Policing Matters

This episode of Policing Matters features a fascinating story of a dogged, multidisciplinary investigation that started at an arson fire scene and ended nearly a year later with the case solved. And it is all detailed in " When the Smoke Cleared: A Murder Mystery in Malden " by Bill Powers.  Host Jim Dudley speaks with Powers, a retired Detective Lieutenant from the Massachusetts State Police and...

Many law enforcement agencies have seen the benefits of having social workers in police departments as social workers can increase law enforcement effectiveness when dealing with subjects experiencing mental illness. The Bloomington (Indiana) Police Department began an embedded police social worker program in 2019. Funded by the department budget, the program started with one social worker and has...

Every cop in every city can name a dozen spots within their jurisdiction that might call a hot spot or the place where drugs are sold, burglaries occur, or maybe where the next shooting will happen. It may not be so easy to articulate why, off-hand, but concepts like Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), and of course, crime maps can help. In this episode of the Policing Matters p...

This episode of Policing Matters reviews use of force issues, including the recent history of the carotid restraint, electrical conducted devices (what most generally refer to as TASERs) and other force options that have been restrained or discontinued from use, such as tear gas options in some jurisdictions for crowd control. We will talk about innovations and possible options for the future. Hos...

Effective screening of law enforcement candidates is probably the most crucial part of the hiring process. Most departments have a written, oral and physical agility test, a polygraph examination and a psychological profile test. But are we able to effectively screen out people who probably are not suitable for the job?  In December 2022, news hit that the agency overseeing the training and certif...

American law enforcement often views itself as an island. Except for the influence of the UK's Sir Robert Peel and his Peelian Principles in 1822, we do not seem to compare our operations and experiences with police agencies in other countries. But when attending gatherings like the FBI's National Academy and meeting with international police officers, you find that American policing does, in fact...

In this special year-end episode, Policing Matters podcast host Jim Dudley is once again joined by Janay Gasparini, Ph. D. , to take a deep dive into the critical issues impacting law enforcement in 2022. Jim and Janay discuss the following 10 key areas:    1.  Emerging forms and strategies in use of force Top quotes from this segment: "I think we are seeing a lot is this change in our hands-on st...

"Whether you look at divorce rates, mental health concerns, or the very unfortunate suicide data, first responders face higher risk in all of these areas than 'Joe Citizen.' There needs to be more support, and support that is real and unafraid to tackle the tough stuff. And that support needs to be accessible and consistent." So writes  Lindsay Faas , a registered clinical counselor in British Col...

While the majority of police-civilian interactions resolve peacefully, a small number of situations end with use of force as police respond to subject resistance. In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Dr. Eric Piza about his analysis of body-worn video to determine the factors that contribute to whether or not force is used during a police-civilian interaction. Dr. Piza...

Leaders of any organization can find themselves dealing with individuals who are confrontational or even hostile. Today’s guest had an encounter with a revengeful employee that goes way beyond angry outbursts or even lawsuits. It is a story that we can learn from regarding how to identify disgruntled employees, how to mitigate or take action, and how to protect yourself and your family. In this ep...

Law enforcement officers across agencies – from small towns to sprawling rural areas to municipal cities and state and federal services all have similar traits.  They are smart, capable, problem solvers with a plan.  Anyone who says they are flying by the seat of their pants probably does not anticipate being in the business for long. Of course, they have to be flexible and adaptable to different...

We have seen demonstrations and protests intensify over the past few years. We have seen legislation of what, where and when something can be shared in public places. One state tried to regulate the rights of onlookers and their ability to record police activity, only to be struck down by their courts. We have seen social media posts made by law enforcement officers lead to sanctions and disciplin...

You respond to a call for a barricaded man with a gun in a single-family home in your city and set up a perimeter. After a few minutes, your sergeant tells an officer to pull down the perimeter and everyone on scene should return to patrol. Wait, what? Is this the policy in your jurisdiction? Our guest today has investigated this practice and has developed training on the benefits and detriments o...

Advisory: Today’s conversation includes talk about a heinous murderer in the Chicago, Illinois area, and another case of murder in the Portland, Oregon area. In 1994, journalist Nancy Rommelmann accompanied Rick Gaez, a 26-year-old pen pal of John Wayne Gacy, on a road trip from Los Angeles to Illinois to visit the serial killer before his execution. Along the way, she took the moral temperature o...

We have seen consent decrees last a decade, or even two decades at some agencies, while change seems to move at a glacial pace. How do they work, what happens at an agency under a consent decree, and who benefits? These are just some of the questions addressed in this episode of Policing Matters as host Jim Dudley talks to Bob Scales, founding partner and CEO of  Police Strategies LLC .  Previousl...

Is there enough good technology to help police officers train for better outcomes? Are virtual simulators the answer or a supplement to live training?  In a recent Police1 article , this week's guest, Captain Warren Wilson – a writer, firearms instructor and training commander at the Enid (Oklahoma) Police Department – addressed how simulator technology improves police cadet training and more.  In...

During a career in law enforcement, officers are involved in many traumatic incidents. What can police agencies do to help their personnel mentally prepare for those incidents? Building resilience within employees is essential and that responsibility falls to law enforcement leadership. In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley reports from the California Peace Officers Association (CPO...

Is your agency at risk of becoming a victim of ransomware? What are departments doing to protect themselves? And what can we do as individuals to protect our phones, tablets and computers from being hacked? In this episode, Policing Matters host Jim Dudley speaks with  Eric Escobar , principal security consultant for  Secureworks , about malicious activity online and how law enforcement agencies a...

Have you ever been investigated by your department’s Internal Affairs office? Was it a pleasant experience? In this episode, Policing Matters host Jim Dudley speaks with veteran LAPD Internal Affairs investigator Marlon Marrache about the inner workings of an internal affairs unit, or what many agencies have deemed the Professional Standards Unit. Marlon, a retired 24-year LAPD sergeant, spent 15...

Policing is a tough job. There can be experiences and incidents that can drive anyone to the edge. The profession gets better and better with training and education to help us respond appropriately and handle most any situation, but do we do a good job at addressing an officer’s mental health wellness?  Today’s show deals with the mental health and well-being of law enforcement officers and their...

In this special crossover episode, public safety leaders come together to reflect on the 21st anniversary of the  Sept. 11, 2001 attacks  and the legacy of 9/11 in the emergency services. Policing Matters host Jim Dudley is joined by Inside EMS  host  Chris Cebollero and Gary Ludwig , of the Champaign (Illinois) Fire Department, the  2022 IAFC Career Fire Chief of the Year . Together, they discuss...

Law enforcement officers are tasked with a difficult mission that, different from so many other professions, causes them to be exposed to the risk of trauma, injury, or even death. Often, the public is unaware of acts of selflessness, courage, resilience and heroism by those who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving their communities.  In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley...

Download this week's episode on  Apple Podcasts ,  Amazon Music ,  Stitcher ,  Spotify  or via  RSS feed . Policing is stressful business. It’s been described as hours of sheer boredom interrupted by minutes of sheer terror. Unfortunately, the moments of terror where officers see horrific trauma and witness death carry a heavy toll. Over the past few years, we have seen some relief in the forms of...

Autonomous cars are no longer futuristic dreams, they are operating on America's roads today. Police have already been recorded stopping autonomous cars with people literally asleep at the wheel and at least once, without any live occupants on board . Autonomous commercial vehicles will also soon be operating, from passenger vehicles to large semi-trucks with huge payloads, potentially presenting...

Over the past few years, we have heard about the need to reform and/or overhaul the criminal justice system. Unfortunately, some of the unintended consequences of reforms put into action have included rising crime and homicide rates. In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with  Rafael Mangual , a senior fellow and head of research for the  Policing and Public Safety Initiative...