Founded in 2015, the American Society for Evidence-Based Policing was born out of the drive to advance the state of policing in America through the use of scientific evidence. Co-founder Renée Mitchell served in the Sacramento Police Department for 22 years and currently resides with RTI International, an independent, nonprofit research institute. She holds a B.S. in Psychology, a M.A. in Counseling Psychology, a M.B.A., a J.D., and a Ph.D. in Criminology from the University of Cambridge. In thi...
Aug 07, 2020•48 min
Irish Angel is an organization based in Ireland, with offices in New York and Boston, that specializes in providing support for law enforcement officers and military personnel in regard to PTSD, mental health issues, anxiety, and alcohol and drug dependency. In this episode, host Jim Dudley chats with Amanda Coleman, the executive director and founder of the nonprofit group, about what inspired her to launch Irish Angel and why U.S. cops have been the focus of assistance provided to date.
Jul 31, 2020•20 min
In Volusia County, Florida, annual arrests dropped by almost 30% from 2017 to 2019 even though call volume remained steady, and the recorded frequency of Volusia deputies using force fell by nearly half, from 122 annual incidents to 65. Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood credits a visit to Scotland in 2015 for helping implement new de-escalation strategies that have assisted not only in reducing the use of force, but also officer injuries. In this episode, host Jim Dudley discusses the strategies and...
Jul 24, 2020•20 min
In this episode of Policing Matters, Jim Dudley sits down with Darrell Cortez to discuss how the "Shop with a Cop" program helps cops engage with the community and humanize the badge.
Jul 17, 2020•21 min
While our nation’s law enforcement officers have previously faced anti-police sentiment, what is different about the current crisis is the presence of social media, which has moved discussions about police reform online. These online conversations are happening with or without law enforcement, so one of the most important things chiefs can do is acknowledge this new reality and participate. In this episode, host Jim Dudley talks to Yael Bar-tur, a social media consultant who previously served as...
Jul 10, 2020•20 min
In June, three California police unions – the Los Angeles Police Protective League, San Jose Police Officers Association and the San Francisco Police Officers Association – unveiled a national police reform agenda intended to improve outcomes between officers and the community they serve. The agenda was publicly announced in full-page newspaper ads in the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle and the Mercury News. In this episode, host Jim Dudley talks to San Francisco Poli...
Jul 02, 2020•25 min
Retired DEA Special Agents Steve Murphy and Javier Pena were at the center of the largest, most complex, multi-national, high-profile investigation of its time. Working with an elite Colombian Task Force, Murphy and Pena were responsible for the downfall and capture of the world’s first narco-terrorist, the infamous drug cartel leader, Pablo Escobar, following his brutal reign as head of the Medellin Cartel in the 1980s and early 1990s. Their real-life story inspired the hit Netflix series NARCO...
Jun 26, 2020•47 min
War stories are a tradition in public safety and there is no question that cops may be the best storytellers of all, as they witness extremes of human behavior on a daily basis. But how do you go about turning those stories into a novel? In this episode, host Jim Dudley talks to police psychologist and author of both non-fiction and fiction books about law enforcement Ellen Kirschman about her “tricks of the trade” to becoming a published author.
Jun 19, 2020•32 min
As demands for police reform and defunding continue nationwide in the wake of protests about the death of George Floyd, some cities have severed ties with their school resource officers, while others are moving closer to eliminating SROs in their districts. In this episode, host Jim Dudley talks to Mo Canady, Executive Director of the National Association of School Resource Officers, about the value of SROs and the risks of removing them from schools.
Jun 12, 2020•28 min
Policing may never have been more stressful for officers than right now. Between the COVID-19 pandemic and the current protests and civil unrest in response to the in-custody death of George Floyd, cops nationwide are facing unprecedented levels of criticism from all corners. Managing the stress brought on by these events is key to peak performance. In this episode, host Jim Dudley talks to Ellen Kirschman – AKA “the cop doc” – about strategies police can use to protect their mental wellness dur...
Jun 05, 2020•26 min
Police officers have myriad unique opportunities to positively influence America's children—from infancy to young adulthood and beyond. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss how informal, day-to-day interactions between officers and young people can help begin to change the anti-police sentiment that has taken root among some members of society, as well as how formally funded agency programs like Police Athletic Leagues, Shop with a Cop, National Night Out, and Explorer programs can help...
May 14, 2020•11 min
With the advent of social media sites like Facebook, Instragram, and Twitter—and the rapid rise in law enforcement agencies and officers posting humorous items to those services—the American public is getting a significantly better glimpse into the fact that police officers have a unique brand of humor. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss how police use humor to alleviate stress from the job.
May 08, 2020•10 min
An estimated 40% of the homicides that occurred in the U.S. from 1980 to 2016—approximately 242,000—remain unsolved. Countless other violent crimes—from assault to rape to robbery—also remain open with investigators trying to piece together the evidence in pursuit of justice on behalf of the individual victims as well as society at large. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss how new technology and an increase in information sharing across agencies nationwide can help police close more c...
Apr 30, 2020•11 min
Some jurisdictions are reconsidering the definition of "juvenile" as it relates to the prosecution of criminal acts. For example, California lawmakers are considering raising the age limit of individuals who would be tried and sentenced as juveniles from 17- to 19-years-old. The author of the bill, Democratic State Senator Nancy Skinner, says that "under the bill, 18- and 19-year-olds would be treated as juveniles in criminal proceedings." She added in a statement on her website, "When teenagers...
Apr 24, 2020•13 min
In this installment of Policing Matters, Jim Dudley interviews professor and author Jeffrey Snipes, JD, PhD and Police Organizational Practices consultant. Professor Snipes authored Causes of Crime: Vold’s Theoretical Criminology, and co-authored The Valley of the Shadow of Death, about the 1984 massacre of the family of former NFL star defensive back Kermit Alexander. Listen as they talk about the impact of COVID-19 on reported crime and the potential lasting effects. Will lessons learned from ...
Apr 17, 2020•17 min
Protecting critical infrastructure is essential during any incident or situation. Considering the ever-changing, daily developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic, good planning is especially valuable right now. Rex Scism speaks with Jim Dudley to describe the essential planning process, priorities, and dealing with county, state and federal governmental agencies. In the follow-up to his article "Protecting critical infrastructure: What your organization can do to weather the storm", Rex furth...
Apr 10, 2020•19 min
In San Francisco and other cities across America, advocates of accused offenders have called for "cash bail" to be ended, citing economic inequities among offenders. The argument is that the system unfairly keeps accused offenders from low income backgrounds incarcerated while defendants from more wealthy backgrounds walk free on bail. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the fact that the idea of bail reform may have some merit—as long as serious, chronic, and violent offenders remain ...
Apr 03, 2020•13 min
In 2019, Blue HELP reported a total of 228 police officers died by suicide. Those are just the suicide deaths that had been documented—it is unclear how many other officers died by suicide that were reported as "a sudden medical emergency" or "single vehicle collision" or simply swept under the rug altogether. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss how police agencies and individual officers are smashing the stigma of seeking mental or emotional assistance, and how the culture of policing...
Mar 14, 2020•12 min
Two decades ago, a small group of dedicated entrepreneurs set out to create an online resource for law enforcement. In the intervening 20 years, a lot has changed in policing—from new technologies to improved training to more sophisticated patrol vehicles and duty gear. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the various events and milestones Police1 writers and contributors have noted over the years.
Mar 14, 2020•21 min
COVID-19—also known as coronavirus—may potentially pose a substantial threat to American law enforcement as the disease continues to spread across the country. The most vulnerable to serious illness—and even death—are currently elderly people with a pre-existing weakened immune system. However, the emergence into the national narrative of the worldwide pandemic provides an opportunity to remember that other threats pose a significant danger, and to recall that some simple steps can prevent succu...
Mar 13, 2020•13 min
The coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic is causing worldwide concern. First responders, whether they be law enforcement, fire or EMS personnel should be aware of the latest developments. Listen in as Jim Dudley interviews Rob Lawrence, PoliceOne's resident health expert, for the latest information on COVID-19. Members can get up to date information as it is released from the Center for Disease Control at: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security has made...
Mar 06, 2020•14 min
Despite their effectiveness in helping police agencies—especially in densely populated urban areas—reduce the threat of criminal gangs to public safety, some places are pulling back on utilizing gang injunctions. For example, in San Francisco, newly elected District Attorney Chesa Boudin has declared that he will end the practice of gang enhancements when pressing charges against known gang members accused of a host of different crimes related to the gang's criminal activities. Gang enhancements...
Feb 28, 2020•13 min
With the ever-increasing popularity of mixed martial arts as a spectator sport, just about every jurisdiction in America has seen the opening of a training facility—a dojo or a gym—specializing in teaching individuals how to fight in this potentially deadly style of combat. Indeed, many police officers are regulars at these gyms, learning everything from the grappling and submission techniques, hand striking of traditional boxing, and kicks from a variety of martial arts from around the world. I...
Feb 21, 2020•12 min
In large-scale emergencies, police, fire, EMS, and a wide variety of other governmental organizations and private enterprises need to pull together and work as a single organism. At some major catastrophes, you might have city departments such as public works and social services racing to a scene alongside the electric company, the American Red Cross and others. This requires that police leaders and command staff must first establish relationships with those many organizations long in advance of...
Feb 14, 2020•15 min
In late January, the Rio Vista City Council voted to dissolve its police department following the abrupt departure of the police chief, a commander, and a sergeant that left the agency all but gutted. The small city about of roughly 9,000 residents—located approximately 60 miles east of San Francisco—will now receive its police services from the Solano County Sheriff's Office. Rio Vista is not alone. Late last year, the town board in Deposit, New York, held a meeting to discuss with interested c...
Feb 07, 2020•15 min
This Monday, thousands of the citizens of Iowa will gather in churches, schools, public buildings, and even individuals' homes to try to convince each other who should be the Democratic nominee to face off against incumbent President Donald Trump in November's general election. This election is sure to be a hotly contested one, with passions running high on both sides. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the role of law enforcement in the political season.
Jan 31, 2020•14 min
Traffic enforcement is one of the most common activities for many line officers. Code violations can lead to significant drug busts. Traffic violations can get dangerous drivers to change their ways. DUI check-points save an unknown number of lives. From speed traps to self-initiated stops, it's a big part of policing. But there are different methods that meet different objectives. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the various ways law enforcement officers can make the roadways safer...
Jan 24, 2020•11 min
Interviewing victims of violent crime is a vastly different enterprise than interrogating the suspected perpetrators. Victims of violent crime—as well as witnesses—are likely to have suffered trauma that can impact their recall of the events. Vital elements may be erased from memory, while they may recall things that aren't precisely what happened. Victims of trauma also often recall events not in the order that they actually occurred, potentially causing an inexperienced interviewer to conclude...
Jan 17, 2020•12 min
Cops must be all things to all people. They're drug counselors, child protectors, criminal investigators, social workers, and enemies of evil. This has been dumbed down in recent years into the debate over whether or not cops are "warriors" or "guardians"—a debate that is rendered meaningless by the use of the word "or." Cops are BOTH of those things and more. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss how the American people perceive police officers, what they truly want from law enforcement...
Jan 10, 2020•11 min
Many police agencies across the country host an annual (or even more frequent) Citizens' Police Academy with the intention of connecting with the communities they serve and helping to increase understanding among civilians about the ins and outs of law enforcement. Given the fact that there is so much widespread misinformation about what police officers do on a daily basis, this is probably a good strategy for educating the public. What goes into creating such a program? What are the benefits? W...
Dec 26, 2019•14 min
