Policing Matters

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.”

Why LE‘s response to the Orlando massacre was the correct approach

Some have criticized the three-hour period of time between the time Omar Mateen began his vicious terrorist attack on the Pulse nightclub in Orlando in June, but there were some very good reasons for the “delay” in the response. Jim and Doug discuss the incident, and why the police did an excellent job in their response.

Cops speak out on no-pursuit policies

Our podcast discussing the fact that many agencies have enacted strict no-pursuit policies, with others adopting highly-restrictive policies that have all but rendered vehicle pursuits rare in those jurisdictions, generated a fairly heated discussion among cops. Jim and Doug read some of the comments and offer their thoughts

Why the proposed changes to sex offender laws are dangerous

Jim and Doug discuss how misguided proposals put predators in closer proximity to potential victims, and how this kind of “harm reduction strategy” can actually have an adverse effect on public safety.

Debunking the myth that cops aren‘t taught de-escalation

Following the PERF report “30 Guiding Principles,” many people outside of law enforcement were left to believe that de-escalation tactics and techniques are only now being introduced to police, when in fact, de-escalation has been taught and used by police officers for many years. Doug and Jim discuss how cops have used “Verbal Judo” and address when de-escalation tactics can (and cannot) be successful.

Leave the job at the job

The stress of police work can take an emotional toll on officers, and sadly, sometimes that can adversely impact the relationships they have with their spouses, partners, and friends outside of law enforcement. Jim and Doug discuss what cops can do to try to minimize the negativity they might accidentally be bringing home.

Cops weigh in: Carrying Narcan on patrol

Our podcast discussing the fact that cops are increasingly being asked to carry and administer Narcan — the drug that saves the lives of individuals overdosing on opioids — promoted an enthusiastic discussion in the comments section below that segment. Jim and Doug read some of the comments and speak to what those individuals were saying.