Briefing Room Podcast

In this episode of The Briefing Room, host Mike Wagers sits down with Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones to discuss the challenges and opportunities of policing one of America's most visited cities. A 30-year veteran of the Miami Beach Police Department and chief since 2023, Jones shares his unique path into law enforcement after originally training as a professional pilot. He reflects on growin...

In this episode, Colonel Matthew Birmingham, Director of the Vermont State Police and General Chair of the IACP State and Provincial Division, joins Mike Wagers for a candid conversation about what it means to lead a statewide law enforcement agency through one of the most turbulent decades in modern policing. Colonel Birmingham traces his path from road trooper to narcotics investigator to agency...

In this episode, Sheriff Dennis Lemma of the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office joins Mike Wagers for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, service, and the future of policing. Sheriff Lemma reflects on rising through the ranks, from correctional officer to sheriff, and shares how that journey has shaped the way he leads today. They discuss the opioid epidemic, the importance of addressing r...

In this episode, Sheriff Mike Chapman—elected in 2011 and now serving his fourth term as sheriff of Loudoun County (VA) Sheriff’s Office—shares stories from a remarkable 48-year career in law enforcement. From his early days in Howard County, Maryland, to high-stakes drug operations with the Drug Enforcement Administration in Miami during the “cocaine cowboy” era, Chapman recounts firsthand experi...

In this episode, Chief Stephen Redfearn of the Boulder Police Department joins the podcast to reflect on a remarkable law enforcement career that began as a teenage dispatcher and evolved into leading one of the nation’s most closely watched departments. Chief Redfearn shares firsthand insights from responding to landmark tragedies such as Columbine, the Aurora theater shooting, and more recent ac...

In this episode, host Mike Wagers sits down with Overland Park (KS) Police Chief Doreen Jokerst for a wide-ranging conversation on police leadership, community trust, and the future of public safety. Chief Jokerst shares her philosophy of “protecting the vulnerable from harm” and ensuring communities run to police for help, not away from them, while reflecting on her leadership journey from the Un...

In this episode, host Mike Wagers sits down with Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan to discuss his transition from a 30+ year career with the Philadelphia Police Department to leading one of the Midwest’s busiest police departments. Chief Sullivan shares his philosophy on data-driven policing, including a reimagined CompStat process, focused shooter reviews, and strong partnerships with federal and...

In this episode of The Briefing Room, host Mike Wagers sits down with Redmond (WA) Police Chief Darrell Lowe for an in-depth conversation about leadership, accountability, and the future of public safety technology. Chief Lowe reflects on his journey from growing up in Los Angeles to the Santa Monica Police Department and leading the Redmond, Washington Police Department, discussing how early care...

In this episode, Mike Wagers sits down with longtime public safety leader Kristen Mahoney, tracing her path from the Baltimore Police Department to Maryland’s Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention, and ultimately the Bureau of Justice Assistance, where she helped oversee billions in federal grants. Kristen reflects on the rise of evidence-based and SMART policing, the essential role of...

In this episode of The Briefing Room , host Mike Wagers sits down with Utah Highway Patrol Colonel Michael Rapich for a wide-ranging conversation about his 33-year career in law enforcement. Rapich reflects on the evolving threat environment facing public officials, how technology and data are reshaping highway safety, and what it takes to lead a statewide public-safety agency through rapid change...

In this episode of The Briefing Room , host Mike Wagers sits down with Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves for a candid conversation about leadership, community safety, and the evolving challenges of modern policing. Chief Graves shares her journey from civilian records clerk to the first female chief of the Kansas City Police Department, discusses her leadership philosophy rooted in listening...

In this episode of The Briefing Room, host Mike Wagers sits down with Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw for a wide-ranging discussion on tackling crime, community policing, and staying ahead of emerging threats. Chief Bercaw shares how Tampa achieved a dramatic drop in violent crime through its “Focus on Four” strategy, innovative programs targeting repeat offenders, and deep partnerships with the com...

In this episode of The Briefing Room , host Mike Wagers sits down with Sacramento Police Chief Katherine Lester for an inspiring and wide-ranging conversation. Chief Lester shares her remarkable journey from enlisting in the Army right out of high school to leading one of California’s largest police departments. She discusses her views on education requirements in policing, the critical role of 91...

In this episode of The Briefing Room, host Mike Wagers sits down with National Fraternal Order of Police President Patrick Yoes to discuss the state of policing in America. Yoes reflects on the FOP’s membership growth during challenging times, the rise of ambush-style attacks on officers, and the importance of officer wellness and retention. He also addresses public perceptions of crime, the Prote...

In this episode of The Briefing Room, host Mike Wagers sits down with Sheriff Mark Lamb for a candid conversation about border security, the growing threat of cartel-operated drones, and the challenges of immigration enforcement. Sheriff Lamb reflects on his years of frontline experience, the humanitarian crises tied to trafficking, and his philosophy of leadership rooted in his mantra, Fear Not,...

In this episode of The Briefing Room , host Mike Wagers talks with Chief Renee Hall, the first woman and first Black police chief of Dallas, and the new president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE). Hall discusses the “great crime paradox,” where crime rates are low but public fear is driven by visible disorder, and stresses the need for community engagement....

In this powerful episode of The Briefing Room, Chief Bryan Rippee of the Texas Highway Patrol joins host Mike Wagers to reflect on the evolving challenges and innovations shaping modern law enforcement. From the rise of ambush-style attacks on officers to the integration of autonomous trucking, Chief Rippee shares a candid and passionate perspective informed by decades of public service, both in t...

In this episode of The Briefing Room, Sheriff John Allen of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, joins Mike Wagers for a wide-ranging conversation on the challenges and realities of modern law enforcement. Sheriff Allen shares candid insights on rising officer-involved shootings in rural communities, the practical limitations of enforcing immigration policies, and the critical role of technology and tra...

In this first episode of The Briefing Room, host Mike Wagers speaks with Chief Kevin Davis of the Fairfax County Police Department about encouraging trends in public safety. They discuss new Gallup data showing rising trust in local police among Black Americans, as well as Fairfax County’s survey efforts confirming this progress. Chief Davis highlights how proactive community engagement, smarter p...