~ cueing up the show ~
~ pulling every episode ~
Policing Matters — Every episode — OmList
om
list
Swipe
Tournament
Lists
Friends
All
Movies
TV
Books
Games
Music
Podcasts
People
▾
Sign in
Every episode
Policing Matters
30 episodes
The heart of modern police leadership
Ep 568 · Jul 29, 2026 · 38 min
Today's police leaders are expected to do more than reduce crime. They're responsible for building organizational culture, developing future leaders and ensuring their people are equipped to thrive in one of the profession's most demanding careers. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley sits down with Santa Clara County Sheriff Robert Jonsen to discuss the leadership philosophy that has guided his career. Jonsen explains why officer wellness should be a leadership prior…
What constant fight-or-flight does to police officers
Ep 567 · Jul 15, 2026 · 48 min
Every call for service demands that officers be ready to make split-second decisions under pressure. But while law enforcement invests heavily in preparing officers for high-stress situations, far less attention is given to what happens after the call is over. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley explores the hidden physiological effects of chronic stress and why recovery may be just as critical to officer performance, health and longevity as tactical training. Jim is…
Don’t lose your soul: Managing the ‘undercover effect’ on officers’ brains
Ep 566 · Jul 8, 2026 · 37 min
Police officers spend their careers making split-second decisions under pressure, but the cumulative effects of that stress can quietly reshape how they think, lead and see themselves. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with neuroscientist, educator and high-performance expert Dr. Pamela Seraphine about the "undercover effect" — a neuroscience-based framework that explains how chronic exposure to high-stakes environments can gradually alter an officer's ident…
The fitness formula that keeps officers healthy for the long haul
Ep 565 · Jul 1, 2026 · 40 min
The demands of policing can make fitness feel like an impossible task. Shift work, overtime, court appearances, long hours in a patrol car and family responsibilities often leave officers struggling to prioritize their health. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Brandon Holder, strength and conditioning coordinator for the Fairfax County Police Department’s WellFit program, about realistic approaches to fitness, injury prevention, nutrition and wellness t…
Behavioral health advisors and the future of crisis negotiations
Ep 564 · Jun 26, 2026 · 36 min
Mental health crises are among the most challenging incidents law enforcement agencies face. Whether it's a barricaded subject, a hostage situation or a person in severe emotional distress, negotiators and commanders often have to make critical decisions with limited information and high stakes. To help agencies navigate those situations, the National Tactical Officers Association recently released guidance on integrating behavioral health advisors into crisis negotiation teams. In this week's e…
What early adopters of Drone as First Responder programs learned — and what comes next
Ep 563 · Jun 25, 2026 · 32 min
A decade ago, public safety agencies interested in drones were largely figuring things out on their own. The technology was limited, policies were still being developed and few departments had experience to draw from. Today, thousands of public safety agencies operate drone programs and Drone as First Responder deployments are growing at an unprecedented pace. As agencies move beyond tactical drone operations toward proactive, 911-driven response models, early adopters have identified critical l…
When the child becomes the abuser
Ep 562 · Jun 23, 2026 · 49 min
Many officers have encountered child-to-parent violence. Few have received formal training on how to recognize it. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with retired Oak Park Sergeant Rasul Freelain about the years of escalating abuse that preceded the infamous Bali suitcase murder. Drawing on his experience investigating the case and the research behind his forthcoming book, “When Lambs Become Wolves: The Chilling Case of Sheila von Wiese-Mack,” Freelain explai…
How agencies can show the reality of policing
Ep 561 · Jun 17, 2026 · 26 min
Police agencies are under pressure to be transparent, but too often their public storytelling swings between stiff press releases and staged social media moments. Zach Hamilton believes there is a better way. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Hamilton, founder of Red Watch Productions and a Michigan public information officer, about "The Shift," a documentary series that follows officers through the realities of patrol. A former Hollywood visual effects…
What cops forget, families remember
Ep 560 · Jun 10, 2026 · 41 min
Police memoirs often focus on the cases: the shootings, the homicides, the organized crime investigations, the moments that test an officer’s instincts and nerve. Terrence Dwyer’s “The Badge Between Us: Duty, Marriage and Family” includes all of that, but the heart of the story is what those moments did to the life waiting for him at home. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley talks with Dwyer, a retired New York State Police investigator, attorney, professor, Police1…
Dallas PD’s World Cup playbook: Plan in pencil, not pen
Ep 559 · Jun 9, 2026 · 34 min
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will bring enormous public safety demands to cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico — including places that are not hosting matches. For Dallas, the challenge is especially complex: While games will be played in nearby Arlington, the city will serve as home to FIFA’s International Broadcast Centre and host major fan events expected to draw international crowds. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, guest host Rob Lawrence talks with Lt. Mark Rickerm…
Why proactive policing remains policing’s toughest balancing act
Ep 558 · Jun 3, 2026 · 34 min
Police leaders have long embraced the idea that preventing crime is more effective than simply responding to it. Yet despite decades of emphasis on proactive policing, many officers find themselves spending most of their shifts answering calls, writing reports and moving from one incident to the next. Results from Police1's “What Cops Want in 2026” survey highlight the challenge, revealing widespread frustration with limited time for proactive work and the growing demands placed on patrol office…
How AI is reshaping police investigations — and why human oversight still matters
Ep 557 · May 20, 2026 · 50 min
Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept in policing. Agencies are already using AI-assisted tools to analyze digital evidence, identify crime patterns, process body-worn camera footage and accelerate investigations that once took days or weeks to solve. But as adoption spreads, law enforcement leaders are also confronting major questions about transparency, policy, cybersecurity and the risks of overreliance on automation. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim D…
Training gaps, legal risks and decontamination lessons in protest policing
Ep 556 · May 13, 2026 · 48 min
As agencies prepare for protests, demonstrations and civil unrest, police leaders face mounting pressure to balance public safety, constitutional rights and officer protection under constant public scrutiny. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Robert Sorensen, director of strategic partnerships and agency liaison for SoRite and a longtime less lethal instructor, about the evolving challenges surrounding chemical agents, crowd control tactics and public or…
Why new police supervisors struggle — and how to fix it
Ep 555 · May 6, 2026 · 48 min
Leadership in law enforcement isn’t automatic — it’s learned, often the hard way. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley sits down with Lt. Sean M. Carroll (ret.), author of “A.I.O. Leadership for Law Enforcement: The Proven System That Forges Legendary Leaders Who Adapt, Improvise, and Overcome,” to talk about what really happens when officers step into leadership roles — and why so many struggle early on. From the jump from officer to sergeant — and the isolation that…
The new frontline is above you — are you ready for drone threats?
Ep 554 · Apr 29, 2026 · 28 min
Drones have rapidly become one of the most transformative tools in public safety, giving agencies faster situational awareness, better documentation capabilities and new ways to respond to incidents. But as adoption grows, so does the complexity of managing the airspace above our communities. The same tools that support law enforcement can also be used for surveillance, disruption or worse. That shift is forcing agencies to rethink how they monitor, interpret and act on drone activity in real ti…
Too much data, not enough intel: Fixing the flow of information in policing
Ep 553 · Apr 22, 2026 · 33 min
Law enforcement has never had more information at its fingertips. From BOLOs and fusion center updates to emails, radio traffic and crime bulletins, today’s officers operate in a constant stream of inputs. But volume doesn’t equal value. The central challenge is no longer access — it’s relevance. As agencies grapple with staffing shortages and rising demands, the question becomes urgent: How do you ensure critical intelligence reaches the right person in time to act? In this episode of the Polic…
Live from Axon Week 2026: A special Policing Matters podcast with CTO Jeff Kunins
Ep 552 · Apr 15, 2026 · 28 min
Policing Matters podcast host and deputy chief Jim Dudley (ret.) paid a visit to Axon Week 2026 to get an exclusive look at some of the revolutionary advancements in public safety technology and the thought leaders and technology experts making them happen. In this special episode, sponsored by Axon, Dudley sits down with Jeff Kunins, chief product officer and chief technology officer of Axon. Their discussion examines how Axon is integrating AI and connected technologies to streamline routine p…
Inside the patrol car: How officers assess risk in real time
Ep 551 · Apr 15, 2026 · 29 min
Patrol work starts long before the call. From the moment an officer begins their shift, every decision — what to prioritize, how to respond and when to slow down — can impact outcomes for officers and the public alike. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley sits down with Sergeant John Banner of the White Settlement (Texas) Police Department to break down the critical thinking that happens behind the wheel. From managing competing demands like ALPR hits and priority cal…
When police training turns deadly: Concussion risks and safety gaps
Ep 550 · Apr 8, 2026 · 45 min
Police training is designed to push limits — physically, mentally and emotionally. But when the culture of grit outpaces medical awareness and safeguards, the consequences can be irreversible. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley and fitness expert Traci Tauferner examine the risks embedded in high-intensity academy training, the gaps in concussion recognition and the responsibility leaders carry to protect recruits without compromising readiness. From hydration and b…
Inside Amarillo’s real time crime center and what makes it work
Ep 549 · Apr 8, 2026 · 32 min
Real time crime centers are no longer a novelty — they are quickly becoming a core part of modern policing. But as agencies invest in cameras, drones, license plate readers and data platforms, a critical question remains: Are these centers actually delivering results, or just generating more data? In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks to Amarillo Regional Crime Center Commander Shane Chadwick about how success depends less on technology alone and more on how age…
How AI is helping police tackle digital evidence overload
Ep 548 · Apr 3, 2026 · 49 min
As agencies face an unprecedented surge in digital evidence — from body-worn cameras and surveillance systems to cell phones and social media — the question is no longer whether to adopt AI, but how to use it responsibly. In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley explores how AI can help investigators manage evidence at scale, streamline time-consuming processes and improve case outcomes while keeping decision-making firmly in human hands. Dudley is joined by Kelly Inabnett, a former…
Jon Becker on why culture – not tactics – drives performance under pressure
Ep 547 · Mar 30, 2026 · 48 min
Every agency talks about tactics — training harder, shooting better, moving faster. But when critical incidents unfold, the difference between success and failure often comes down to something less visible. On this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Jon Becker, founder of Aardvark Tactical and host of The Debrief podcast, about why culture — not tactics — is the true driver of elite performance in law enforcement. Drawing on nearly four decades working alongside…
Your greatest asset isn’t equipment — it’s your people
Ep 546 · Mar 24, 2026 · 50 min
Editor’s Note: Join Lexipol, Police1 and our partners for First Responder Wellness Week from March 23-27, 2026. Each day, we’ll provide webinars, articles, videos and more, all within the overarching theme of being “Total Wellness. True Readiness.” Register for five wellness webinars now. We say it all the time — our people are our greatest asset. But if that’s true, why do we spend more time maintaining vehicles than we do maintaining the people driving them? In this special episode of the Poli…
When less-lethal options disappear: What the LAPD 40mm ban means for crowd control
Ep 545 · Mar 11, 2026 · 50 min
What happens when a key less-lethal tool disappears from the public order toolbox? A recent federal court order halting LAPD’s use of 40mm projectile launchers has reignited a national debate about crowd control, use of force policy and the limits of modern policing. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley sits down with Joshua Coleman of the California Force Instructors Association and retired Berkeley Police Captain Spencer Fomby, Chair of the National Tactical Officer…
How three cities built a future-focused police leadership academy
Ep 544 · Mar 3, 2026 · 38 min
We talk constantly about training in law enforcement, but are we investing enough in leadership? Tactical skills are reinforced from the academy through specialty assignments, yet the challenges facing today’s agencies demand more than operational competence. Ethical judgment, resilience, culture building and strategic thinking are now mission-critical. In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley sits down with leaders from three major agencies who decided to tackle that gap together. C…
How Overland Park is preparing for the 2026 World Cup spotlight
Ep 543 · Feb 23, 2026 · 31 min
When the 2026 FIFA World Cup comes to Kansas City, the operational impact will extend far beyond the stadium. Surrounding communities like Overland Park, Kansas, are preparing for large-scale watch parties, transportation hubs and an influx of international visitors — all while maintaining day-to-day patrol operations. In this episode of Policing Matters, Major Kyle Livengood of the Overland Park Police Department talks with host Jim Dudley about how his agency is coordinating with local, state…
From research to roll call: Testing hotspot policing in the real world
Ep 542 · Feb 18, 2026 · 38 min
Every agency has them – the problems that keep the chief’s phone ringing and the community demanding action. The instinct may be to borrow a strategy from a neighboring department or pull a promising model off a research website. But turning theory into practice is rarely plug-and-play. On this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Lt. Matt Barter of the Manchester (New Hampshire) Police Department about applying hotspot policing research to quality-of-life issues…
Breaking ground, building trust: A Black woman’s 40-year career in policing
Ep 541 · Feb 11, 2026 · 33 min
In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley sits down with Brenda Tate, a trailblazer whose 40-year career with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police unfolded at a time when few women wore the badge and even fewer Black women were in uniform. Tate reflects on breaking barriers in the 1970s while navigating racism, sexism, personal loss and addiction — experiences she chronicles in her memoir, “Journal of a Black Woman in Blue: Navigating Abuse, Addiction, Racism, and Society.” Her…
Policing New York at the brink
Ep 540 · Feb 4, 2026 · 32 min
In 1990, New York City was a place many Americans were afraid to enter, let alone police. More than 2,600 homicides in a single year, open-air drug markets, violent subway platforms and neighborhoods ruled by fear defined daily life. What followed would become one of the most debated eras in modern policing — aggressive enforcement strategies, the expansion of stop, question and frisk, and a leadership-driven push to reclaim the streets. Decades later, those years are still argued in classrooms,…
Unlocked doors, new rules: One sheriff's high-risk jail experiment
Ep 539 · Jan 28, 2026 · 21 min
Running a jail can feel like a fixed equation: hire staff, manage the facility, keep order, repeat. But Pinal County (Arizona) Sheriff Ross Teeple decided the “that’s just how incarceration is” mindset was fueling the same cycle of violence, lockdowns and repeat offenders. His response was as simple as it was controversial: open an entire pod 24/7, pull the detention deputy out of direct supervision, and see whether a responsibility-based model could change behavior, culture and outcomes. The ex…
← Back to the show
