Policing Matters

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.”

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.