Policing Matters

How terrorism has changed in the 15 years since 9/11

On the 15 year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, we mourn the loss of nearly 3,000 Americans — 23 of whom were police officers from the New York City Police Department (NYPD), and 37 of whom were officers from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department (PAPD). Even as we remember the past, we consider the present and look toward the future. Multiple terrorist attacks have occurred on our soil since that terrible Tuesday, and we must remain vigilant against any attacks being plotted today. Jim and Doug discuss how terrorism has changed in the past decade and a half.

How will anti-gun laws affect cops?

In California, the governor recently signed into law several pieces of legislation that — if upheld in pending litigation — will turn many people who legally purchased certain semi-automatic rifles into felons overnight. Further, countless numbers of retired police officers who carry under HR-218 a Glock 17, 19, 22, or many other types of sidearms will become outlaws because those magazines exceed ten rounds. Anti-gun legislation is under consideration elsewhere as well. Cops across the country have for nearly a decade talked about how they would respond if ordered to enforce gun laws with which they disagree. Jim and Doug discuss the very real possibility that this may soon become an uncomfortable reality.

Can ‘Blue Lives Matter‘ legislation reduce attacks?

Louisiana recently became the first state to enact a "Blue Lives Matter" law, and similar legislation has been proposed in places like Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas. These laws have been proposed in the wake of an increase in ambush attacks on police such as in Dallas and Baton Rouge. Can laws making assaulting a police officer a hate crime actually lower the number of assaults on cops? Jim and Doug discuss the idea.

The complex relationship between cops and prosecutors

Despite Dick Wolf’s portrayal of cops and prosecutors who work in lockstep to solve and prosecute crimes, in many cases, the relationship between these two elements of the justice system is anything but harmonious. Jim and Doug discuss the complex relationship between “the police, who investigate crime, and the district attorneys, who prosecute the offenders.”

How to help prevent police officer suicide

A suicide prevention program may be a difficult “sell” in a police agency — especially one where a suicide has not occurred, or where there is an existing stigma about officers seeking the assistance of mental health professionals. Police leaders should create an environment in which officers are open to seeking peer support. Part of that is identifying the best supporters. Jim and Doug discuss the ways in which top-quality peer support programs can be built and maintained.

Tips for getting assigned to a specialized unit

A fair number of officers eventually want to get out of a squad car and into a maritime unit, or onto a horse, or in the saddle of a bicycle. Jim and Doug discuss how those units differ from patrol, and offer some keys to successfully making the transition to a specialized assignment.

How Utah v. Strieff will affect cops

The Supreme Court recently ruled that if an officer makes an illegal stop and then discovers an arrest warrant, the stop and its fruit will not be excluded in court. Jim and Doug discuss how Strieff pokes a hole in the long-held doctrine that police and prosecutors cannot benefit with “the fruit of the poisonous tree” and how it impacts police interpretation of the Fourth Amendment’s search and seizure doctrine, and the accompanying exclusionary rule.

What should cops read this summer?

The best officers are continually looking for ways to improve their skills and abilities. There are myriad ways to go about that, but one often overlooked method is to read as much as possible to expand your understanding of a topic. Jim and Doug discuss a host of titles — some new, some old — that can help officers up their game. They also include some fiction titles for your summer vacation enjoyment.

How officers should handle politics this election season

With the Republican National Convention in Cleveland and the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia fast approaching, officers would do well to leave politics for off-duty discussion. Jim and Doug discuss how on-duty cops should stay neutral despite what may be shouted at protests, and some thoughts about off-duty free speech by cops as well.

What American airport security can learn from Europe

With an influx of refugees and migrants from war-torn regions in the Middle East, one might imagine airport security to be even more time-consuming and arduous than the TSA. But one might be wrong about that. Airport security in Europe is vastly more effective and efficient. This is perhaps because screeners in Europe are far better paid and far better trained. Much of that training is not just “how to stare at an X-ray screen.” Jim and Doug discuss how observational skills related to suspicious activity and behaviors is a better tactic than looking for “things.”