Policing Matters

Since 2020, communities nationwide have seen an increase in large-scale sideshows that have endangered passers-by, the police and the participants, as well as plaguing neighborhoods with noise and associated criminal activities.

In this episode of the "Policing Matters" podcast, host Jim Dudley talks to Sergeant John Ampol of the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) about the policies and training SDPD has put in place to manage sideshows, emphasizing collaboration with allied and prosecution agencies, extensive training, and enforcement strategies focusing on impounding vehicles and addressing ancillary crimes like ghost guns, drug trade and fraud.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Every year, Police1 columnist Terry Dwyer breaks down United States Supreme Court rulings of significance to law enforcement. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, Terry joins host Jim Dudley to discuss this year's summary.

Terry retired from the New York State Police after a 22-year career as a Trooper and Investigator. He is now a tenured Professor in the Justice and Law Administration Department at Western Connecticut State University and an attorney in private practice representing law enforcement officers in disciplinary cases, critical incidents, and employment matters. He is the author of the forthcoming "Legal Issues in Homeland Security" from Looseleaf Law Publications.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visitingOfficerStore.com.

In this special year-end episode, Policing Matters podcast host Jim Dudley is joined by fellow State Your Case columnist Chief Joel Shults to take a deep dive into the critical issues impacting law enforcement in 2023.

Jim and Joel discuss many issues including the current political climate, NIBRS collection, use of force technology, pursuit response, officer safety and much more!

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visitingOfficerStore.com.

Regardless of the topic or issue in law enforcement, whether it is about operations, hiring, retention, or safety, everything comes down to leadership. We're not just talking about leadership by rank, but individual leadership as well. Today’s guest on the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Lexipol, has written about leadership and he certainly lives it.

Andrew A. DeMuth Jr. is the lead presenter for LeadingBlue.com, a company that provides leadership training nationwide to law enforcement and private sector audiences alike.

Andrew currently serves with the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office managing CODIS, the statewide DNA collection program with more than 500 participating law enforcement agencies. Before that, he was with a municipal police department for 25 years. Seventeen of those years were in leadership roles managing patrol squads and later the investigations division.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Behavioral Threat Assessment Management (BTAM) stands as a crucial first line of defense in preempting and mitigating acts of mass violence, offering a systematic approach to identifying individuals who exhibit threatening or concerning behaviors. By analyzing these behavioral cues and assessing the potential risks they pose, law enforcement and threat assessment professionals can proactively intervene, providing support or taking action to prevent tragic incidents before they unfold.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored byOfficerStore.com,host Jim Dudley speaks with Dr. Jack Rozel, a Professor of Psychiatry and Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Pittsburgh, about how law enforcement, behavioral sciences professionals and the community can work together to identify those at risk of committing acts of mass violence.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visitingOfficerStore.com.

Policing can create a range of emotions and feelings such as fear, excitement, grief, anger and sadness. Do officers ever catch a break and enjoy some levity and laughter? While policing is mostly serious business, wouldn’t it be great to be entertained by someone who knows about comedy and police work? Today's guest fits that role. Vinnie Montez, a Colorado police officer with more than two decades of service, also happens to be a successful comedian.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored byOfficerStore.com,host Jim Dudley speaks withVinnie about how his journey to better mental wellness led to a career in comedy.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visitingOfficerStore.com.

In 1954, the 83rd U.S. Congress amended the 1938 act that had made Armistice Day a holiday, striking the word “Armistice” in favor of “Veterans.” PresidentDwight D. Eisenhowersigned the legislation on June 1, 1954. From then on, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars. According to the Department of Justice COPS Office, nearly 25% of American law enforcement officers have a military background. We thank them for their service.

Sadly, the rate of suicide for veterans is roughly 57% higher than the general public for a variety of reasons, from PTSD to substance abuse to other mental health issues.With this in mind, The Independence Fund, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, initiated the Veterans Justice Initiative under the guidance of Clark Pennington, a former police chief. The initiative's goal is to enhance law enforcement's comprehension of the challenges faced by veterans and facilitate their access to the necessary treatment. The first year was such a success that the state of North Carolina officially extended fundingthrough its recently passed state budget.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Lexipol, host Jim Dudley speaks withClark Pennington about the program, the goal of which is to confront deeply rooted mental health and substance abuse issues within the veteran community.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visitlexipol.com.

Policing strategies based on data and research are neededmore than ever in order to deflect criticisms of race, economics and other biases.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Lexipol, host Jim Dudley speaks withDr. Phllip J. Cook, a criminologist and researcher,about the need to develop effective strategies and programs to reduce gun violence and hold offenders accountable.

Dr. Cook, who co-authored "Policing Gun Violence" with Anthony Braga, is a renowned researcher and co-author of the Boston Gun Project's Operation Ceasefire.Hehas been a member of the Duke University faculty for 50 years, and is currently Professor Emeritus of Public Policy Studies.

Dr. Cook was one of the first scholars to undertake research on gun violence prevention.In 2020 his contributions in this area were recognized by the award of the Stockholm Prize in Criminology.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visitlexipol.com.

Given the nature of the job, police officers will always sustaininjuries.If you make an arrest, you may encounter a resistive suspect; if you make a traffic stop, an ensuing pursuit may lead to a traffic collision.Sometimes an injury may be obvious and apparent, but some may be deceptive.Have you ever “shaken it off” after a knockdown, drag-out fight? Ever get out of a minor vehicle fender bender and walk it off? Sure you have.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored byLexipol, host Jim Dudley speaks withStephanie Samuels, a psychotherapist who works exclusively with police officers, about her research into the role repeated head injuries play in mental health disorders in law enforcement. and a probable link tochronic traumatic encephalopathy(CTE) in officer suicides.

Stephanie is also the founder and director ofCopline, a 24/7 hotline answered by retired LEOs to engage with callers who want to talk about anything from a bad day to a full-blown mental health crisis.Active and retired officers and their families can call the line. Call 1-800-COPLINE to access the service.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you byLexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visitlexipol.com.

Amid all the grumblings about law enforcement over the years, there have been bright spots of support, which can be hard to see among all the negative chatter.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by OfficerStore.com, host Jim Dudley speaks with Craig W. Floyd,founder and president of Citizens Behind the Badge (CBB), a nonprofit advocacy organization formed in 2020 to end the disastrous “defund and defame the police” movement and ensure that our nation’s law enforcement professionals receive the support and respect needed and deserved to keep America safe.

Craig is also the founding chief executive officer emeritus of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), a nonprofit organization he helped establish in 1984 to honor the service and sacrifice of America’s law enforcement officers. Craig retired from the Memorial Fund at the end of December 2018.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visitingOfficerStore.com.