Policing Matters

No one knows what the coming weeks leading up to Election Day hold, but there’s one thing we can all agree on – we’re heading for choppy waters. In a recent article for Police1, social media consultant Yael Bar-tur outlined 10 steps police chiefs can take right now to communicate on social media ahead of November 3. In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley talks to Yael about some of the strategies she details in the article.

It is estimated that veterans comprise 20% of law enforcement personnel in the United States. In this episode, host Jim Dudley talks with U.S. military veteran and recently retired sheriff’s office deputy Greg Johnson about the unique skills and perspectives veterans offer police agencies, as well as the similarities and differences between serving in the military and serving in law enforcement.

The year 2020 has presented numerous challenges for law enforcement, beginning with the management of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and then a rapid transition to rioting, looting and ongoing civil unrest. In this episode, host Jim Dudley talks with researchers Dr. Michelle Lilly and Sergeant Shawn Curry, both co-directors of the Training and Research Institute for Public Safety (TRIPS), about the startling findings of a recent survey they conducted to assess current psychological health in law enforcement officers.

Are you looking to improve community relationships, learn the latest developments in public safety technology and implement real change in your agency? Join us virtually for Lexipol’s first-ever user group conference: Connect 2020! On Wednesday, Oct. 14, explore how we can serve "Better Together."

In August 2019, Elijah McKnight, who was allegedly intoxicated and struggled with a sheriff’s deputy, was TASERed, handcuffed and subdued by three people. Identifying the patient was experiencing excited delirium, the attending medics administered one 500 mg dose of ketamine and another dose of 250 mg about nine minutes later after consulting with a physician. The story elevated to the front-page level as body camera footage identified that deputies asked if the medics could "give him anything," to which a medic replied they can give him ketamine and, "he'll be sleeping like a baby," but would need to be transported. A second case occurred that same month when another Colorado arrestee, Elijah McClain, was administered ketamine, went into cardiac arrest, and was subsequently declared brain dead and died on Aug 30, 2019. Last month the Aurora city council voted to temporarily ban paramedics from using ketamine to sedate patients.  In this episode, host Jim Dudley speaks with EMS1 columnist Rob Lawrence and Dr. Will Smith, an EMS physician from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, about what law enforcement should know about ketamine. They also discuss law enforcement's potential involvement in securing mass vaccination centers that could be used to distribute the COVID-19 vaccination when it is released to the public.

On September 23, a Kentucky grand jury announced three counts of wanton endangerment against former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison for shooting into neighboring apartments during the execution of a search warrant on the night of March 13 that resulted in the death of Breonna Taylor. In this episode, host Jim Dudley talks with Police1 columnist Sergeant Betsy Brantner Smith about the Breonna Taylor case and the grand jury’s indictments.

While all police officers pull their weapons during their careers only a very small percentage actually end up firing them in a deadly force confrontation. On April 8, 2016, Detective Adam Meyers became one of those officers after he was involved in a fatal officer-involved shooting that changed his life forever. In this episode, host Jim Dudley chats with Adam about the events of that day and the immediate aftermath, as well as the ongoing stress he experienced as a result of the incident.

Founded in 1976 as a nonprofit organization, the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) is a police research and policy organization and a provider of management services, technical assistance and executive-level education to support law enforcement agencies. In this episode, host Jim Dudley chats with PERF Executive Director Chuck Wexler about the organization’s current work in development of best practice policy and dissemination of law enforcement resources and information, as well as how PERF is addressing the critical issues facing law enforcement agencies today.

When it comes to police officers and sleep there is one certainty – cops are not getting enough shut-eye. But did you know that moderate sleep deprivation produces impairments equivalent to those of alcohol intoxication? With mandatory overtime, court appearances and in-service training all taking a toll on the time available for officers to actually sleep, what can cops and their supervisors to do ensure sleep deprivation doesn’t result in fatal errors? In this episode, host Jim Dudley chats with Dr. Stephen James, an assistant research professor at Washington State University, about his work relating to the interaction between physical stressors, such as sleep-related fatigue, and police performance.

Blue H.E.L.P. is a nonprofit organization that collects law enforcement suicide data and supports families of officers who have died by suicide. In this episode, host Jim Dudley talks with Karen Solomon, president and co-founder of Blue H.E.L.P., about the work of the organization to put a spotlight on the issue of mental wellness in law enforcement.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), founded in 1984, has a three-pronged mission: to honor fallen officers, make it safer for those who serve, and educate the public about the history of American law enforcement. In this episode, host Jim Dudley speaks with Robyn Small from NLEOMF about the fund’s recent mid-year LODD report, the work of the National Law Enforcement Museum and other current initiatives.

Whether you want to make the jump from field training officer to detective or captain to chief, honesty during the promotional process is key to securing the position, but identifying your weaknesses as well as your strengths when facing an interview board can be a challenge. In A Cop's Simple Guide to Promotion Preparation, Millbrae (California) Police Chief Paul Kunkel helps officers walk through the police promotion process. In this episode, host Jim Dudley talks with Chief Kunkel about his top tips for promotional success.

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 this episode, host Jim Dudley talks with Dr. Mitchell about why elected officials must work with police leaders to consider the research when designing strategies to reduce crime and disorder while maintaining the trust and confidence of the public we serve.

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.

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 training in place at Volusia County with Sheriff Chitwood and how other agencies could implement similar programs.