be first on scene to a mass casualty incident (MCI) and depending on the size, it may be overwhelming. Are we prepared to see the unthinkable? Do we know what our priorities should be? Do we know what our opposite numbers in fire, EMS and other responding agencies are doing?

Our guests today have an answer to each of those questions. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Staccato, host Jim Dudley speaks with Dr. Peter Antevy, EMS medical director for Davie (Florida) Fire-Rescue, and Daniel Moran, Assistant Fire Chief for Davie (Florida) Fire Rescue, where he manages the EMS, training and special projects divisions, about the MCI training they are delivering to law enforcement.

Resources mentioned in this episode

• NFPA 3000 Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response Online training
• Florida Active Assailant Response Policy / House Bill 543 information
• Stop the Bleed
• ALERRT

About our sponsor

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Staccato. Choose the handgun trusted by over 900 law enforcement agencies across the country. With Staccato, you can feel confident knowing you aren’t sacrificing incredible accuracy for reliability. Whether you’re protecting your family at home or on duty, Staccato has your back. Military and law enforcement receive discount pricing through the Staccato Heroes Program. Visit www.Staccato2011/heroes-program.com to learn more.

A critical incident can happen at any time, in any community, across the country. Sharing information about these incidents is one cog in the overall response wheel, but it’s one that cannot be overlooked. It’s crucial to effectively communicate both during and after a critical incident. Police1 is launching a new feature that dives into the communication response to some of the most significant incidents law enforcement agencies have recently faced.

Julie Parker, President of Julie Parker Communications, specializing in law enforcement media relations and social media, is spearheading this spotlight on crisis communications. In this special episode of the Policing Matters podcast, Julie interviews Nelly Miles, director of the Office of Public and Governmental Affairs for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, about the agency's communication plan to handle the overwhelming public response to the viral video of the death of Ahmaud Arbery.

You’ve heard us talk about the stress that comes with the duties of being a law enforcement officer. Some situations are well beyond our control. Today – we are going to shift gears and talk about organizational stressors – or stress that comes from within the agency you may work for.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Staccato, host Jim Dudley speaks with law enforcement veterans William “Bill” Mazur and Joseph “Joe” Collins about how police supervisors can help officers build resiliency and better navigate critical incidents. 

Bill is a strategic account manager and public safety liaison with Acadia Healthcare who retired from his department in 2017 at the rank of Deputy Chief of Police. He currently serves as a Master Instructor with the FBI National Academy Associates, in their Comprehensive Officer Resiliency Training Program. Joseph “Joe” Collins is a public safety liaison with Acadia Healthcare who retired in 2020 from the Two Rivers (Wisconsin) Police Department as chief of police. He is a master instructor with the FBINAA’s Comprehensive Officer Resilience Train-the-Trainer Program and serves as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Justice as a subject matter expert in officer resilience.

About our sponsor

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Staccato. Choose the handgun trusted by over 900 law enforcement agencies across the country. With Staccato, you can feel confident knowing you aren’t sacrificing incredible accuracy for reliability. Whether you’re protecting your family at home or on duty, Staccato has your back. Military and law enforcement receive discount pricing through the Staccato Heroes Program. Visit www.Staccato2011/heroes-program.com to learn more.

Law enforcement's response to critical incidents is unique to the incident at hand. Our aim is to be well-prepared through comprehensive training, strategizing and practice in order to tackle a wide range of potential scenarios. There have been outstanding instances where these efforts have successfully converged, with acts of bravery playing a pivotal role in officers confronting active shooters to neutralize the threat and protect lives. Regrettably, there have also been cases where outcomes did not align with our intentions. How can we ensure a consistently effective response across all aspects of preparation, strategy and execution?

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Staccato, host Jim Dudley talks about with Nick Roberts about how effective leadership training prepares law enforcement for all-hazards response. Nick has been in law enforcement since 2009 and a SWAT team member since 2012. Nick is also an ambassador to Staccato Firearms and discusses some of the features of the Staccato CS, the newest iteration of the 2011 platform.

About our sponsor

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Staccato. Choose the handgun trusted by over 900 law enforcement agencies across the country. With Staccato, you can feel confident knowing you aren’t sacrificing incredible accuracy for reliability. Whether you’re protecting your family at home or on duty, Staccato has your back. Military and law enforcement receive discount pricing through the Staccato Heroes Program. Visit www.Staccato2011/heroes-program.com to learn more.

National Police Week is nearly upon us across the country, but most notably at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington DC. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Staccato, host Jim Dudley speaks with National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) CEO Marcia Ferranto and Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) Communications Director Sara Slone about how these organizations serve the law enforcement community, culminating with National Police Week events. 

Marcia discusses the three pillars of the NLEOMF's mission: honoring the fallen, promoting officer safety and wellness and maintaining the National Law Enforcement Museum to honor the story of American law enforcement. Sara discusses the work of C.O.P.S. to provide resources and support for the families and co-workers of officers killed in the line of duty.

About our sponsor

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Staccato. Choose the handgun trusted by over 900 law enforcement agencies across the country. With Staccato, you can feel confident knowing you aren’t sacrificing incredible accuracy for reliability. Whether you’re protecting your family at home or on duty, Staccato has your back. Military and law enforcement receive discount pricing through the Staccato Heroes Program. Visit www.Staccato2011/heroes-program.com to learn more.

Law enforcement has faced some arduous challenges over the past few years – mostly external – but sometimes from within. How the challenges are handled is critical to the health of the agency.  We often mention leadership in the organization, in general terms, but what does it really mean?

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Staccato, host Jim Dudley speaks with Ross Swope who has extensive experience in leading a major department, advising on national law enforcement issues and even seeing the internal workings of the Supreme Court from a choice vantage point.

Swope served as deputy chief with the Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department and then went on to serve as Chief of the Department of the Supreme Court. His newest book, “Ethics Based Policing: Solving the Use of Excessive Force,” focuses on seven building blocks of integrity to show police departments how to use the tools already at their disposal to create a culture grounded in accountability. 

About our sponsor

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Staccato. Choose the handgun trusted by over 900 law enforcement agencies across the country. With Staccato, you can feel confident knowing you aren’t sacrificing incredible accuracy for reliability. Whether you’re protecting your family at home or on duty, Staccato has your back. Military and law enforcement receive discount pricing through the Staccato Heroes Program. Visit www.Staccato2011/heroes-program.com to learn more.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Staccato, host Jim Dudley speaks with a legendary detective whose investigations may read like a crime novel, but his story is 100% non-fiction.

Retired San Franciso Police Department Homicide Inspector Frank Falzon was active in solving some of the most heinous homicides of the 1970s and 1980s, including the Night Stalker case, the "Zebra" murder spree, and the double murder of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk were shot and killed in San Francisco City Hall. Falzon was a principal figure in the hit 2021 Netflix series, "Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer," and has been featured internationally in numerous documentaries, broadcast interviews, articles and books. 

About our sponsor

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Staccato. Choose the handgun trusted by over 900 law enforcement agencies across the country. With Staccato, you can feel confident knowing you aren’t sacrificing incredible accuracy for reliability. Whether you’re protecting your family at home or on duty, Staccato has your back. Military and law enforcement receive discount pricing through the Staccato Heroes Program. Visit www.Staccato2011/heroes-program.com to learn more.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Staccato, host Jim Dudley speaks with Susan Norris, the founder of Rescuing Hope, about the organization's mission to enlighten the public about sex trafficking in America, educate potential victims and first responders, and empower advocates and survivors. 

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Staccato. Choose the handgun trusted by over 900 law enforcement agencies across the country. With Staccato, you can feel confident knowing you aren’t sacrificing incredible accuracy for reliability. Whether you’re protecting your family at home or on duty, Staccato has your back. Military and law enforcement receive discount pricing through the Staccato Heroes Program. Visit www.Staccato2011/heroes-program.com to learn more.

If you've visited the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington DC, you will know it is a moving and powerful experience like no other. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) helps to oversee the operations of the memorial and puts on programs and seminars for public safety professionals across the board.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Troy Anderson, executive director of Officer Safety and Wellness at NLEOMF, about NLEOMF's officer wellness programs, reducing line of duty deaths, NLEOMF'S recent firearms safety summit and upcoming plans for National Police Week.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Staccato. Choose the handgun trusted by over 900 law enforcement agencies across the country. With Staccato, you can feel confident knowing you aren’t sacrificing incredible accuracy for reliability. Whether you’re protecting your family at home or on duty, Staccato has your back. Military and law enforcement receive discount pricing through the Staccato Heroes Program. Visit www.Staccato2011/heroes-program.com to learn more.

In 2022, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office in central California received the NLEOMF’s Destination Zero Officer Wellness Award. 

In this special episode of the Policing Matters podcast, which was recorded live on March 29 as part of First Responder Wellness Week, host Jim Dudley speaks with Stanislaus County Sheriff Jeff Dirkse and Sergeant Aaron Costello about how to develop an effective wellness program that gets buy-in from officers.

The discussion focuses on the importance of implementing a culture of wellness from the top down; the key components of a comprehensive wellness program; and strategies to incentive employee participation.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Recently, New Hampshire police chiefs came together to make a plea to lawmakers as departments continue to be plagued by staffing shortages statewide. The chiefs, including Hinsdale Police Chief Charles Rataj, told the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee that the required fitness test is making it difficult for departments to hire and retain officers. As a result, they’ve proposed a bill that would eliminate the test for law enforcement officers.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Traci Tauferner, Director of Industrial Medicine and Wellness with Advanced Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine who has worked with law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies since 2010, about the request made by the New Hampshire chiefs and the importance of maintaining officer physical fitness.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

The headlines and news reports grab at our hearts when we hear of a school shooting. What can we be doing to protect our children in schools?

On this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Dewey Cornell, a forensic and clinical psychologist known for his research on youth violence and school security, about considerations for law enforcement and educators when reviewing school-based threat assessment and school safety.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by L3Harris. When seconds matter count on dependable coverage on and off campus. L3Harris offers flexible and affordable portables. Communicate on the move with Wi-Fi voice and data, GPS, and app-based devices that keep you connected. Schedule your demo today.

A barricaded suspect, possibly armed awaits inside his home. There may be a booby trap, or there may be hostages. After a shot is fired, the decision to send someone inside – or should we say, a drone – is made. Law enforcement is getting some interesting technology to help in tactical situations where our only options previously were to wait out the suspect in a siege or to send in officers. 

On this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Blake Resnick, the CEO and founder of drone technology company BRINC, and returning guest, Don Redmond, retired Chula Vista (California) Police Department Captain and BRINC Vice President of Advanced Public Safety Projects, about the recent release of the BRINC LEMUR 2 drone and how sUAS systems are assisting law enforcement tactical response. 

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Officer injuries, whether they are personal or work-related, can be overwhelming, timely and costly. Injured officers should receive immediate attention and the best possible treatment so they can return to duty faster.

At IACP 2022, Wausau Police Chief Benjamin Bliven and Tactical Athletic Trainer Traci Tauferner discussed the department’s program to help small agencies operate at their highest level of performance by reducing the chance of injury and shortening an officer's time away from duty when injured.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Chief Bliven and Traci Tauferner about how they are providing ergonomic strategies and prevention resources that will help reverse the negative side effects of a career in law enforcement.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by L3Harris. When seconds matter count on dependable coverage on and off campus. L3Harris offers flexible and affordable portables. Communicate on the move with Wi-Fi voice and data, GPS, and app-based devices that keep you connected. Schedule your demo today.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Jason Potts, who recently served on the Violent Crime Working Group with the Council of Criminal Justice, about using technology to address violent crime. 

Potts is Chief of the City of Las Vegas Department of Public Safety. Previously he was a captain with the Vallejo Police Department, where he led the Department’s Operations, Investigation’s Bureau and Emergency Services Unit Commander. He serves on the board of directors for the American Society of Evidence-Based Policing (ASEBP) and is a National Institute of Justice (NIJ) LEADS alumni. 

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by L3Harris. When seconds matter count on dependable coverage on and off campus. L3Harris offers flexible and affordable portables. Communicate on the move with Wi-Fi voice and data, GPS, and app-based devices that keep you connected. Schedule your demo today.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with returning guest Katherine Schweit about new commonalities and trends in active shooter incidents.

Schweit is a retired FBI special agent who was tagged by the FBI to create its Active Shooter program after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Since then, she's devoted her energy to helping prevent more tragedies. She is the author of "Stop the Killing: How to End the Mass Shooting Crisis" and co-host of the "Stop the Killing" podcast.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by L3Harris. When seconds matter count on dependable coverage on and off campus. L3Harris offers flexible and affordable portables. Communicate on the move with Wi-Fi voice and data, GPS, and app-based devices that keep you connected. Schedule your demo today.

This week saw the fifth anniversary of the February 14, 2018, shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where an individual fatally shot 17 people and wounded 17 others.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Dr. Peter Blair, the executive director of the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) center in Texas, about what have we done since then to prevent such tragedies.

Dr. Peter Blair earned his Ph.D. in criminal justice from Michigan State University. He is recognized as a leading expert in the field of active attacks. He has published numerous books, articles and commentaries on active attacks, police tactics and training. 

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by L3Harris. When seconds matter count on dependable coverage on and off campus. L3Harris offers flexible and affordable portables. Communicate on the move with Wi-Fi voice and data, GPS, and app-based devices that keep you connected. Schedule your demo today.

A police bodycam video goes viral that shows an officer or two wrestling with a resistive suspect without much success. Then a shot is fired – or some other force causes extensive injury to the suspect. How can we prevent this from happening?

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Jay Wadsworth – a veteran LEO, 2nd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and lead instructor for Effective Fitness Combatives (EFC) – about the current state of defensive tactics training for police. Jim and Jay discuss police training deficits, officer confidence, the carotid restraint technique and much more.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

This episode of Policing Matters features a fascinating story of a dogged, multidisciplinary investigation that started at an arson fire scene and ended nearly a year later with the case solved. And it is all detailed in "When the Smoke Cleared: A Murder Mystery in Malden" by Bill Powers. 

Host Jim Dudley speaks with Powers, a retired Detective Lieutenant from the Massachusetts State Police and currently back with the department as a civilian training coordinator and classroom instructor, about his book, which follows an extraordinary murder investigation from the crime scene through to the arrest and into the courtroom. 

The book is an excellent source as both a police and courtroom procedural, but there is also the heartbreaking yet inspiring story of how the victim's family dealt with their loss and instead of spinning out of control, found a way to succeed and thrive because of it.

The book is written for those who enjoy reading true crime, but more importantly, it is a primer for college classes on police procedures, forensic and fire sciences, criminal law and courtroom procedures, and some courses on deviant sociology and psychology.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Many law enforcement agencies have seen the benefits of having social workers in police departments as social workers can increase law enforcement effectiveness when dealing with subjects experiencing mental illness. The Bloomington (Indiana) Police Department began an embedded police social worker program in 2019. Funded by the department budget, the program started with one social worker and has grown to three full-time social workers.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Bloomington PD senior social worker Melissa Stone, MSW, LSW, about the benefits a fully embedded social worker model offers for both the community and law enforcement officers. 

Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. 

Contact the Policing Matters team at [email protected] to share ideas, suggestions and feedback.

Every cop in every city can name a dozen spots within their jurisdiction that might call a hot spot or the place where drugs are sold, burglaries occur, or maybe where the next shooting will happen. It may not be so easy to articulate why, off-hand, but concepts like Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), and of course, crime maps can help.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Dr. Tamara Herold, an associate professor of criminal justice at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and senior research advisor at the National Institute of Justice, about her background in crime science and environmental criminology and her research into place-based violence.

Her publications translate theory and research evidence into practice and policy. Her book, "Preventing Crowd Violence," has been translated into two foreign languages. She was recently featured in Police1's 23 on 2023: A police leadership playbook.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

This episode of Policing Matters reviews use of force issues, including the recent history of the carotid restraint, electrical conducted devices (what most generally refer to as TASERs) and other force options that have been restrained or discontinued from use, such as tear gas options in some jurisdictions for crowd control. We will talk about innovations and possible options for the future.

Host Jim Dudley speaks with Jon Becker, the founder and CEO of AARDVARK Tactical, a leading provider of tactical equipment and custom solutions. Along with training and integrating force systems at AARDVARK, Jon became an attorney, where his interest in civil rights and police litigation merged and led him to write for many of the top tactical publications on a variety of topics.

In addition, Jon is the host of The Debrief with Jon Becker podcast where Jon sits down with tactical leaders and operators to discuss all things leadership, training and tactics.

Access additional show notes and resources related to this episode here.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Effective screening of law enforcement candidates is probably the most crucial part of the hiring process. Most departments have a written, oral and physical agility test, a polygraph examination and a psychological profile test. But are we able to effectively screen out people who probably are not suitable for the job? 

In December 2022, news hit that the agency overseeing the training and certification of police officers in Washington State was moving to more aggressively remove recruits from the state law enforcement training academy when they show signs they're psychologically unfit. This change came after an officer who is now the subject of two lawsuits alleging excessive force and a manslaughter charge "overreacted" during a 2018 training session in which his instructor said he lapsed into "mental condition black," shot an unarmed virtual suspect, then shut down and tuned out criticism.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with assistant professor Paul Taylor, Ph.D., from the University of Colorado at Denver about "mental condition black," the causal factors behind officer performance under stress, and how to improve police training using evidence-based research. 

Access additional show notes and resources related to this episode here.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

American law enforcement often views itself as an island. Except for the influence of the UK's Sir Robert Peel and his Peelian Principles in 1822, we do not seem to compare our operations and experiences with police agencies in other countries. But when attending gatherings like the FBI's National Academy and meeting with international police officers, you find that American policing does, in fact, share many of the same common issues with our brothers and sisters in other countries.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley talks to Dr. Laura Huey, a Canadian criminologist specializing in the study of public policing, victimization, missing persons and mental health issues in criminal justice, about the similarities and differences between policing in the United States and Canada.

Dr. Huey is a professor at the University of Western Ontario in the department of sociology. She is also the editor-in-chief of the international journal "Police Practice & Research," chair of the Working Group on Mental Health and Policing of the COVID-19 Taskforce of the Royal Society of Canada, former vice-chair of the American Society of Criminologists' division of policing, and the former executive director of the Canadian Society of Evidence-Based Policing.

• Blog posts
• Research papers
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

This episode of Policing Matters is sponsored by Utility. Utility provides a universe of intuitive solutions for effectively capturing, analyzing, managing, and sharing video evidence. Technologies include a variety of cameras, sensors, and devices, as well as situational awareness software solutions for law enforcement, first responders, transportation agencies, and utility providers. To learn more about Utility and its technology solutions, visit utility.com. 

In this special year-end episode, Policing Matters podcast host Jim Dudley is once again joined by Janay Gasparini, Ph.D., to take a deep dive into the critical issues impacting law enforcement in 2022. Jim and Janay discuss the following 10 key areas:   

Top quotes from this segment:

"I think we are seeing a lot is this change in our hands-on strategies to better reflect controlling subjects as opposed to anything that might look like excessive use of force."

"When do you think we are going to see a committee in Congress that says let's listen to experts before we make legislative changes?"

Additional resources: 

• BolaWrap new less-lethal tool for police 
• The GLOVE from Compliant Technologies 
• Rener Gracie on the need for police Jiu-Jitsu training
• FBI's National Use of Force Data Collection program
• Use of force reporting from companies like Mark 43 and Thin Blue Defend capture critical details to prevent wrongful outcomes in use of force case

Top quotes from this segment:

"Have there really been any shifts since last year? We had our state of the industry survey with 75% of officers reporting that morale is down since last year, so it begs the question of 'Where are we at the end of 2022?'"    

"First-line supervisors matter a whole heck of a lot more than we realize."

Additional resources:

• What cops want in 2022: Police1's State of the Industry survey
• Roundtable: How to improve officer morale in 2022

Additional resource:

The 22 leadership traits cops are looking for in their supervisors in 2022

Top quotes from this segment:

"There is so much about Gen Z that we know from the research that doesn't fit with our traditional policing tenets."    

"Meet them where they are. And where are they? They are online." 

Top quotes from this segment:

"As a recruitment tool, as a training tool, it is going to do very well with Gen Z. It is great for that, but I was really interested to see how it is being used in other facets of the justice system and not just for use of force scenarios."

"We have only begun to realize the potential of using virtual reality for our officers."

Additional resources:

• How virtual reality can reduce profiling in policing
• Wrap Technologies' Societal Rentry Solution Enterprises, part of Wrap Reality virtual reality training system, helps reintegrate incarcerated individuals
• LAPD launches virtual reality training program for officers

Top quote from this segment:

"I do believe with younger officers that they seem to be more aware of the self-care piece, of the realities of the job."

Additional resources:

• Blue H.E.L.P.: How a nonprofit is on a mission to reduce police suicides, eliminate mental health stigma
• Marie Ridgeway: The value of mental wellness check-ins for law enforcement 
• Dr. David Black on how the Cordico app provides wellness support for cops
• Crisis help: National Suicide Prevention, Veterans Crisis Line, Copline.

Additional resource:

• Remembering the Lakewood Four: 6 keys to preventing an ambush

"When these policies actually play out on the street level you see the stark difference between what is on paper and what is in reality."

Top quotes from this segment:

"We understand the spirit behind bail reform but when I go into work and I see the latest domestic violence case come across and someone has forced themselves into their partner's apartment and attempted a strangulation and this person was released on an appearance ticket, it just doesn't sit well with me."

"As much as the public thinks that the police have the last say in who gets arrested and who goes to prison, there is a huge process in between that initial arrest and the jail door slamming. It is public defenders,  district attorneys, judges, juries and legislators."

Top quote from this segment:

"This is not just officers leaving at the age of retirement, but this is officers leaving for other jobs."

What do you think was the most critical issue impacting law enforcement this year? Email [email protected].

This episode of Policing Matters is sponsored by Utility. Utility provides a universe of intuitive solutions for effectively capturing, analyzing, managing, and sharing video evidence. Technologies include a variety of cameras, sensors, and devices, as well as situational awareness software solutions for law enforcement, first responders, transportation agencies, and utility providers. To learn more about Utility and its technology solutions, visit utility.com. 

"Whether you look at divorce rates, mental health concerns, or the very unfortunate suicide data, first responders face higher risk in all of these areas than 'Joe Citizen.' There needs to be more support, and support that is real and unafraid to tackle the tough stuff. And that support needs to be accessible and consistent." So writes Lindsay Faas, a registered clinical counselor in British Columbia, Canada, who specializes in trauma-related counseling and affiliated concerns including PTSD, complex trauma and dissociative disorders. 

Policing Matters host Jim Dudley was a recent guest on Lindsay's podcast "Behind the Line," and now returns the favor, inviting Lindsay on Policing Matters to discuss how first responders can proactively protect themselves from burnout, compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma.

This episode of Policing Matters is sponsored by Utility. Utility provides a universe of intuitive solutions for effectively capturing, analyzing, managing, and sharing video evidence. Technologies include a variety of cameras, sensors, and devices, as well as situational awareness software solutions for law enforcement, first responders, transportation agencies, and utility providers. To learn more about Utility and its technology solutions, visit utility.com. 

While the majority of police-civilian interactions resolve peacefully, a small number of situations end with use of force as police respond to subject resistance.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Dr. Eric Piza about his analysis of body-worn video to determine the factors that contribute to whether or not force is used during a police-civilian interaction.

Dr. Piza is a professor of criminology and criminal justice and director of crime analysis initiatives at Northeastern University. He served as the GIS Specialist for the Newark (New Jersey) Police Department where he was responsible for day-to-day crime analysis and program evaluation activities of the agency. A summary of his latest study, "Situational factors and police use of force across micro-time intervals: A video systematic social observation and panel regression analysis," can be found here.

Connect with and learn more about Dr. Piza's research here.

This episode of Policing Matters is sponsored by Utility. Utility provides a universe of intuitive solutions for effectively capturing, analyzing, managing, and sharing video evidence. Technologies include a variety of cameras, sensors, and devices, as well as situational awareness software solutions for law enforcement, first responders, transportation agencies, and utility providers. To learn more about Utility and its technology solutions, visit utility.com. 

Leaders of any organization can find themselves dealing with individuals who are confrontational or even hostile. Today’s guest had an encounter with a revengeful employee that goes way beyond angry outbursts or even lawsuits. It is a story that we can learn from regarding how to identify disgruntled employees, how to mitigate or take action, and how to protect yourself and your family.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Mark Anderko about how his agency put a performance improvement package in place for a challenging employee that ultimately led to Mark and his family facing a deadly threat.  

Mark Anderko has over 28 years of experience in New Jersey law enforcement, serving in various administrative and operational commands, including command positions with the Edison Township Office of Emergency Management and the Edison Police Department Emergency Response Team. Mark is a graduate of the West Point Command & Leadership Program graduate and Police Executive Institute sponsored by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police along with Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. Mark began his career in 1988 and rose to the rank of deputy chief of police, retiring in 2016 as deputy chief of police.

This episode of Policing Matters is sponsored by Utility. Utility provides a universe of intuitive solutions for effectively capturing, analyzing, managing, and sharing video evidence. Technologies include a variety of cameras, sensors, and devices, as well as situational awareness software solutions for law enforcement, first responders, transportation agencies, and utility providers. To learn more about Utility and its technology solutions, visit utility.com. 

Law enforcement officers across agencies – from small towns to sprawling rural areas to municipal cities and state and federal services all have similar traits.  They are smart, capable, problem solvers with a plan.  Anyone who says they are flying by the seat of their pants probably does not anticipate being in the business for long. Of course, they have to be flexible and adaptable to different situations, but they are likely to have a good foundation to fall back on.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Dan Mehdi, who retired from the Drug Enforcement Administration after serving 21 years as a Special Agent (SA). His last assignment was as a SA instructor/curriculum developer at the Drug Enforcement Administration Academy in Quantico, Virginia where the focus of his instruction to basic agent trainees was on self-awareness, adaptation, resiliency, critical thinking, problem solving and decision-making abilities and models. Mehdi discusses the parallels between training for the military, DEA and police agencies regarding leadership and moral courage.

Prior to joining the DEA, Dan was a patrol agent with the U.S. Border Patrol in San Diego, California and an Infantry Officer in the United States Marine Corps, during which time he participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He was also the DEA’s nationwide Field Training Agent Coordinator where he instructed on the power of influence and everyday leadership to experienced agents responsible for mentoring, developing and evaluating newly minted Special Agents.

This episode of Policing Matters is sponsored by Utility. Utility provides a universe of intuitive solutions for effectively capturing, analyzing, managing, and sharing video evidence. Technologies include a variety of cameras, sensors, and devices, as well as situational awareness software solutions for law enforcement, first responders, transportation agencies, and utility providers. To learn more about Utility and its technology solutions, visit utility.com. 

We have seen demonstrations and protests intensify over the past few years. We have seen legislation of what, where and when something can be shared in public places. One state tried to regulate the rights of onlookers and their ability to record police activity, only to be struck down by their courts. We have seen social media posts made by law enforcement officers lead to sanctions and discipline. Are we all on the same page when it comes to knowing First Amendment rights?

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Chief Jeffrey Scott (ret.) who presented a session on First Amendment auditors to an assembly of police chiefs and command staff at the Georgia Chief’s summer conference. Chief Scott talks about key points to remember and policies that we should think about for our agencies.

This episode of Policing Matters is sponsored by Utility. Utility provides a universe of intuitive solutions for effectively capturing, analyzing, managing, and sharing video evidence. Technologies include a variety of cameras, sensors, and devices, as well as situational awareness software solutions for law enforcement, first responders, transportation agencies, and utility providers. To learn more about Utility and its technology solutions, visit utility.com. 

You respond to a call for a barricaded man with a gun in a single-family home in your city and set up a perimeter. After a few minutes, your sergeant tells an officer to pull down the perimeter and everyone on scene should return to patrol. Wait, what? Is this the policy in your jurisdiction?

Our guest today has investigated this practice and has developed training on the benefits and detriments of police disengagement on a barricaded subject call.

Scott Savage is an active-duty law enforcement officer in California. His previous assignments include SWAT, full-time assignment to a terrorism/ intelligence task force, team leader on a crisis negotiation team, field supervisor and incident commander. He is the founder of the Savage Training Group, a private law enforcement training organization, which offers an online and in-person course on Response to the Non-Criminal Barricade: Disengagement and Special Relationships. Scott's primary area of focus is how police respond to critical incidents and crisis situations. 

This episode of Policing Matters is sponsored by Utility. Utility provides a universe of intuitive solutions for effectively capturing, analyzing, managing, and sharing video evidence. Technologies include a variety of cameras, sensors, and devices, as well as situational awareness software solutions for law enforcement, first responders, transportation agencies, and utility providers. To learn more about Utility and its technology solutions, visit utility.com. 

Advisory: Today’s conversation includes talk about a heinous murderer in the Chicago, Illinois area, and another case of murder in the Portland, Oregon area.

In 1994, journalist Nancy Rommelmann accompanied Rick Gaez, a 26-year-old pen pal of John Wayne Gacy, on a road trip from Los Angeles to Illinois to visit the serial killer before his execution.

Along the way, she took the moral temperature of people asking how they felt about Gacy and his being sentenced to death for the torture and murder of 33 young men and teenage boys. Her journey resulted in the publication of Destination Gacy: A Cross-Country Journey to Shake the Devil's Hand.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley chats with Rommelmann about her meeting and interview with one of America’s most heinous serial killers.  

This episode of Policing Matters is sponsored by Utility. Utility provides a universe of intuitive solutions for effectively capturing, analyzing, managing, and sharing video evidence. Technologies include a variety of cameras, sensors, and devices, as well as situational awareness software solutions for law enforcement, first responders, transportation agencies, and utility providers. To learn more about Utility and its technology solutions, visit utility.com. 

We have seen consent decrees last a decade, or even two decades at some agencies, while change seems to move at a glacial pace. How do they work, what happens at an agency under a consent decree, and who benefits? These are just some of the questions addressed in this episode of Policing Matters as host Jim Dudley talks to Bob Scales, founding partner and CEO of Police Strategies LLC. 

Previously, Scales served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in King County Washington, a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington, the Assistant Director for Public Safety for the City of Seattle, the Director of Government Affairs for the Seattle City Attorney, and the Compliance Coordinator for the Seattle Police Department.

Police Strategies LLC uses data science and technology to help law enforcement agencies implement effective policies, training programs and accountability systems. The company’s Police Force Analysis System provides law enforcement with in-depth reviews of force incidents, helping agencies identify and address high-risk conduct and compare use of force practices across multiple agencies. Scales has partnered with several universities to analyze the data collected by his data systems and has published several peer-reviewed academic journal articles on use of force practices.

This episode of Policing Matters is sponsored by Utility. Utility provides a universe of intuitive solutions for effectively capturing, analyzing, managing, and sharing video evidence. Technologies include a variety of cameras, sensors, and devices, as well as situational awareness software solutions for law enforcement, first responders, transportation agencies, and utility providers. To learn more about Utility and its technology solutions, visit utility.com. 

Is there enough good technology to help police officers train for better outcomes? Are virtual simulators the answer or a supplement to live training? 

In a recent Police1 article, this week's guest, Captain Warren Wilson – a writer, firearms instructor and training commander at the Enid (Oklahoma) Police Department – addressed how simulator technology improves police cadet training and more. 

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley discusses with Captain Wilson – who has over 3,000 hours of documented training, 1,000 of which are directly related to firearms and firearms instruction, and is a published author of over 130 magazine articles – how simulator technology is improving police training.

This episode of Policing Matters is sponsored by Utility. Utility provides a universe of intuitive solutions for effectively capturing, analyzing, managing, and sharing video evidence. Technologies include a variety of cameras, sensors, and devices, as well as situational awareness software solutions for law enforcement, first responders, transportation agencies, and utility providers. To learn more about Utility and its technology solutions, visit utility.com. 

During a career in law enforcement, officers are involved in many traumatic incidents. What can police agencies do to help their personnel mentally prepare for those incidents? Building resilience within employees is essential and that responsibility falls to law enforcement leadership.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley reports from the California Peace Officers Association (CPOA) Conference where he spoke to Sergeant Eric Thorton and Sergeant Steve Breakall from the El Cajon (California) Police Department about their presentation titled "Leading for Resilience." They discuss how first-line supervisors can build resilience among their officers to help them navigate through modern mental wellness by recognizing PTSD, normalizing self-care and reducing stigmas surrounding officer mental health.

If there is a report-writing issue, the supervisor helps take care of it. If there is a building search issue, the supervisor helps take care of it. If there is an emotional trauma issue, then the supervisor should help take care of it and help the officer navigate through it." 

This episode of Policing Matters is sponsored by Utility. Utility provides a universe of intuitive solutions for effectively capturing, analyzing, managing, and sharing video evidence. Technologies include a variety of cameras, sensors, and devices, as well as situational awareness software solutions for law enforcement, first responders, transportation agencies, and utility providers. To learn more about Utility and its technology solutions, visit utility.com. 

Is your agency at risk of becoming a victim of ransomware? What are departments doing to protect themselves? And what can we do as individuals to protect our phones, tablets and computers from being hacked?

In this episode, Policing Matters host Jim Dudley speaks with Eric Escobar, principal security consultant for Secureworks, about malicious activity online and how law enforcement agencies and officers can protect themselves from attack.  

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Have you ever been investigated by your department’s Internal Affairs office? Was it a pleasant experience?

In this episode, Policing Matters host Jim Dudley speaks with veteran LAPD Internal Affairs investigator Marlon Marrache about the inner workings of an internal affairs unit, or what many agencies have deemed the Professional Standards Unit. Marlon, a retired 24-year LAPD sergeant, spent 15 years working in Internal Affairs. 

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

NEXT: Chief Robert McNeilly on how early intervention can identify issues before they become problems

Policing is a tough job. There can be experiences and incidents that can drive anyone to the edge. The profession gets better and better with training and education to help us respond appropriately and handle most any situation, but do we do a good job at addressing an officer’s mental health wellness? 

Today’s show deals with the mental health and well-being of law enforcement officers and their families. Policing Matters host Jim Dudley speaks with master's level therapist Marie Ridgeway about the role therapy can play in improving officer mental wellness.

Marie's private practice in the Minneapolis/St Paul metro area of Minnesota has a team of five therapists who work with over 50 public safety agencies and have served thousands of law enforcement officers since 2017.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

In this special crossover episode, public safety leaders come together to reflect on the 21st anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and the legacy of 9/11 in the emergency services.

Policing Matters host Jim Dudley is joined by Inside EMS host Chris Cebollero and Gary Ludwig, of the Champaign (Illinois) Fire Department, the 2022 IAFC Career Fire Chief of the Year.

Together, they discuss how first responders have continued to move forward for over 20 years now and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11 as recruits enter public safety who were not even born yet at the time.

The focus is on honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice and lived up to their oath to help others in their time of need, the legacy of lessons learned about responding in a hazardous situation, ongoing vigilance against threats and why “never forget” should not be a cavalier statement, but one made with meaning, purpose and with emphasis.

Read more recollections, as well as how lessons learned are impacting the way first responders of today train and respond to incidents in Police1's 9/11 coverage, sponsored by Verizon.

Law enforcement officers are tasked with a difficult mission that, different from so many other professions, causes them to be exposed to the risk of trauma, injury, or even death. Often, the public is unaware of acts of selflessness, courage, resilience and heroism by those who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving their communities. 

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Donna Brown, a 26-year veteran of the Tallahassee Police Department in Florida who since her retirement, has dedicated herself to chronicling acts of officer heroism. Donna is the author of the Behind and Beyond the Badge series, which helps drive negative conversations around policing toward a positive outlook on law enforcement. Volume I was published in 2017 and won two gold medals in the Florida Authors and Publishers (FAPA) International book awards contest.

Donna Brown graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor of science in criminology in 1979. A few months later, she was hired by the Tallahassee Police Department, one of only five women on the force at the time. Her assignments were patrol officer, field training officer, training unit, patrol sergeant, FTO sergeant, detective bureau where she supervised the burglary/financial crimes unit, sex crimes unit, victim advocate unit and 10 years supervising the homicide unit. Sgt. Donna Brown retired after 26 years of service.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is sponsored by Polco. Polco’s National Law Enforcement Survey provides a comprehensive, accurate and representative picture of resident opinions related to police services. Compare your results with other agencies around the nation. Align your priorities with community sentiment, build trust, and improve safety services. Visit info.polco.us to learn more. 

Download this week's episode on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Stitcher, Spotify or via RSS feed.

Policing is stressful business. It’s been described as hours of sheer boredom interrupted by minutes of sheer terror. Unfortunately, the moments of terror where officers see horrific trauma and witness death carry a heavy toll.

Over the past few years, we have seen some relief in the forms of behavioral science, peer support groups and even officer wellness apps like Cordico. Experiencing relief in a tangible way is also important and that may be achieved through comfort animals. In public safety, there is a great organization called “Crisis Response Canines” whose mission is to provide emotional support to individuals, families, communities and first responders in the aftermath of critical incidents using therapy dogs.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with John Hunt, co-founder and COO of Crisis Response Canines. John is a 27-year veteran of the New Jersey State Police where he achieved the rank of major. John was the Homeland Security – Special Operations Section Commanding Officer. He also served as the Deputy Director of the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is sponsored by Polco. Polco’s National Law Enforcement Survey provides a comprehensive, accurate and representative picture of resident opinions related to police services. Compare your results with other agencies around the nation. Align your priorities with community sentiment, build trust, and improve safety services. Visit info.polco.us to learn more.  

Autonomous cars are no longer futuristic dreams, they are operating on America's roads today. Police have already been recorded stopping autonomous cars with people literally asleep at the wheel and at least once, without any live occupants on board. Autonomous commercial vehicles will also soon be operating, from passenger vehicles to large semi-trucks with huge payloads, potentially presenting many new issues for law enforcement. 

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Brett Fabbri, Head of Law Enforcement Policy and Roadway Safety for Kodiak Robotics, about law enforcement considerations regarding commercial autonomous vehicles and officer safety. Kodiak was founded by a group of self-driving industry veterans intent on bringing self-driving technology to the trucking industry. 

Assistant Chief Fabbri spent more than two decades working for the California Highway Patrol (CHP), most recently serving as the Assistant Division Commander for the Enforcement and Planning Division at CHP headquarters. In this role, he oversaw the Commercial Vehicle Section and Collision Investigation Unit of CHP, which is responsible for autonomous vehicle technology for heavy-duty, light-duty and passenger vehicles.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is sponsored by Polco. Polco’s National Law Enforcement Survey provides a comprehensive, accurate and representative picture of resident opinions related to police services. Compare your results with other agencies around the nation. Align your priorities with community sentiment, build trust, and improve safety services. Visit info.polco.us to learn more.  

Over the past few years, we have heard about the need to reform and/or overhaul the criminal justice system. Unfortunately, some of the unintended consequences of reforms put into action have included rising crime and homicide rates.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Rafael Mangual, a senior fellow and head of research for the Policing and Public Safety Initiative at the Manhattan Institute and a contributing editor at "City Journal," about his recently released book, “Criminal (In) Justice: What the Push for Decarceration and Depolicing Gets Wrong and Who It Hurts Most."

In his book, Rafael offers a more balanced understanding of American criminal justice, and cautions against discarding traditional crime control measures: “After a summer of violent protests in 2020 – sparked by the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Rayshard Brooks – a dangerously false narrative gained mainstream acceptance: Criminal justice in the United States is overly punitive and racially oppressive. But, the harshest and loudest condemnations of incarceration, policing, and prosecution are often shallow and at odds with the available data. And the significant harms caused by this false narrative are borne by those who can least afford them: black and brown people who are disproportionally the victims of serious crimes.”

Click here for more information on "Criminal (In) Justice" and follow Rafael Mangual on Twitter.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is sponsored by Polco. Polco’s National Law Enforcement Survey provides a comprehensive, accurate and representative picture of resident opinions related to police services. Compare your results with other agencies around the nation. Align your priorities with community sentiment, build trust, and improve safety services. Visit info.polco.us to learn more.  

From reducing the time it takes for a candidate to go through the recruitment process to profiling the unique backgrounds of CHP officers, the nation's largest state police agency is taking a proactive approach to recruiting the next generation of cops.  

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Recruitment Officer Caleb Benefiel about the police recruitment best practices that are seeing success in the Golden State. Visit the CHP's recruitment website here.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is sponsored by Polco. Polco’s National Law Enforcement Survey provides a comprehensive, accurate and representative picture of resident opinions related to police services. Compare your results with other agencies around the nation. Align your priorities with community sentiment, build trust, and improve safety services. Visit info.polco.us to learn more.  

Statistically, school shootings are not a regular occurrence, but they are alarming tragedies that we all need to do our best to prevent. Is your agency collaborating with your school district to implement threat assessment programs?

Two decades ago, the Orange County Sheriff's Department in Southern California launched its School Mobile Assessment and Resource Team (SMART), a multi-discipline, threat assessment team that responds to incidents related to violence, threats of violence, possession and/or use of weapons, unstable behaviors, suicidal actions, or tendencies that pose a threat to others at K-12 schools. The team includes a mental health clinician to take part in the assessments and connect those students who need it with the appropriate resources. 

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes about the team, which handled nearly 300 threat assessments and calls for service during the 2021-2022 school year. In addition to addressing threats, SMART also works to ensure school staff has the training to recognize the signs of a threat. To date, approximately 480 administrators and school site personnel have received this training. 

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is sponsored by L3Harris. Providing coverage that goes beyond the call of duty, L3 Harris provides ultra-reliable portables and mobiles that are designed by and for those on the front lines. Learn more at  Communications for Police and Law Enforcement | L3Harris™ Fast. Forward.

Are we doing the best job in teaching the current era of law enforcement recruits? Should we change styles and methods of pedagogy to focus on techniques that resonate with Generation Z candidates?

These are some of the questions Policing Matters host Jim Dudley and his co-presenter Janay Gasparini, Ph.D., discussed at the recent National Association of Field Training Officers conference in Louisville, Kentucky. In this episode, Jim and Janay continue their discussion, addressing the types of instruction that can help recruits be successful both during the police academy and when undergoing field training with an agency.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is sponsored by L3Harris. Providing coverage that goes beyond the call of duty, L3 Harris provides ultra-reliable portables and mobiles that are designed by and for those on the front lines. Learn more at  Communications for Police and Law Enforcement | L3Harris™ Fast. Forward.

RATE AND REVIEW THE POLICING MATTERS PODCAST

Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Contact the Policing Matters team at [email protected] to share ideas, suggestions and feedback.

Everyone remembers where they were on September 11, 2001. In the aftermath, do you remember the urgency to strengthen our national defenses, plans and intelligence to prevent another such attack on our country, our infrastructure and our cyber systems? Are we doing that today?

For law enforcement, fire, EMS and military personnel, there is an excellent opportunity to share your expertise to contribute toward protecting our country and systems and obtain a free master’s degree in the process. The Center for Homeland Defense and Security programs at NPS focus on leadership development to transform how public safety officials view an increasingly complex world and homeland security mission. Through graduate- and executive-level coursework, seminars, and research, homeland security leaders gain the analytic and critical thinking skills and substantive expertise they need to create innovative solutions that address the threats facing the nation and local communities.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Heather Issvoran, Director of Strategic Communications, Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security​​​​​​​, about the programs offered by NPS. Also featured on the podcast is NPS alumni Michael Petrie, a former EMS chief, alumni and thesis advisor to the NPS program.

To learn more about the programs offered by The Naval Postgraduate School, visit https://www.chds.us/c/.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is sponsored by L3Harris. Providing coverage that goes beyond the call of duty, L3 Harris provides ultra-reliable portables and mobiles that are designed by and for those on the front lines. Learn more at  Communications for Police and Law Enforcement | L3Harris™ Fast. Forward.

There is no national model of police response to active shooter and mass shooting incidents and sometimes we get a less-than-optimum response that invites criticism. It doesn’t help that the public has a dichotomy of expectations from law enforcement: rush in ready to shoot or de-escalate and negotiate, and some agencies are even folding up operations and leaving barricaded suspects if they pose no threat to the public.

A new toolkit, supported by a grant from the National Institute of Justice and developed by the RAND Corporation, provides practical strategies and guidance on deterring, mitigating and responding to mass attacks for a variety of audiences, including public safety experts, practitioners, policymakers, community groups and the public. Researchers studied 600 mass attack events and plots, interviewed dozens of experts and reviewed hundreds of references. The team then identified the Mass Attacks Defense Chain, a series of defenses that work together to reduce the probability of mass attacks and their impacts.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with John S. Hollywood, senior operations researcher, Policing and Homeland Security Studies for the RAND Corporation, about the toolkit and the most important tips researchers identified to help reduce the likelihood of mass attacks.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is sponsored by L3Harris. Providing coverage that goes beyond the call of duty, L3 Harris provides ultra-reliable portables and mobiles that are designed by and for those on the front lines. Learn more at  Communications for Police and Law Enforcement | L3Harris™ Fast. Forward.

"One of the biggest evolutions in field training is that the program molds to the student as adults learn in different ways," says Dan Greene, the executive director of the National Association of Field Training Officers (NAFTO). As a former FTO and FTO supervisor, Dan knows what FTOs need to become better trainers and educators. At the recent NAFTO conference in Louisville, Kentucky, Policing Matters host Jim Dudley spoke with Dan about the evolution of FTO training in law enforcement.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is sponsored by the Master of Science in Law Enforcement & Public Safety Leadership Program at the University of San Diego. Learn how this nationally ranked online program can help you be a force for change at sandiego.edu/police1.

Police officers are often terrific storytellers. Many express an interest in writing a book about their experiences, but life can get in the way and few cops sit down to begin the process.

This isn't the case for a guest on this episode of Policing Matters. Jim Calams, a retired member of the Phoenix Police Department and LAPD, recently published “Unwavering Honor,” a book about his career in those departments and also about personal tragedy. He is joined by his daughter, Sarah Calams, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in news/editorial journalism from the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas, and is the senior associate editor of Police1.com and Corrections1.com. Sarah recently authored an article about her father's experiences as a police officer.

Catalytic converter thefts have soared in recent years, thanks largely to the spiking prices of precious metals contained within them. This sudden rise has created an urgent need for police to find ways to deter thefts.

To help law enforcement agencies address the crisis, CARFAX for Police compiled a Catalytic Converter Replacement Report that identifies the most-targeted vehicles nationally, regionally and by state. In addition to the report, CARFAX for Police is hosting a free digital event for law enforcement on Tuesday, June 7 at 1 p.m. ET on Investigating Trends: Catalytic Converter Theft.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with veteran police officers Lt. Michael Ledoux (Ret.), director of business development at CARFAX for Police and IACP Vehicle Crimes Committee member, and Sr. Trooper Robert Ivey, a criminal investigator with the Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Intelligence, Florida Highlight Patrol, about their experiences investigating catalytic converter thefts.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is sponsored by the Master of Science in Law Enforcement & Public Safety Leadership Program at the University of San Diego. Learn how this nationally ranked online program can help you be a force for change at sandiego.edu/police1.

Following the tragic school shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14, 2012, Troy Anderson managed the Connecticut State Police CISM teams that were deployed on-site and tasked with providing interventions and debriefings for the affected members of the State Police, municipal and federal law enforcement partners, first responder staff, support personnel, embedded clinicians, and state senior executives.

In this episode of Policing Matters, Troy speaks with podcast host Jim Dudley about the key lessons learned from the critical incident stress management and peer support process following the Sandy Hook shooting, plus recommendations for how agencies can implement effective peer support ahead of a critical incident. Troy currently serves as the executive director of officer safety and wellness for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF).

Digital forensics has been a specialty science in law enforcement for several years now, with emerging technology and investigative revelations happening every year. The science behind digital evidence recovery, be it from a cell phone, computer or even the cloud, takes a skilled investigator who knows what they are doing.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Deputy Director Caroline Torie of the St. Joseph County Cyber Crimes Unit in Indiana. Caroline started her career as a law enforcement officer in September 2021 after five years as a television reporter for WSBT-TV, a CBS affiliate in Indiana. She covered police investigations as a journalist but wanted to do more to impact the pursuit of truth and justice in her community and so she started working in law enforcement herself. Now, she’s the recipient of a Magnet Forensics Scholarship Award that will allow her to train for a year under digital forensic experts.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Managing police officers is a difficult task since the job is so multi-faceted and often fast-paced. We ask officers to do so many things, and in the process to be smart, thoughtful, judicious, efficient and thorough.

Some people make assumptions that an officer has complete control over their environment. Of course, this is not true. Officers can be well trained, yet may be challenged in dealing with individuals under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or in a mental health crisis. They are often asked to go into situations where people are in conflict or combative. In these cases, de-escalation may only be a theory, rather than an achievable act.

Many agencies use a system to help detect problems by looking at statistics accumulated in an early intervention system. In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Chief Robert McNeilly, Jr., about how an early intervention system can work best for agencies, officers and communities.

During Chief McNeilly's 37-year career, he guided the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police through 10 of its most turbulent years, taking office one week after a series of lawsuits filed against the city by individuals and the ACLU led to a U.S. Department of Justice investigation and the first civil-rights “pattern or practice” consent decree in American history. He is the author of "Blue Continuum: A Police Chief’s Perspective on What’s Wrong with Policing Today and How to Fix It," and a leading trainer and consultant in police management techniques.

Since the D.C. Council voted in 2020 to cut the police budget by $15 million, there has been a 28% increase in violent crime, a 55% increase in robberies, an 18% increase in carjackings and, as of 2021, the highest number of homicides in nearly two decades. On April 15, 2022, Salah Czapary published an op-ed in The Washington Post titled "No one asked for fewer DC police doing more work." Salah is a Democrat, a candidate for his party's nomination for D.C. Council Ward 1, a former D.C. police officer and special assistant to the Chief of Police.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Salah about the challenges facing the Metropolitan Police Department and real-world initiatives that would improve community safety. To learn more about Salah, visit https://salah2022.com/.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

We are at a crossroads in policing. What are the long-term effects on law enforcement of defunding, COVID-19, the recruitment crisis, and public perception? What about AI? Technology? Less lethal weapons? How do all these things impact officer safety and morale? Wouldn’t it be great to get a glimpse into the future to give assurance to our veteran officers and their families to stay the course and to let new candidates know policing is still a noble profession worth entering?

Today’s guest on Policing Matters is Scott A. Cunningham, a 38-year police professional with 12 years as a chief of police. He holds a Ph.D. in Adult Education and Organizational Management; teaches police officers, students, citizens, and communities on numerous topics; and is a team leader for CALEA. Scott recently authored, “The Future of Policing: 200 Recommendations to Enhance Policing and Community Safety,” and shares his top recommendations during a conversation with podcast host Jim Dudley.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley sits down with Troy Anderson, the executive director of officer safety and wellness at NLEOMF to discuss officer safety trends nationwide.

Each year, in preparation for Police1's coverage of National Police Week, we speak with someone from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), the organization that built and continues to maintain the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. NLEOMF is a principal organizer of National Police Week events, including the annual Candlelight Vigil held each May 13 to honor all fallen officers. In addition, the Fund maintains the largest, most comprehensive database of line-of-duty officer deaths, conducts research into officer fatality trends and issues, and serves as an information clearinghouse.

Sergeant Dalton Webb is a 17-year veteran of the Fort Worth Police Department and founder of Fort Worth's Real-Time Crime Center, which he began when he was an officer assigned to the intelligence section. Since then, the Fort Worth RTCC has grown into a 24/7 operation with 16 sworn officers and is the information and intelligence hub of the Fort Worth Police Department.

Sergeant Webb is now a national expert on the concepts of integrating technology into a policing agency and effectively using these tools to drive the policing mission. He is currently writing his first book on technology-driven policing and believes that most policing agencies in America will operate some form of a real time crime center within the next 10 years.

In this episode of Policing Matters, Sergeant Webb discusses the impact of technology-driven policing on officer safety and crime prevention.

Relationships are difficult to maintain in the best of times. Add the stress of current times, including the economy and the pandemic, and you have a recipe for stressed-out relationships. And if one or both partners are in law enforcement presents a whole array of additional issues.

Do law enforcement couples have a higher rate of divorce than the general public? Are there tried and true ways of making relationships work even in these high-stress times? Today's guest on Policing Matters may have some answers. Cyndi Doyle is the wife of a law enforcement officer and a licensed therapist who focuses on marriage and relationships. She is also the author of Hold the Line: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Law Enforcement Relationship and hosts the podcast Code4couples.

Retired Long Beach Police Department Sgt. Jason Lehman's mission is to reduce violence between peace officers and community through education. In this episode of Policing Matters, he chats with host Jim Dudley about how education and effective communication can improve both officer and community safety.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is sponsored by the Master of Science in Law Enforcement & Public Safety Leadership Program at the University of San Diego. Learn how this nationally ranked online program can help you be a force for change at sandiego.edu/police1.

We are all leaders and we are all followers. Whether your police career plan is to stay on patrol or to promote to sergeant or above, there are daily practices you can adopt to improve your leadership skills. In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with retired Police Captain Andy Borrello on how to develop a toolkit of effective leadership traits.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with retired Assistant Chief Jonni Redick, leader, mentor and author of The Survival Guide to Law Enforcement Promotional Preparation,” about how officers can prepare for promotion and how law enforcement agencies can (and must) build leadership pipelines. 

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is sponsored by the Master of Science in Law Enforcement & Public Safety Leadership Program at the University of San Diego. Learn how this nationally ranked online program can help you be a force for change at sandiego.edu/police1.

So many factors are involved before the use of force by a police officer. Officers are training in de-escalation and defensive tactics, and then there are the behaviors exhibited by the subject that officers must respond to. In the aftermath, the critics come out from internal and external review boards, the public, elected officials, the media and even other law officers. Certainly, some use-of-force incidents may be decided by a judge and jury.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with police veteran and force analysis expert Sergeant Jamie Borden, founder of Critical Incident Review, LLC, about the complexities and challenges around law enforcement use of force.

P.O.S.T. certified in 1997, a police veteran of a large police department in Nevada, Sergeant Jamie Borden was tasked with the creation and implementation of the “Use of Force Training and Analysis Unit” for the agency. The unit was created specifically to identify and analyze police performance issues related to police use-of-force and police training. He has 25 years of professional involvement in law enforcement as an instructor, lecturer and consultant.

It is no surprise that most respondents to Police1’s second annual State of the Industry survey indicated that communication is key to being a good supervisor. Along with that, the 2,376 respondents indicated that they want law enforcement leaders who:

• Care about their officers;
• Have technical knowledge of the job;
• Ensure equal distribution of workload among all their officers;
• Acknowledge the efforts of their subordinates;
• Support them in doing their job.

To help decipher what cops want and how law enforcement leaders can accommodate their requests, there can be no better advisor than Gordon Graham, who has been actively involved in law enforcement since 1973. Graham worked as a CHP motorcycle officer in Los Angeles for most of his first 10 years then served as a sergeant in the same office for most of his second 10 years. He spent the remainder of his career in various headquarters assignments including assistant to the general counsel, executive assist to the commissioner and commander of the office of risk management. He took his background in CHP operations and coupled it with his education in risk management and his experiences as a lawyer to co-found Lexipol, a company designed to standardize public safety operations nationally. 

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley chats with Gordon about the key takeaways from the survey for law enforcement leaders.

Ask any new cop what they want to be doing after they do their time in patrol. Some will say to go to narcotics, or K-9, or maybe to promote up the ranks. Chances are a lot will say they want to be a detective, but not just any kind of detective, they want to work homicide. However, is it really all it’s cracked up to be? This week's Policing Matters guest will answer that question and provide a good look into the life of a homicide detective.

Lt. Joe Kenda, a 23-year veteran of the Colorado Springs Police Department, spent 21 years chasing killers as a homicide detective and commander of the major crimes unit. Kenda and his team solved 356 of his 387 homicide cases, resulting in a 92% solve rate, one of the highest in the country. After retiring from law enforcement, he starred in Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda, an American true-crime documentary series that ran for nine seasons on Investigation Discovery (ID).

The benefits of higher education for law enforcement officers can include improving a better understanding of laws and policies, to becoming a better communicator, both verbally and on the written page, to becoming more socially aware from interaction with professors and peer students.

The University of Virginia has long been linked to law enforcement practices through the association with the FBI National Academy In Quantico, Virginia and with respected law enforcement leaders on faculty, such as Lexipol's Gordon Graham. In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Bryon Gustafson, assistant professor and director of the Master of Public Safety program at the University of Virginia, about the benefits of a master's degree for police officers.

The past few years have shed light on what may be described as “mission creep” in policing. Law enforcement officers have been asked to do an awful lot of duties that may have not been on the original job description of being a cop. Things like dealing with drug addiction and homeless issues certainly stretch the expertise of professional law enforcement personnel. 

The "defund" movement may have actually been good in outsourcing some of those duties. Most of us can agree that dealing with people afflicted with serious mental health issues has been problematic and vexing. Solutions are appearing. The FCC recently adopted rules to establish 988 as the new, nationwide, three-digit phone number for mental health emergencies, set to go live on July 16, 2022. Dispatchers will triage calls to route them to the most appropriate resource-civilian medical or law enforcement.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Dr. Vincent Atchity of Mental Health Colorado and the Equitas Project about the organization's Care Not Cuffs initiative about how to connect individuals with mental illness with community partners that can help achieve better health outcomes and more efficiently managed costs.

Technology has had a huge impact on policing. We have automated record keeping, organized evidence facilities with RFID, enhanced forensics and crime labs with new science, and using virtual reality to enhance police training. Is the next wave of technology coming in the form of fleet improvements? Over the past few years, some law enforcement agencies have started to add electric vehicles (EVs) to their fleets. So, how will American law enforcement venture into the use of EVs in everyday policing?

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Michael Benson about the infrastructure and fleet analysis law enforcement agencies should conduct to assess their electric vehicle needs. Benson, who is a retired fire chief from Ohio, expert on electric vehicles and fleet considerations, and co-owner of Command Consulting LLC, regularly consults with public safety agencies and municipalities on municipal electrification, emergency services and shared services.

The public has a high expectation that law enforcement officers should be able to see in the future and know what is going to happen on a call for service. We have seen new legislation that is based upon this presumption, especially in situations where force is used. How exactly are officers supposed to learn how to see into the future, much less through clothing and concealed areas to know if there is a weapon present on a suspect or not?

Today’s guests on the Policing Matters podcast may be able to show us how we can sharpen our senses and use science to help us predict outcomes based on human reactions. Brian Marren is a human behavior subject matter expert and Senior VP of Operations at Arcadia Cogenerati, a company that trains in the science of human behavior. A former Marine Scout Sniper with multiple deployments to Iraq, he has worked with people from the military, Fortune 500 companies, schools, hospitals, churches and law enforcement agencies. Greg Williams is the president and founder of Arcadia Cognerati, and a decorated urban law enforcement professional and a decorated former soldier with over 30 years of combined experience and expertise. Brian and Greg also host a podcast called “The Left of Greg.”

We hear the term “evidence-based policing” tossed around a lot these days. Exactly what does it mean? Does it mean that the results of a program are deemed the decider in whether or not it is replicated and funded? Do we then package it up and institutionalize those evidence-based practices at law enforcement agencies across the country?

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley asks Dr. Renée J. Mitchell to discuss evidence-based policing in practice. Dr. Mitchell served in the Sacramento Police Department for 22 years, is a senior police researcher with RTI International, and is the co-founder and executive committee member of the American Society of Evidence-Based Policing. She has taught and lectured internationally on evidence-based policing. Her research areas include policing, evidence-based crime prevention, evaluation research and methods, place-based criminology, 911 calls for service and implicit bias training.

Could part-time officers help solve the police recruitment crisis? That is the question Policing Matters host and Police1 columnist Jim Dudley recently debated with fellow columnist Joel Shults as part of their State Your Case column.

The article elicited lots of reader responses, including one from Dr. Ross Wolf, who has over 30 years of experience as a full-time and reserve deputy and currently serves as president of the Volunteer Law Enforcement Officer Alliance (VLEOA). In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley chats with Dr. Wolf about the many benefits reserve officers bring to law enforcement.

Learn more about how agencies can utilize the strengths and expertise of volunteers in this article co-authored by Dr. Ross Wolf and fellow reserve officer, Dr. Adam Dobrin.

Founded in 1962, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) is the leading national non-partisan organization exposing the links between all forms of sexual exploitation such as child sexual abuse, prostitution, sex trafficking and public health harms of pornography. 

On this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley chats with Dr. Michael Shively, who is the senior advisor on research and data analysis for NCOSE. Throughout his 30-year career in applied research, Dr. Shively has provided practitioners, legislators, agency managers and advocates with information and tools to advance their efforts to address human trafficking, sexual violence and other forms of victimization.

Law enforcement officers are often called on to provide counsel and comfort for people in need, colleagues and even their own friends and families. It is difficult for law officers to ask for help in return. Having a chaplain available for difficult times can be a blessing, whether it is with a religious affiliation or not.

On this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley chats with Jared Altic, who is the kind of person you can count on to lend an ear - and maybe some sage advice and guidance. Jared has worked full-time in the church for over 25 years, has a long history of ministering to members of the military, law enforcement and other first responders, and started serving Kansas City (Kansas) Police Department as a police chaplain in 2018. 

Jared focuses on the health and wellness of patrol officers and responds to unattended deaths such as homicides and suicides. He is also the host of the "Hey Chaplain" podcast.

On the annual year-end episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley is joined by fellow Police1 columnist, criminal justice professor and former law enforcement officer Janay Gasparini, Ph.D.

During this special episode, Jim and Janay discuss some of the biggest issues law enforcement faced in 2021, including:

• COVID-19 vaccination mandates
• Women in policing
• Recruitment and retention
• Officer support systems
• Active bystandership in law enforcement
• Evolving police defensive tactics training  
• Opioid epidemic
• Procedural justice
• Use of force

In this compendium of interviews from the FBINAA National Annual Training Conference, held in Orlando, Florida, July 7-10, Policing Matters host Jim Dudley speaks with:

• Former New York City Police Commissioner and former LAPD Chief Bill Bratton, about the challenges of policing today;
• Bensalem Township Police Department's Director of Public Safety Fred Harran about his agency's use of Thermo Fisher's Rapid DNA to solve property crimes;
• Doug Monda, founder of Survive First, about the barriers that prevent public safety personnel from getting help for mental health issues.

Crime in America is either rising, or is low, depending on where you get your news and information. One source that disseminates crime rates, statistics, reports and other information is CrimeinAmerica.net run by Leonard A. Sipes, a former police officer who worked his way through top positions within the justice system.

Sipes retired in June 2016 as the Senior Public Affairs Specialist and Social Media Manager for a federal criminal justice agency. He was the primary spokesperson for crime prevention for the federal government for 10 years as the Senior Specialist for Crime Prevention for the National Criminal Justice Reference Service and the Director of Information Services for the National Crime Prevention Council (both funded by the US Department of Justice).

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley chats with Leonard about understanding crime in America.

Long before we hit the wall with police officer recruitment, Sgt. Justin Collins, an 18-year veteran of the Rochester Police Department, co-founded Police Exam Career Prep (PECP) with the goal of mentoring and guiding a new generation of law enforcement officers. 

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley chats with Sgt. Collins about how PECP has been able to help more than 75 dedicated men and women prepare for the police hiring process and make their dream of becoming a police officer come true.

Across public safety, personnel work in conditions that range from boredom to sudden periods of extreme stress. In addition, it’s no secret that officers don’t get enough quality sleep or meals and work ungodly hours, as well as excessive overtime. But what are the lasting, long-term effects of these occupational hazards?

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Dr. John Violanti, noted police wellness researcher and LE veteran, about the increased risks police officers face from stress and cardiovascular disease.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Chief Carmen Best, who recently released her memoir, “Black in Blue: Lessons on Leadership, Breaking Barriers, and Racial Reconciliation,” about the leadership lessons she learned as Seattle’s first Black woman police chief charged with steering the agency through some of the most critical events in policing history.

On this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley is joined by attorney and former deputy sheriff Bridget Truxillo, who now works to bring wellness and support to the public safety community as founder and CEO of Protective Wellness. Jim and Bridget chat about how law enforcement officers can apply wellness principles to improve their emotional health.

According to Bureau of Justice statistics, nearly half of all local police departments have fewer than 10 officers. Three in four of the departments (75%) have no more than two dozen officers. And nine in 10 employ fewer than 50 sworn officers.

Policing is tough, but even more challenging when you consider the many responsibilities officers face in smaller departments, often responding to calls without backup and across large geographical distances.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley chats with Police1 columnist Kathleen Dias, who writes features and news analysis on topics of concern to law enforcement professionals serving in rural and remote locations. She uses her background in writing, teaching and marketing to advocate for professional levels of training and equipment for rural officers, open channels of communication for isolated departments, and dispel myths about rural policing.

We are all better off reading books, whether to expand our knowledge learn or just to relax. On this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley is joined by fellow podcaster, detective and Police1 columnist Christopher Littrell to share some book recommendations, both texts that will improve your performance as an LEO and recommended books to read for leisure. What books would you add to this list? Email [email protected].

Check out Police1.com for the full list of books mentioned in this episode.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley chats with Pocatello Police Department Chief Roger Schei about how this mid-sized agency in the fifth largest city in Idaho is addressing defensive tactics training, police recruitment, law enforcement leadership and community engagement. 

Chief Schei has a widespread training background that includes the FBI National Academy, FBI Command College, and several other leadership courses. His management certificate in high liability instruction through Idaho Police Officers Standards and Training (POST) has assisted in implementing several progressive programs for the department, including training from Rener Gracie and embracing the leadership principles of Jocko Willink’s Extreme Ownership Academy.  

The chief is a resolute protector of children’s rights and takes pride in serving as the President of the Board of Directors for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). In 2016 he was honored to receive the Ron Timpson award from the local branch of the NAACP for human rights advocacy, volunteerism, and commitment to the improvement with the Pocatello community. 

The City of Irving (Texas) Shop Talk program is a community outreach program designed for residents who would not normally attend community town halls but have a desire and need to have their voices heard. The program provides police officers with the opportunity to talk with barber shop clients and workers to facilitate honest and genuine dialog and may be a vehicle that helps build trust in communities.

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley chats with Irving PD Officer Jon Plunkett who oversees the program and facilitates opportunities to use barber shops and beauty shops for outreach efforts. Since the start of this program, which is partnered with OneCommunityUSA, more than 30 shops are currently participating. Officer Plunkett recently received a US Attorney’s Distinguished Service in Policing award for the program.

On this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Axon President Luke Larson about the cutting-edge technology that is bringing relevant, realistic and efficient virtual training to law enforcement. Luke joined Axon in 2008 and has filled a variety of executive and management roles before being appointed president in April 2015. Prior to joining Axon, Luke served two tours in Iraq as a Marine Corps infantry officer and was awarded the Bronze Star with V for valor on his first tour.

Recruitment and retention are huge issues in policing and whether you are trying to get into law enforcement, applying as a lateral transfer to another agency, or if you are a recruitment officer, this is a show you will not want to miss.

Rob Cate is the CEO and co-founder of Interview Now, a modern recruitment system for law enforcement. The company makes it easy for agencies to recruit, communicate and manage the next generation of law enforcement officers using automation, modern communication tools and analytics. Interview Now’s text-message-based software is already helping agencies both large and small in 20 states, including the New York State Police, the Memphis Police Department, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office and the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety. 

In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley chats with Rob about how his software solution streamlines the policing recruitment process, making it more engaging for potential candidates and more effective for law enforcement agencies.

With 4,300 missions under its duty belt, the Chula Vista Police Department's drone program isn’t just breaking deployment records, it is also reinventing how law enforcement agencies use UAS and drone technology. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with retired Chula Vista PD Captain Don Redmond about how the agency is using drones as first responders.