Policing Matters

Police officers in Alaska are unlikely to encounter an alligator, and officers in Alabama are unlikely to come upon a moose, but in every state in the union officers routinely come into contact with all manner of animals. There are some very important rules of the road when dealing with wildlife, as well as so-called domesticated animals that can turn suddenly dangerous. Generally, police officers are not equipped with tranquilizer guns, control poles, and animal cages, so it's ideal to call in your animal control partners, but there are times animals must be dealt with. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss dealing with wildlife on patrol.

In late November, four Good Samaritans came to the rescue of an officer in Georgia who was trapped inside a burning patrol vehicle. In August, three Good Samaritans came to the aid of a deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department who was in a potentially deadly struggle with a suspect. There are myriad other examples of citizens coming to the assistance of an officer in trouble. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss how police can be aided by police supporters, and how to tell interested citizens that they're most helpful in backing away.

In November 2019, voters in San Francisco elected to the office of District Attorney Chesa Boudin, who ran on a platform of ending gang enhancements, part of a California law that adds additional prison sentences to defendants who participate in violent street gangs. His parents—Kathy Boudin and David Gilbert—were imprisoned for the felony murders of two police officers and a security guard in 1981. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss policing alongside hostile prosecutors.

Inevitably, every year on the day after Thanksgiving, police are forced to deal with crowd control issues as massive numbers of people crush the front doors of retail establishments offering "great deals" for holiday shoppers. Police get thousands of calls for shoplifting, domestic violence incidents, public drunkenness, and other misbehavior that spikes for about 72 hours on either side of Thanksgiving. Further, "Black Friday" is the semi-official start to the Christmas Holiday season. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss policing on the holidays, beginning with Black Friday and all the way through New Year's.

Several years ago, PoliceOne reported on the retirement of an 84-year-old lieutenant who had served 61 years with the Montgomery County Police Department. This was an extreme case to be sure, but there are many officers who overstay their time in the ranks for a variety of reasons—they may fear losing their entire identity, they may have not planned for the financial realities of retirement, or they may just not realize that the time to move on has come and gone. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the need for officers to know when it's time to pull the pin, and how to plan for that day's eventual arrival.

According to a 2011 study by the Automobile Association of America, 53 percent of police officers get less than 6.5 hours of sleep daily (compared to 30 percent of the general population), 91 percent report routinely feeling fatigued, 14 percent are tired when they start their work shift, and 39 percent admit to having fallen asleep at the wheel. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the matter of police officer sleep and how it affects effectiveness on the job.

Former presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke famously said during a recent debate that he'd gladly enforce a mandatory gun buy-back program that would target legally purchased "assault rifles" such as AR-15s and AK-47s. Disregarding the discussion about the Constitutionality of such a proposal, his suggestion highlights how politicians have a tendency to put police in the middle of political issues without knowing all the details of an issue. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss how O'Rourke's suggestion would put police officers in danger, how it doesn't really address the matter of gun violence in America, and how it shines a light on how police are too often put in the middle of a political debate.

Following the active shooter event at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in California, one police agency in the Golden State has decided that during large-scale events in its jurisdiction, a certain number of uniformed personnel will be "strapped" with patrol rifles. The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office announced in mid-August that an undisclosed percentage of officers patrolling festivals and other events will be carrying AR-15 rifles capable of responding to an attacker with a long gun. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the balancing act between protecting life and presenting a non-threatening image.

Policing on Halloween is different from any other day of the year. Children who are ordinarily on their living room couch after supper are out on the streets. Adults consuming large quantities of alcohol wander from one bar to another carrying costume "props" resembling edged weapons and firearms. Teenagers get into all manner of mayhem. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the various challenges facing police officers on the final night of October.

Do police, fire, and EMS share the same priorities and communication during the response to critical and mass casualty incidents? How can all of the first responders address their individualized priorities while sharing the same goals? Do current policies adequately address the need during urgent times when wounded and bleeding victims remain in a hot or warm zone of a critical incident? In this podcast segment, Jim Dudley is joined by veteran EMS leader Rob Lawrence for a discussion on dilemmas, response and the preparation required before the critical incident occurs.

Two high-profile active shooter incidents in the span of two days in early August—one in Dayton, Ohio and the other in El Paso Texas—has reignited discussions about the threat of individuals conducting mass murder. Later in August, police in Connecticut, Florida, and Ohio arrested three men in the span of two days, potentially preventing three separate but unrelated mass shooting plots. One of the things that is common following events such as these is the deep-dive examination by the national mainstream media into the backgrounds of the perpetrators. But what is the benefit of this type of investigation? Some say that reporting on every detail of an individual's life leading up to an attack or an attempted attack glorifies the individual, and puts the victims in the background. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the "Don't Name Them" effort, which encourages media outlets to minimize coverage of the assailant and focus more on the victims.

Well-lit areas have less crime than areas that are enshrouded in darkness at night. Properties with waist-high fencing at the front of the dwelling and shoulder-height fencing on the B, C, and D sides tend to be less prone to break-ins. Structural elements that prevent access and egress to open areas help prevent criminal activity. Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) is not a new concept—it dates back to the 1960s—but it is ever evolving. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the latest trends.

There are now 33 states (as well as the District of Columbia) that allow the sale and use of medical marijuana products. Among the myriad options available are topical CBD oils that are intended to relieve muscle pain, among other things. These products do not contain the psychoactive THC element of the plant that causes a "high" and proponents say that these oils are safer and more effective than many over the counter and prescription pain medications. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss whether or not police officers should be allowed to use these products.

A recent series of articles published by a California organization called The Center for Investigative Reporting—a nonprofit founded in the late 1970s—alleged that a significant number of American police officers were members of "closed" groups on social media that have racist, sexist, or other extremist ideologies. The articles seemed to indicate that a large number of officers belong to groups on social media hosted by Oath Keepers, Three Percenters and other organizations. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss these groups as well as officers' participation in them.

Recently, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 392. Media reaction would indicate that the bill would drastically reduce police use of force, but the reality is that the new language does little to restrict officers from using force when they reasonably believe that there exists an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or to another person, or to apprehend a fleeing person for any felony that threatened or resulted in death or serious bodily injury. Still, the law does contain some language that might cause officers to hesitate to use force, potentially putting them in danger. Some opponents to the law are calling it a watershed event that could negatively affect policing in the United States. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the law and its potential result on police use of force.

Anti-police politicians continue to grandstand on the topic of criminal justice reform during election campaigns and from their elected offices, suggesting everything from decriminalization of lower level drug offenses to reduced jail sentences that could lead to increases in crime. They continue also to vilify law enforcement, seizing upon every opportunity to paint police as vicious villains whenever a controversial incident takes place. The anti-police members of the media parrot their sentiments to generate television ratings and internet traffic. Anti-police protesters take to the streets destroying public and private property. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the anti-police sentiment that doesn't seem to be going away.

In mid-August, NYPD Police Commissioner James O'Neill fired Daniel Pantaleo—the New York City police officer accused in the 2014 death of Eric Garner—despite the fact that Pantaleo was cleared of any wrongdoing in the incident. Patrick Lynch—the president of the Police Benevolent Association—sent a message to officers that could very easily be construed as a signal of a work slowdown. "We are urging all New York City police officers to proceed with the utmost caution in this new reality, in which they may be deemed 'reckless' just for doing their job," Lynch said. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss how actions such as the firing of Dan Pantaleo fan the flames of the continuing trend of de-motivation and de-policing in America.

In mid-July, several acts of police heroism in which an officer saved the life of an infant or a toddler made headlines in the span of just a couple of days. This might lead one to conclude that there was a sudden uptick in such actions, but that conclusion would be inaccurate. The only uptick was in the media's coverage of those events. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the fact that police heroics happen every day, and talk about the increasing need for police agencies to proactively tell those stories to counter the seemingly ongoing anti-police rhetoric in the public discourse.

Following violent protests that left several people injured—including a conservative journalist who was badly beaten by protesters, the chief of police in Portland, Oregon suggested that the city pass a law that bans the wearing of masks during protests. Citing the fact that other states have laws prohibiting the wearing of masks during the commission of a crime, Portland Police Chief Danielle Outlaw suggested that the city institute the restrictions on masks at protests and demonstrations. The Oregon ACLU opposes the proposal—they do tend to side politically with the people who tend to wear masks at rallies—but others in both government and private sectors see some benefit to the idea. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss whether or not such a proposal would even pass in the City of Roses.

On Independence Day six police officers were approached by a Starbucks employee in Tempe, Arizona and told their presence was making another customer "uncomfortable." They were told they could relocate or leave. They decided to leave. News of this incident soon hit social media, and a firestorm ensued, with officers across the country calling for a boycott of the coffee chain. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the incident itself, and the online outrage that followed.

San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon recently announced a new artificial intelligence tool that will automatically redact from police reports any information that would indicate the race of an individual accused of a crime. He wants to eliminate any influence of racial bias in the decision-making process as to whether or not charges should be pursued or dropped in a given case. Attorneys will make a preliminary decision based on the redacted report, and then a final decision after reading the unreacted version. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss this new technology, as well as what the San Francisco DA's motives might be in deploying it.

At a time when it seems that officers are getting bigger and bigger in physical stature, the compartment they occupy in their patrol vehicles keeps getting smaller and smaller. The vehicles themselves are in many cases smaller than the trusty old Crown Vics of old, and they're being stuffed with an ever-increasing amount of aftermarket equipment like MDTs. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss this trend and debate the merits of looking at going to more SUVs that will allow for those hefty cops to be more comfortable behind the wheel.

Last month, the New York Police Department suffered three deaths by suicide in the span of ten days. That string of tragedies prompted NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill to call for officers to not be afraid to seek help if they need it. "This is a mental-health crisis," O'Neill said. "And we – the NYPD and the law enforcement profession as a whole – absolutely must take action." Meanwhile, in Chicago, that department held a two-day symposium on suicide prevention. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss if the stigma of seeking help has finally been smashed.

Oakland recently became the second city in the United States—Denver is the other one—to decriminalize the consumption and ingestion of psilocybin mushrooms, recognized by the federal government as a schedule one drug. Schedule one drugs are defined as drugs with a high potential for abuse or drugs that have no recognized medical uses. However, advocates of this movement argue that these naturally occurring fungi have been used by many cultures for centuries for religious and medical purposes, and that argument prevailed by a narrow margin in a city council vote. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the matter and what it means for law enforcement in the Bay Area.

Patrolling in the summer months can have some additional challenges, particularly in areas where the heat can become downright unbearable. For whatever reason — the heat, the over consumption of alcohol, family disputes, or some combination — there seems to be an uptick in violent crime. Kids are more likely to be struck by vehicles because they're not in school. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss some things to keep in mind as you're out on patrol in the summer months.

Police and firefighters have a lot of fun with the "guns 'n hoses" rivalry, but in reality there are myriad calls for service which require the response of all public safety disciplines (as well as some city and civilian services at times as well). In this podcast segment, Policing Matters podcast co-host Doug Wyllie sits down with Justin and Jason (a firefighter/paramedic and a motorcop, as well as co-hosts of the What's Your Emergency podcast) to discuss how all the public safety disciplines can work better together.

All too often police officers put themselves in unnecessary financial strain, causing them to have to work a ton of overtime or even get a side job. In this podcast segment, Policing Matters podcast co-host Doug Wyllie sits down with Jason Hoschouer, a motor officer and a financial coach who specializes in helping public safety professionals better manage their money.

During the annual conference of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) in St. Louis, Policing Matters podcast co-host Doug Wyllie roamed the hallways and ran into countless law enforcement trainers and experts, some of whom were willing to sit down and talk about what they're teaching and what they're learning. In this podcast segment, Doug sits down with PoliceOne Columnist Dan Marcou to discuss his latest book, the second edition of the classic law enforcement training manual Street Survival, originally authored by Chuck Remsberg.

During the annual conference of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) in St. Louis, Policing Matters podcast co-host Doug Wyllie roamed the hallways and ran into countless law enforcement trainers and experts, some of whom were willing to sit down and talk about what they're teaching and what they're learning. In this podcast segment, Doug sits down once again with Dan Green to continue the discussion about FTOs and the difference between content-driven and problem-based learning.

During the annual conference of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) in St. Louis, Policing Matters podcast co-host Doug Wyllie roamed the hallways and ran into countless law enforcement trainers and experts, some of whom were willing to sit down and talk about what they're teaching and what they're learning. In this podcast segment, Doug sits down with Dan Green to discuss the importance of the Field Training Officer and how the FTO's teaching role differs from academy instruction.

During the annual conference of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) in St. Louis, Policing Matters podcast co-host Doug Wyllie roamed the hallways and ran into countless law enforcement trainers and experts, some of whom were willing to sit down and talk about what they're teaching and what they're learning. In this podcast segment, Doug sits down with PoliceOne Contributors Todd and Chrystal Fletcher—co-owners of Combative Firearms Training, LLC—about the way in which their unique pairing provides opportunities for students to get more out of training.

During the annual conference of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) in St. Louis, Policing Matters podcast co-host Doug Wyllie roamed the hallways and ran into countless law enforcement trainers and experts, some of whom were willing to sit down and talk about what they're teaching and what they're learning. In this podcast segment, Doug sits down with PoliceOne Contributor Tim Barfield to talk about law enforcement leadership—specifically the failure of leadership to stand up for police officers following a critical incident.

During the annual conference of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA 2019) in St. Louis, Policing Matters podcast co-host Doug Wyllie roamed the hallways and ran into countless law enforcement trainers and experts, some of whom were willing to sit down and talk about what they're teaching and what they're learning. In this podcast segment, Doug sits down with PoliceOne columnist Duane Wolfe, who discusses the importance of approaching officer wellness from the perspective of "totality of health."

During the annual conference of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) in St. Louis, Policing Matters podcast co-host Doug Wyllie roamed the hallways and ran into countless law enforcement trainers and experts, some of whom were willing to sit down and talk about what they're teaching and what they're learning. In this podcast segment, Doug sits down with PoliceOne columnist Duane Wolfe, who in 2012 wrote an article entitled "The day I put a gun to my head." Duane and Doug discuss the genesis of that article as well as the impact it has had on officers contemplating suicide.

During the annual conference of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) in St. Louis, Policing Matters podcast co-host Doug Wyllie roamed the hallways and ran into countless law enforcement trainers and experts, some of whom were willing to sit down and talk about what they're teaching and what they're learning. In this podcast segment, Doug sits down with Chief Bill Harvey to discuss some of the keys to multi-jurisdictional, multi-disciplinary response to large-scale events — both planned and unplanned — to ensure citizen and first responder safety.

During the annual conference of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) in St. Louis, Policing Matters podcast co-host Doug Wyllie roamed the hallways and ran into countless law enforcement trainers and experts, some of whom were willing to sit down and talk about what they're teaching and what they're learning. In this podcast segment, Doug sits down with Lee Shaykhet, a renowned police trainer, who talks about predators versus prey—the importance of moving forward and doing what the subject doesn't expect in order to prevail in a deadly confrontation.

During the annual conference of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) in St. Louis, Policing Matters podcast co-host Doug Wyllie roamed the hallways and ran into countless law enforcement trainers and experts, some of whom were willing to sit down and talk about what they're teaching and what they're learning. In this podcast segment, Doug sits down with former editor of PoliceOne Scott Buhrmaster, who talks about how he continues to help law enforcement by helping the manufacturers and service providers that serve law enforcement be more effective in what they do.

During the annual conference of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) in St. Louis, Policing Matters podcast co-host Doug Wyllie roamed the hallways and ran into countless law enforcement trainers and experts, some of whom were willing to sit down and talk about what they're teaching and what they're learning. In this podcast segment, Doug sits down with Below 100 instructors Rod Rifredi and Kim Schlau, who discuss the five tenets of the Below 100 program—wear your belt, wear your vests, watch your speed, remember "what's important now" and complacency kills.

Following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, a great deal of attention was paid to the fact that the gunman had exhibited myriad signs of mental instability—hurting animals, threatening and/or fighting with other students, previous mental health treatment—that may have been enough for relatives or school authorities to ask law enforcement to keep him from possessing firearms. As of February 2019, more than a dozen states have laws on the books that allow local law enforcement to seize firearms from people diagnosed as mentally ill. In this podcast episode, Jim and Doug discuss the Constitutionality of such laws, and what they might mean in the larger context of the gun-control debate.

In Baltimore, it has been reported that from 2014 to 2017, dispatch records show the number of suspected narcotics offenses police reported themselves dropped 30 percent. The number of people they reported seeing with outstanding warrants dropped by half. The number of field interviews dropped 70 percent. This type of de-policing has emboldened criminals and crime now is on the rise. In September 2018, 37 people were killed in the city, making that the deadliest month in more than a year. Baltimore has had five police commissioners in four years. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss how things went from bad to worse in Charm City following the death of Freddie Gray and the subsequent anti-police protests.

In mid-February someone called 911 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina claiming to be Robert McCord, a reserve officer with the department. The caller told dispatchers he’d just shot his wife and was going to kill the rest of the people in the house. Police responded as one might imagine they would respond to such a call—they sent in SWAT to ensure the safety of innocents. McCord exited his home with hands held high above his head, walking slowly toward responders. The incident ended with nobody injured, but so-called "swatting" calls have been fatal on all too many occasions. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss what can be done to prevent swatting as well as how police investigate and charge people for making swatting calls.

In 2004, Congress passed the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (also known as LEOSA), which allows qualified active and retired officers to carry a concealed firearm in any jurisdiction in the United States—with certain exceptions and restrictions. Recently introduced legislation—the LEOSA Reform Act—would expand where current and retired officers can carry a concealed firearm, as well as reform the qualification standards for retired officers to ease superfluous burdens for anyone carrying in accordance with LEOSA. If passed, some of the hurdles put in place in states like New York, New Jersey and other places would come down. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss whether or not the LEOSA Reform Act will pass, and what it would mean for officers if it does.

Some members of the public have put themselves in harm's way to help an officer survive a deadly situation. We've seen incidents in which an officer is struggling with a resistive subject—and potentially on their way to losing that fight—when a Good Samaritan appears seemingly out of nowhere to help bring the suspect under control. We've seen citizens race to help an officer wounded in a gunfight. We've seen citizens pull officers from burning patrol vehicles. We've even seen citizens help officers end a high-speed vehicle pursuit. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the ways in which police supporters can render assistance, without getting in the way of an officer's own tactics.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis fired Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel—who served as the 16th sheriff of that county—on January 11, 2019. Many would argue that his firing was long overdue. His agency was derided for failing to take control over a shooting at the Fort Lauderdale airport in 2017. Then, in 2018, deputies with the agency failed miserably in their response to the mass murder taking place at the Stoneman Douglas High School. In April 2018, the Broward Sheriff's Office Deputies Association opened a no-confidence vote—it tallied 534–94 against Israel. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss Israel's dismissal, and what it means for law enforcement leaders nationwide.

Henry Ford once said, “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” This famous quote can easily be applied to law enforcement in 2019, with so many factors seemingly going against the profession. Winston Churchill once said, “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” Police officers at every level have countless opportunities to listen to citizens and collect information and intelligence about what's happening in the community. There are myriad famous quotes that can be applied to law enforcement. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug share some of their favorites.

In early January, Blue H.E.L.P. — an organization that tracks officer suicides while simultaneously seeking to prevent such tragedies from occurring — issued an announcement stating that in 2018, at least 158 officers died by suicide. This is nine percent more than the total number of line-of-duty deaths resulting from 15 other causes such as felonious assault, patrol vehicle accident, heart attack, and duty-related illness. It is also the third straight year that suicides occurred in greater number than duty deaths. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the crisis of officers dying by suicide, and offer some thoughts on ways to better help officers nearing crisis.

According to FBI data released in 2018, hate crimes rose by 17 percent in 2017 compared with the previous year. It was the third straight year showing an increase in hate crimes. The offenses were most commonly motivated by hatred over race, ethnicity or ancestry. Nearly a fifth of the offenses were motivated by hatred over religion. Sexual orientation and gender identity hatred were also listed as biases motivating criminal acts. In this week's podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the FBI's findings, and explore reasons why the reporting of hate crimes is seemingly on the rise.

Walking the beat is a fundamental element to community policing. Other forms of patrol aimed principally at community engagement have officers mounted atop equine partners, and rolling around town on tricked-out mountain bikes. In all these cases, officers on foot create opportunities for the public to connect with their police (and vice versa). Conversely, when officers are wrapped in two tons of metal and plastic, that opportunity for real connection is essentially lost. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the need for agencies to keep these types of patrol efforts well-staffed and supported.

Proponents of the First Step Act — a bipartisan law aimed at reforming the criminal justice system — say it would significantly improve the prison system. Opponents say there are loopholes that would allow dangerous criminals with a high probability to reoffend to be released from prison. The text of the law says that the BOP would adopt a risk assessment tool, assess all federal prisoners for their risk of recidivism, and categorize them as minimum, low, medium, or high risk. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the First Step Act.

Last year, rights groups and even Amazon employees and stockholders sought to stop that company from providing its Rekognition software to law enforcement agencies. By all accounts, that effort has failed, as police are using the software—as well as solutions from other vendors—more and more to identify wanted criminals, missing people and suspected terrorists spotted on video. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the use of the technology, its limitations, and its potential for the future.