Policing Matters

Why every chief needs to be conversing online

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.

California police unions take a stand on police reform

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.

How we took down Pablo Escobar

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.

Cops as storytellers: A guide to getting published

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.

Why we should not remove SROs from our schools

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.

Safeguarding your mental wellness: Tips from ‘the cop doc‘

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.

Why kids are the key to good police-community relationships

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.

Cops‘ unique brand of humor

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.

Solving cold cases

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.

Redefining ‘juvenile‘ crime

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.