Policing Matters

Hiring the right people and building a workplace that makes them want to come back to work every day is key to improving both officer retention and community relations, especially in small departments. In this episode, host Jim Dudley chats with Chief James Small who serves as the public safety director for the Village of Palmyra in Wisconsin about police leadership best practices in small departments. Chief Small recently won the 2020 Innovative Approach to Problem-Solving Award from the Wisconsin Policy Forum for his “ISLAND” approach to leadership and policing. Chief Small talks about the ISLAND concept, which stands for inclusion, safety, laughs, authentic accountability, nourishment and direction.

Like many officers struggling to provide for their families, Chris White began working off-duty security jobs to supplement his income and purchased his first home with the money he earned. He then began assisting fellow officers by helping them schedule other regional off-duty requests, leading him to form ATHOS Group, a national off-duty hiring firm for law enforcement officers. In this episode, host Jim Dudley asks Chris to share his advice for police officers seeking outside employment, as well as how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted off-duty opportunities for police.

Janay Gasparini, P.h.D., a former police officer and current assistant professor of criminal justice at Shepherd University, recently wrote an article for Police1 titled “Why the next generation of cops need a criminal justice degree.” In this episode of Policing Matters, Dr. Gasparini explains why having a criminal justice degree helps those interested in a law enforcement career and also offers advantages for veteran law enforcement officers. Learn when you should and how you can obtain your degree, why it will serve you in your career from the academy through the police promotional process, and where you should look for colleges.

Law enforcement officers are often put into difficult situations where they need to make immediate decisions on levels of force needed to stop an attack, to defend others or themselves, or possibly to use to effect an arrest of a resisting offender. In this episode, host Jim Dudley speaks with Rener Gracie, world-renowned Jiu-Jitsu expert, practitioner and chief instructor at the Gracie University about the current deficits in law enforcement defensive tactics training and how use of force “reform” could endanger both cops and civilians.

Rick Smith, CEO of Axon (formerly TASER International), has been a technology pioneer in law enforcement with a current vision of making the bullet obsolete by 2029. Rick founded the company, TASER International, in 1993 and as the TASER weapon became ubiquitous in law enforcement, he has pushed his company to think beyond weapons technology toward a broader purpose of matching technology to public safety needs in order to make the world a safer place. In this episode, host Jim Dudley speaks with Rick about current research around the development and deployment of TASER weapons, as well as new offerings from Axon designed to improve police performance and transparency.

There seems to be an app for just about everything these days, from accessing training to seeing how crime is occurring almost in real-time. Civilians have access to apps that warn them of traffic delays or police activity. Wouldn't it be great to have an app that provides access to off-duty LEOs to assist in responding to an act of mass violence when they are close to the incident? In this episode, host Jim Dudley speaks with Lt. Travis Norton, a 20-year veteran with the Oceanside (California) Police Department, about how to bring this concept to reality.

The FBI responded to law enforcement’s call to upgrade and update reporting of the nation’s crime statistics by transitioning from the Summary Reporting System (SRS) to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) by January 1, 2021. Recognizing this as a monumental shift in practice, the FBI gave several years' notice, from February 9, 2016, to be exact, to law enforcement agencies, and now the deadline is just weeks away. In this episode, host Jim Dudley speaks with Trudy Ford, the Section Chief of the Global Law Enforcement Support Section of the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division about what prompted the change, the improvements NIBRS offers and what the transition means for rank and file officers.

No one knows what the coming weeks leading up to Election Day hold, but there’s one thing we can all agree on – we’re heading for choppy waters. In a recent article for Police1, social media consultant Yael Bar-tur outlined 10 steps police chiefs can take right now to communicate on social media ahead of November 3. In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley talks to Yael about some of the strategies she details in the article.

It is estimated that veterans comprise 20% of law enforcement personnel in the United States. In this episode, host Jim Dudley talks with U.S. military veteran and recently retired sheriff’s office deputy Greg Johnson about the unique skills and perspectives veterans offer police agencies, as well as the similarities and differences between serving in the military and serving in law enforcement.

The year 2020 has presented numerous challenges for law enforcement, beginning with the management of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and then a rapid transition to rioting, looting and ongoing civil unrest. In this episode, host Jim Dudley talks with researchers Dr. Michelle Lilly and Sergeant Shawn Curry, both co-directors of the Training and Research Institute for Public Safety (TRIPS), about the startling findings of a recent survey they conducted to assess current psychological health in law enforcement officers.

Are you looking to improve community relationships, learn the latest developments in public safety technology and implement real change in your agency? Join us virtually for Lexipol’s first-ever user group conference: Connect 2020! On Wednesday, Oct. 14, explore how we can serve "Better Together."

In August 2019, Elijah McKnight, who was allegedly intoxicated and struggled with a sheriff’s deputy, was TASERed, handcuffed and subdued by three people. Identifying the patient was experiencing excited delirium, the attending medics administered one 500 mg dose of ketamine and another dose of 250 mg about nine minutes later after consulting with a physician. The story elevated to the front-page level as body camera footage identified that deputies asked if the medics could "give him anything," to which a medic replied they can give him ketamine and, "he'll be sleeping like a baby," but would need to be transported. A second case occurred that same month when another Colorado arrestee, Elijah McClain, was administered ketamine, went into cardiac arrest, and was subsequently declared brain dead and died on Aug 30, 2019. Last month the Aurora city council voted to temporarily ban paramedics from using ketamine to sedate patients. In this episode, host Jim Dudley speaks with EMS1 columnist Rob Lawrence and Dr. Will Smith, an EMS physician from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, about what law enforcement should know about ketamine. They also discuss law enforcement's potential involvement in securing mass vaccination centers that could be used to distribute the COVID-19 vaccination when it is released to the public.

On September 23, a Kentucky grand jury announced three counts of wanton endangerment against former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison for shooting into neighboring apartments during the execution of a search warrant on the night of March 13 that resulted in the death of Breonna Taylor. In this episode, host Jim Dudley talks with Police1 columnist Sergeant Betsy Brantner Smith about the Breonna Taylor case and the grand jury’s indictments.

While all police officers pull their weapons during their careers only a very small percentage actually end up firing them in a deadly force confrontation. On April 8, 2016, Detective Adam Meyers became one of those officers after he was involved in a fatal officer-involved shooting that changed his life forever. In this episode, host Jim Dudley chats with Adam about the events of that day and the immediate aftermath, as well as the ongoing stress he experienced as a result of the incident.

Founded in 1976 as a nonprofit organization, the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) is a police research and policy organization and a provider of management services, technical assistance and executive-level education to support law enforcement agencies. In this episode, host Jim Dudley chats with PERF Executive Director Chuck Wexler about the organization’s current work in development of best practice policy and dissemination of law enforcement resources and information, as well as how PERF is addressing the critical issues facing law enforcement agencies today.

When it comes to police officers and sleep there is one certainty – cops are not getting enough shut-eye. But did you know that moderate sleep deprivation produces impairments equivalent to those of alcohol intoxication? With mandatory overtime, court appearances and in-service training all taking a toll on the time available for officers to actually sleep, what can cops and their supervisors to do ensure sleep deprivation doesn’t result in fatal errors? In this episode, host Jim Dudley chats with Dr. Stephen James, an assistant research professor at Washington State University, about his work relating to the interaction between physical stressors, such as sleep-related fatigue, and police performance.

Blue H.E.L.P. is a nonprofit organization that collects law enforcement suicide data and supports families of officers who have died by suicide. In this episode, host Jim Dudley talks with Karen Solomon, president and co-founder of Blue H.E.L.P., about the work of the organization to put a spotlight on the issue of mental wellness in law enforcement.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), founded in 1984, has a three-pronged mission: to honor fallen officers, make it safer for those who serve, and educate the public about the history of American law enforcement. In this episode, host Jim Dudley speaks with Robyn Small from NLEOMF about the fund’s recent mid-year LODD report, the work of the National Law Enforcement Museum and other current initiatives.

Whether you want to make the jump from field training officer to detective or captain to chief, honesty during the promotional process is key to securing the position, but identifying your weaknesses as well as your strengths when facing an interview board can be a challenge. In A Cop's Simple Guide to Promotion Preparation, Millbrae (California) Police Chief Paul Kunkel helps officers walk through the police promotion process. In this episode, host Jim Dudley talks with Chief Kunkel about his top tips for promotional success.

Founded in 2015, the American Society for Evidence-Based Policing was born out of the drive to advance the state of policing in America through the use of scientific evidence. Co-founder Renée Mitchell served in the Sacramento Police Department for 22 years and currently resides with RTI International, an independent, nonprofit research institute. She holds a B.S. in Psychology, a M.A. in Counseling Psychology, a M.B.A., a J.D., and a Ph.D. in Criminology from the University of Cambridge. In this episode, host Jim Dudley talks with Dr. Mitchell about why elected officials must work with police leaders to consider the research when designing strategies to reduce crime and disorder while maintaining the trust and confidence of the public we serve.

Irish Angel is an organization based in Ireland, with offices in New York and Boston, that specializes in providing support for law enforcement officers and military personnel in regard to PTSD, mental health issues, anxiety, and alcohol and drug dependency. In this episode, host Jim Dudley chats with Amanda Coleman, the executive director and founder of the nonprofit group, about what inspired her to launch Irish Angel and why U.S. cops have been the focus of assistance provided to date.

In Volusia County, Florida, annual arrests dropped by almost 30% from 2017 to 2019 even though call volume remained steady, and the recorded frequency of Volusia deputies using force fell by nearly half, from 122 annual incidents to 65. Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood credits a visit to Scotland in 2015 for helping implement new de-escalation strategies that have assisted not only in reducing the use of force, but also officer injuries. In this episode, host Jim Dudley discusses the strategies and training in place at Volusia County with Sheriff Chitwood and how other agencies could implement similar programs.

In this episode of Policing Matters, Jim Dudley sits down with Darrell Cortez to discuss how the "Shop with a Cop" program helps cops engage with the community and humanize the badge.

While our nation’s law enforcement officers have previously faced anti-police sentiment, what is different about the current crisis is the presence of social media, which has moved discussions about police reform online. These online conversations are happening with or without law enforcement, so one of the most important things chiefs can do is acknowledge this new reality and participate. In this episode, host Jim Dudley talks to Yael Bar-tur, a social media consultant who previously served as the director of social media and digital strategy for the New York City Police Department, about how agencies can integrate social media into policing strategy and make it a meaningful part of community relations outreach.

In June, three California police unions – the Los Angeles Police Protective League, San Jose Police Officers Association and the San Francisco Police Officers Association – unveiled a national police reform agenda intended to improve outcomes between officers and the community they serve. The agenda was publicly announced in full-page newspaper ads in the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle and the Mercury News. In this episode, host Jim Dudley talks to San Francisco Police Department Lieutenant Tracy McCray, who serves as vice president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, about current debates on race, use of force, defunding the police and other serious issues impacting police departments across the country.

Retired DEA Special Agents Steve Murphy and Javier Pena were at the center of the largest, most complex, multi-national, high-profile investigation of its time. Working with an elite Colombian Task Force, Murphy and Pena were responsible for the downfall and capture of the world’s first narco-terrorist, the infamous drug cartel leader, Pablo Escobar, following his brutal reign as head of the Medellin Cartel in the 1980s and early 1990s. Their real-life story inspired the hit Netflix series NARCOS! In this episode, host Jim Dudley chats with Steve and Javier about the release of their new book, “Manhunters: How We Took Down Pablo Escobar,” and where we find ourselves in the “war on drugs” today.

War stories are a tradition in public safety and there is no question that cops may be the best storytellers of all, as they witness extremes of human behavior on a daily basis. But how do you go about turning those stories into a novel? In this episode, host Jim Dudley talks to police psychologist and author of both non-fiction and fiction books about law enforcement Ellen Kirschman about her “tricks of the trade” to becoming a published author.

As demands for police reform and defunding continue nationwide in the wake of protests about the death of George Floyd, some cities have severed ties with their school resource officers, while others are moving closer to eliminating SROs in their districts. In this episode, host Jim Dudley talks to Mo Canady, Executive Director of the National Association of School Resource Officers, about the value of SROs and the risks of removing them from schools.

Policing may never have been more stressful for officers than right now. Between the COVID-19 pandemic and the current protests and civil unrest in response to the in-custody death of George Floyd, cops nationwide are facing unprecedented levels of criticism from all corners. Managing the stress brought on by these events is key to peak performance. In this episode, host Jim Dudley talks to Ellen Kirschman – AKA “the cop doc” – about strategies police can use to protect their mental wellness during these trying times.

Police officers have myriad unique opportunities to positively influence America's children—from infancy to young adulthood and beyond. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss how informal, day-to-day interactions between officers and young people can help begin to change the anti-police sentiment that has taken root among some members of society, as well as how formally funded agency programs like Police Athletic Leagues, Shop with a Cop, National Night Out, and Explorer programs can help improve police-community relations.

With the advent of social media sites like Facebook, Instragram, and Twitter—and the rapid rise in law enforcement agencies and officers posting humorous items to those services—the American public is getting a significantly better glimpse into the fact that police officers have a unique brand of humor. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss how police use humor to alleviate stress from the job.

An estimated 40% of the homicides that occurred in the U.S. from 1980 to 2016—approximately 242,000—remain unsolved. Countless other violent crimes—from assault to rape to robbery—also remain open with investigators trying to piece together the evidence in pursuit of justice on behalf of the individual victims as well as society at large. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss how new technology and an increase in information sharing across agencies nationwide can help police close more cold cases.

Some jurisdictions are reconsidering the definition of "juvenile" as it relates to the prosecution of criminal acts. For example, California lawmakers are considering raising the age limit of individuals who would be tried and sentenced as juveniles from 17- to 19-years-old. The author of the bill, Democratic State Senator Nancy Skinner, says that "under the bill, 18- and 19-year-olds would be treated as juveniles in criminal proceedings." She added in a statement on her website, "When teenagers make serious mistakes and commit crimes, state prison is not the answer. Processing teenagers through the juvenile justice system will help ensure they receive the appropriate education, counseling, treatment, and rehabilitation services necessary to achieve real public safety outcomes." In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug Discuss this proposal as well as others like it, and what the ramifications would be on the criminal justice system as well as public safety in general.

In this installment of Policing Matters, Jim Dudley interviews professor and author Jeffrey Snipes, JD, PhD and Police Organizational Practices consultant. Professor Snipes authored Causes of Crime: Vold’s Theoretical Criminology, and co-authored The Valley of the Shadow of Death, about the 1984 massacre of the family of former NFL star defensive back Kermit Alexander. Listen as they talk about the impact of COVID-19 on reported crime and the potential lasting effects. Will lessons learned from the shelter-in-place orders figure into future policing strategies and policies?

Protecting critical infrastructure is essential during any incident or situation. Considering the ever-changing, daily developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic, good planning is especially valuable right now. Rex Scism speaks with Jim Dudley to describe the essential planning process, priorities, and dealing with county, state and federal governmental agencies. In the follow-up to his article "Protecting critical infrastructure: What your organization can do to weather the storm", Rex further describes planning the continuity of operations for an agency. Captain Rex M. Scism (Ret) is a 32-year law enforcement veteran and former director of research and development for the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Within that capacity, he was responsible for policy management, organizational accreditation initiatives, and statistical analysis. Mr. Scism also serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Criminal Justice for both Columbia College and the University of Central Missouri. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy – Session 249, and currently serves as a Content Developer for Lexipol.

In San Francisco and other cities across America, advocates of accused offenders have called for "cash bail" to be ended, citing economic inequities among offenders. The argument is that the system unfairly keeps accused offenders from low income backgrounds incarcerated while defendants from more wealthy backgrounds walk free on bail. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the fact that the idea of bail reform may have some merit—as long as serious, chronic, and violent offenders remain in custody unless they guarantee that they will return to court or show enough investment that they will not commit further acts while out of custody.

In 2019, Blue HELP reported a total of 228 police officers died by suicide. Those are just the suicide deaths that had been documented—it is unclear how many other officers died by suicide that were reported as "a sudden medical emergency" or "single vehicle collision" or simply swept under the rug altogether. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss how police agencies and individual officers are smashing the stigma of seeking mental or emotional assistance, and how the culture of policing still must continue to evolve to ensure that officers approaching crisis have access to the assistance they need to prevail.

Two decades ago, a small group of dedicated entrepreneurs set out to create an online resource for law enforcement. In the intervening 20 years, a lot has changed in policing—from new technologies to improved training to more sophisticated patrol vehicles and duty gear. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the various events and milestones Police1 writers and contributors have noted over the years.

COVID-19—also known as coronavirus—may potentially pose a substantial threat to American law enforcement as the disease continues to spread across the country. The most vulnerable to serious illness—and even death—are currently elderly people with a pre-existing weakened immune system. However, the emergence into the national narrative of the worldwide pandemic provides an opportunity to remember that other threats pose a significant danger, and to recall that some simple steps can prevent succumbing to infectious disease. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the ways in which officers and agencies can protect themselves from a wide array of infectious diseases carried by individuals they contact when on patrol.

The coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic is causing worldwide concern. First responders, whether they be law enforcement, fire or EMS personnel should be aware of the latest developments. Listen in as Jim Dudley interviews Rob Lawrence, PoliceOne's resident health expert, for the latest information on COVID-19. Members can get up to date information as it is released from the Center for Disease Control at: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security has made information available at: https://www.dhs.gov/epidemicpandemic https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/dhs-comprehensive-first-responder-pandemic-guide-pandemic.pdf Agencies may view the template for Continuity of Operations at: https://www.fema.gov/pdf/about/org/ncp/pandemic_influenza.pdf

Despite their effectiveness in helping police agencies—especially in densely populated urban areas—reduce the threat of criminal gangs to public safety, some places are pulling back on utilizing gang injunctions. For example, in San Francisco, newly elected District Attorney Chesa Boudin has declared that he will end the practice of gang enhancements when pressing charges against known gang members accused of a host of different crimes related to the gang's criminal activities. Gang enhancements have drawn increased opposition in California, driven by a belief among police critics that they are disproportionately applied to people of color in poor neighborhoods.

With the ever-increasing popularity of mixed martial arts as a spectator sport, just about every jurisdiction in America has seen the opening of a training facility—a dojo or a gym—specializing in teaching individuals how to fight in this potentially deadly style of combat. Indeed, many police officers are regulars at these gyms, learning everything from the grappling and submission techniques, hand striking of traditional boxing, and kicks from a variety of martial arts from around the world. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the potential threat officers face when dealing with a subject who is trained in this fighting style, as well as the upside—and possible downside—of officers participating in this training.

In large-scale emergencies, police, fire, EMS, and a wide variety of other governmental organizations and private enterprises need to pull together and work as a single organism. At some major catastrophes, you might have city departments such as public works and social services racing to a scene alongside the electric company, the American Red Cross and others. This requires that police leaders and command staff must first establish relationships with those many organizations long in advance of an actual catastrophe. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss how some of those relationships are formed and maintained over time through communication and shared training exercises.

In late January, the Rio Vista City Council voted to dissolve its police department following the abrupt departure of the police chief, a commander, and a sergeant that left the agency all but gutted. The small city about of roughly 9,000 residents—located approximately 60 miles east of San Francisco—will now receive its police services from the Solano County Sheriff's Office. Rio Vista is not alone. Late last year, the town board in Deposit, New York, held a meeting to discuss with interested citizens the proposal to dissolve their police department. A few months before that, the Ridgetop Police Department in Tennessee suffered a similar fate. The town of Freedom, Wisconsin voted to disband its police department—consisting of two full-time and one part-time sworn officer—last year as well. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the shuttering of doors at police agencies, usually in smaller jurisdictions.

This Monday, thousands of the citizens of Iowa will gather in churches, schools, public buildings, and even individuals' homes to try to convince each other who should be the Democratic nominee to face off against incumbent President Donald Trump in November's general election. This election is sure to be a hotly contested one, with passions running high on both sides. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the role of law enforcement in the political season.

Traffic enforcement is one of the most common activities for many line officers. Code violations can lead to significant drug busts. Traffic violations can get dangerous drivers to change their ways. DUI check-points save an unknown number of lives. From speed traps to self-initiated stops, it's a big part of policing. But there are different methods that meet different objectives. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the various ways law enforcement officers can make the roadways safer.

Interviewing victims of violent crime is a vastly different enterprise than interrogating the suspected perpetrators. Victims of violent crime—as well as witnesses—are likely to have suffered trauma that can impact their recall of the events. Vital elements may be erased from memory, while they may recall things that aren't precisely what happened. Victims of trauma also often recall events not in the order that they actually occurred, potentially causing an inexperienced interviewer to conclude deceptions. Further, traditional interview techniques can cause the victim to feel re-victimized. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss how Cognitive Interviewing (CI) can help investigators gather detailed and accurate information from victims of trauma that can lead to an increase in guilty pleas.

Cops must be all things to all people. They're drug counselors, child protectors, criminal investigators, social workers, and enemies of evil. This has been dumbed down in recent years into the debate over whether or not cops are "warriors" or "guardians"—a debate that is rendered meaningless by the use of the word "or." Cops are BOTH of those things and more. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss how the American people perceive police officers, what they truly want from law enforcement, and frame the conversation within the context of what's happened in recent years in San Francisco, where Jim worked as a law enforcement officer for three decades, and where Doug has called home for nearly two decades.

Many police agencies across the country host an annual (or even more frequent) Citizens' Police Academy with the intention of connecting with the communities they serve and helping to increase understanding among civilians about the ins and outs of law enforcement. Given the fact that there is so much widespread misinformation about what police officers do on a daily basis, this is probably a good strategy for educating the public. What goes into creating such a program? What are the benefits? Who should be the instructors? In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss best practices for putting on a Citizens' Police Academy.

This is the final Policing Matters podcast segment of 2019. With what is sure to be a tumultuous 2020 about to commence, Jim and Doug reflect on some of the topics that rose above the rest in the past 12 months, including police officer suicide, the impact of California's AB-392 on the use of force and officer safety, active shooter response during some of this year's tragedies, the use of facial recognition software and artificial intelligence, ongoing anti-police sentiment — and the opposing force of police supporters — as well as the use of CBD oils, and the impact of legal marijuana on recruiting.