Policing In America

Policing across the US seems to embrace a "para-military" framework.  However, policing seems to simply assume the hierarchy and rank structures but appears to be failing in the training and education of their officers.  Dr Frank Tortorello suggests that training is being "over-neurologized".     Could Dr. Tortorello be on the verge of initiating a quantum leap in police training and education?  G...

Professor Peter Moskos, a Princeton and Harvard-trained sociologist, author, and one-time Baltimore cop teaches us about Broken Windows policing; why it's good, why it went awry and is it time to re-visit this crime reduction strategy?

In this episode, I speak with Professor Lois James from the Washington State University School of Nursing.  Professor James has focused a large part of her scholarship on the intersection of sleep deprivation, bias, and policing.  She is a brilliant researcher, fair in her methodology, and rigorous in her conclusions.  Sleep-Deprivation is a national issue, but because of policing's unique role in...

In today's episode, I have a conversation with Professor emeritus Dorothy Schulz.   Prof Schulz has a forthcoming research article on the Wandering Cop.  Those cops who get into trouble at one agency, but flee to another agency before they can be held accountable for their actions.   Please keep an eye out for Dr. Schulz's work which is featured in City Journal and at the Manhattan Insititute wher...

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Dorothy Schulz.  Dr. Schulz is a professor emerita at John Jay College, a retired NY city METRO North Rail Captain, an adjunct Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, author, scholar, and all-around great lady.

Professor Barry Latzer has spent decades studying and researching crime in the United States.  This endeavor led Professor Latzer to an interesting conclusion; is it possible that the charge of over-incarceration and "mass incarceration" are terms of opprobrium but not at all supported by the data we currently have.  

Robert VerBruggen is a fellow at the Manhattan Institute where he also writes from City Journal.  Robert has a list of professional and academic accomplishments including the Chicago Headline Club Peter Lisagor Award.  Robert writes on a variety of contemporary issues including public policy, policing, education, public finance, health care and cancel culture to name a few.  More on Robert can be...

In this bonus episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Professor Peter Moskos from John Jay College.  Professor Moskos is an author, a historian, a former police officer with the Baltimore Police Department, and an all-around reasonable gentleman.  

Arif Alikhan is a National expert on policing, public policy, homeland security, counter-terrorism, and the law.  In this episode, Arif explains the importance of the Constitution and how this body of work needs to be at the forefront of policing in America.    

Join Sgt. Tom Datro and his guest Charles Fan Lehman, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute as they discuss data in policing. The Manhattan Institute is a conservative non-profit American think tank focused on domestic policy and urban affairs, established in Manhattan in 1977. Lehman is currently working on their Policing and Public Safety Initiative and as contributing editor for the City Journal....

Join Sgt. Tom Datro and his guest  Lydia Guzman the Chairwomen of the Phoenix PD and the Dept of Public Safety's Hispanic Advisory Boards as they talk about accountability in policing. In 2017, Lydia's actions as well as those from other activists helped convict Sheriff Joe Arpaio. In this episode you will learn: When Sheriff Joe crossed the line.  Reappropriating funds for Mental Health experts ...

Join Sgt. Tom Datro and his guest Taheim Bryan, the writer and producer of the movie Equal Standard as they talk about systemic racism and the American police force. They compare policing styles in different parts of the country, and share statistics as they discuss the murder of George Floyd. They also have an uncomfortable conversation about what happens when people make "generalizations" about...

Join Sgt. Tom Datro and Colonel James  Minnich, an academic, author, and retired U.S. Army Colonel as they talk about leadership in policing. Minnich has in-depth experiences in NE Asia since 1982, including 15 years of duty in Korea. He is a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Hawaii where he previously served as Associate Dean, Senior Military Professor,...

Join Sgt. Tom Datro and Deon Joseph discuss his open letter to Lebron James and why he is hoping to work with him to save lives. The talk about comments by Kamala Harris, racism in the policing, and the importance of being more proactive in regards to mentally illness.  Open Letter to Lebron James in response to his tweet. What it's like answering questions on "big media" shows  Mental Health Issu...

"It is disappointing that I have to make the following statement, however, with the Derek Chauvin Trial coming to a close combined with the recent controversial Officer Involved Shootings in Minneapolis and Chicago. Many Law Enforcement agencies are hoping for the best, but must prepare f or the worst. I am still an active member in law enforcement and my duties and responsibilities as such remain...

Dr. Yilmaz is a Harvard-trained doctor of neuroscience and is working with the best and brightest at Stanford.  Her work is creating a better understanding of the limits of human potential under stress.  While it seems like every bad outcome in policing is said to be the result of systemic bias, racism, or institutionalized marginalization there are a few who are stepping away from social science...

Join Sgt. Tom Datro as he interviews Sgt. Cleon Joseph about what it is like to be a black officer who loves his community. They have uncomfortable conversations about growing up in a "well-off" family before losing it all in a recession, becoming an activist and the internal struggle he went through when applying to become a police officer. They talk about the death of George Floyd, reparations a...

Join Sgt. Tom Datro and his guest Kristy Hodson PhD., as they discuss the neuroscience, specifically the possible schema at play in the officer Derek Chauvin's mind as they engaged with George Floyd. They talk about how our body reacts when our belief system is challenged (whether we realized it or not). And, Kristy shares a personal story about how her beliefs toward police where challenged due t...

Join Sgt. Tom Datro and his guest Arif Alikhan as they discuss the recent shootings in Atlanta that took the lives of six Asian American women and two others. They talk about the importance of police officers who are good at decision making and lastly, they ask themselves if racism is systemic, institutional and/or if the country has made progress? Alikhan is President & Chief Legal Counsel for Ta...

Join Sgt. Tom Datro and his guest Lt. Justin Paquette, from the State of New Hampshire's Police Standards and Training Council as they discuss the call to "Defund The Police," the idea that competence breeds competence and whether or not Active Bystandardership could have saved not only George Floyd, but Derek Chauvin as well.   In this episode you will learn: Pros and cons of defunding the police...

Join Sgt. Tom Datro and his guest Mbye Njie, an activist, who, after seeing the fallout from the Michael Brown case in 2015 and his own unpleasant encounters with police, set out to make a systematic change and help other BIPOC by founding Legal Equalizer . The mobile app allows users to capture police encounters after being pulled over, automatically notify loved ones in real-time , provide infor...

Join Sgt. Tom Datro and his Guest Jonathan Aronie Chair, Georgetown Law/Sheppard Mullin ABLE Project Board of Advisors and Government Talks Attorney as the discuss "data-backed" police trainings like: ABLE: Active Bystandardship for Law Enforcement and how it works. They also talk about how sleep may be a key factor in good and bad policing in America.  In this episode you'll learn: Police lessons...

Join Sergeant Tom Datro and his guest SWAT Officer Jonathan Pultz , talk about the trauma police officers experience call after call and how it can influence their actions. In this episode, Pultz talks about transitioning from a Warrior Mindset to a Guardian Mindset in policing. He discusses his personal struggles with this concept and how maturity, age, education and wellness all play a part in d...

Join Sgt. Tom Datro and his guest Lisa Kurtz, the ABLE Project Director with the Innovative Policing Program at Georgetown University Law Center talk about restoring the integrity of police by creating a law enforcement culture that supports peer intervention. The two discuss Consent Decree, police misconduct and reframing what the idea of loyalty means for police officers.  In this episode you wi...

Join Sergeant Tom Datro and his guest Dr. Bryant T. Marks, Ph. D. , talk about biases, stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination, the police force, the media, and so much more. In this episode, Dr. Bryant explains how implicit bias takes us in the wrong direction once in a while and how racial bias can still exist on individual levels, even in those who do not have systemic power. As Dr. Bryant defi...