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 episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Mark Anderko about how his agency put a perfo...
Dec 06, 2022•31 min•Ep. 356
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 situations, but they are likely to have a good foundation to fall back on. In this episode of Policing...
Nov 28, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 355
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 discipline. Are we all on the same page when it comes to knowing First Amendment rights? In this episode of P...
Nov 21, 2022•49 min•Ep. 354
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 of police disengagement on a barricaded subject call. Scott Savage is an active-duty law enforcement ...
Nov 11, 2022•49 min•Ep. 353
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 of people asking how they felt about Gacy and his being sentenced to death for the torture and murder...
Nov 04, 2022•28 min•Ep. 352
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 . Previously, Scales served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in King County Washington, a Special Assistant Unite...
Oct 21, 2022•42 min•Ep. 351
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 this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley discusses with Captain Wilson – who has over 3,000 ...
Oct 11, 2022•29 min•Ep. 350
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 (CPOA) Conference where he spoke to Sergeant Eric Thorton and Sergeant Steve Breakall from the El Cajon ...
Oct 07, 2022•28 min•Ep. 349
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 and officers can protect themselves from attack. This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brough...
Sep 29, 2022•27 min•Ep. 348
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 years working in Internal Affairs. This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by...
Sep 22, 2022•33 min•Ep. 347
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 families. Policing Matters host Jim Dudley speaks with master's level therapist Marie Ridgeway about ...
Sep 14, 2022•33 min•Ep. 346
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 how first responders have continued to move forward for over 20 years now and honor those who made the u...
Sep 07, 2022•48 min•Ep. 345
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 speaks with Donna Brown, a 26-year veteran of the Tallahassee Police Department in Florida who since ...
Sep 01, 2022•25 min•Ep. 344
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 behavioral science, peer support groups and even officer wellness apps like Cordico . Experiencing relief...
Aug 25, 2022•43 min•Ep. 343
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 many new issues for law enforcement. In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks wit...
Aug 18, 2022•20 min•Ep. 342
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 at the Manhattan Institute and a contributing editor at " City Journal ," about his recently released...
Aug 11, 2022•36 min•Ep. 341
From reducing the time it takes for a candidate to go through the recruitment process to profiling the unique backgrounds of CHP officers, the nation's largest state police agency is taking a proactive approach to recruiting the next generation of cops. In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Recruitment Officer Caleb Benefiel about the police recruitment best practices that are seeing success in the Golden State. Visit the CHP's recruitment website here . This episode o...
Aug 04, 2022•32 min•Ep. 340
Statistically, school shootings are not a regular occurrence, but they are alarming tragedies that we all need to do our best to prevent. Is your agency collaborating with your school district to implement threat assessment programs? Two decades ago, the Orange County Sheriff's Department in Southern California launched its School Mobile Assessment and Resource Team (SMART), a multi-discipline, threat assessment team that responds to incidents related to violence, threats of violence, possession...
Jul 29, 2022•38 min•Ep. 339
Are we doing the best job in teaching the current era of law enforcement recruits? Should we change styles and methods of pedagogy to focus on techniques that resonate with Generation Z candidates? These are some of the questions Policing Matters host Jim Dudley and his co-presenter Janay Gasparini, Ph.D., discussed at the recent National Association of Field Training Officers conference in Louisville, Kentucky. In this episode, Jim and Janay continue their discussion, addressing the types of in...
Jul 18, 2022•34 min•Ep. 338
Everyone remembers where they were on September 11, 2001. In the aftermath, do you remember the urgency to strengthen our national defenses, plans and intelligence to prevent another such attack on our country, our infrastructure and our cyber systems? Are we doing that today? For law enforcement, fire, EMS and military personnel, there is an excellent opportunity to share your expertise to contribute toward protecting our country and systems and obtain a free master’s degree in the process. The...
Jul 13, 2022•25 min•Ep. 337
There is no national model of police response to active shooter and mass shooting incidents and sometimes we get a less-than-optimum response that invites criticism. It doesn’t help that the public has a dichotomy of expectations from law enforcement: rush in ready to shoot or de-escalate and negotiate, and some agencies are even folding up operations and leaving barricaded suspects if they pose no threat to the public . A new toolkit , supported by a grant from the National Institute of Justice...
Jul 06, 2022•28 min•Ep. 336
Policing is hard work, but when working in an urban environment, backup is usually relatively close by. Other resources like fire and EMS are only a few minutes away as well. In rural settings, things are very different. Back-up may be miles away – and we are talking country miles away – so too are other resources. Even a quick trip to book a prisoner or process evidence may take an hour or more. Is it more dangerous to be a cop in a rural setting? Find out from today’s guest, Kathleen Dias , wh...
Jun 29, 2022•32 min•Ep. 335
"One of the biggest evolutions in field training is that the program molds to the student as adults learn in different ways," says Dan Greene, the executive director of the National Association of Field Training Officers (NAFTO) . As a former FTO and FTO supervisor, Dan knows what FTOs need to become better trainers and educators. At the recent NAFTO conference in Louisville, Kentucky, Policing Matters host Jim Dudley spoke with Dan about the evolution of FTO training in law enforcement. This ep...
Jun 22, 2022•16 min•Ep. 334
Police officers are often terrific storytellers. Many express an interest in writing a book about their experiences, but life can get in the way and few cops sit down to begin the process. This isn't the case for a guest on this episode of Policing Matters. Jim Calams , a retired member of the Phoenix Police Department and LAPD, recently published “Unwavering Honor,” a book about his career in those departments and also about personal tragedy. He is joined by his daughter, Sarah Calams , who gra...
Jun 15, 2022•39 min•Ep. 333
Law enforcement officers are exposed to more tragedy and trauma than the general population. What impact does this have on the mental well-being of cops? In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Chief Joel Shults, who operates Street Smart Training and is the founder of the National Center for Police Advocacy , about some of the complex issues around officer PTSD and resiliency. Contact Joel Shults here....
Jun 08, 2022•46 min•Ep. 332
Catalytic converter thefts have soared in recent years, thanks largely to the spiking prices of precious metals contained within them. This sudden rise has created an urgent need for police to find ways to deter thefts. To help law enforcement agencies address the crisis, CARFAX for Police compiled a Catalytic Converter Replacement Report that identifies the most-targeted vehicles nationally, regionally and by state. In addition to the report, CARFAX for Police is hosting a free digital event fo...
Jun 01, 2022•33 min•Ep. 331
Following the tragic school shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14, 2012, Troy Anderson managed the Connecticut State Police CISM teams that were deployed on-site and tasked with providing interventions and debriefings for the affected members of the State Police, municipal and federal law enforcement partners, first responder staff, support personnel, embedded clinicians, and state senior executives. In this episode of Policing Matters, Troy speaks w...
May 25, 2022•19 min•Ep. 330
Many of the technologies we have seen in movies about law enforcement in the future are now part of everyday life. "Westworld" featured autonomous cars, while individually focused branding and advertising featured in "Minority Report." In "Blade Runner," retinal scans are used as a means of interview and interrogation. As life sometimes imitates art, we now have EyeDetect from Converus , an eye scanning device used much the same way that a polygraph measures physical responses during an intervie...
May 25, 2022•32 min•Ep. 329
Digital forensics has been a specialty science in law enforcement for several years now, with emerging technology and investigative revelations happening every year. The science behind digital evidence recovery, be it from a cell phone, computer or even the cloud, takes a skilled investigator who knows what they are doing. In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with Deputy Director Caroline Torie of the St. Joseph County Cyber Crimes Unit in Indiana. Caroline started her car...
May 18, 2022•23 min•Ep. 328
Managing police officers is a difficult task since the job is so multi-faceted and often fast-paced. We ask officers to do so many things, and in the process to be smart, thoughtful, judicious, efficient and thorough. Some people make assumptions that an officer has complete control over their environment. Of course, this is not true. Officers can be well trained, yet may be challenged in dealing with individuals under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or in a mental health crisis. They are often...
May 10, 2022•42 min•Ep. 327
