Blue Line, The Podcast

In this episode of Blue Line, The Podcast, editor Brittani Schroeder interviews Insp. Matthew Lobsinger from the St. Thomas Police Service and Jason Gale, a high-risk domestic violence case manager from Changing Ways. Together, they examine the rising challenge of intimate partner violence across Canada and present "Pathways to Change: Breaking the Cycle of Harm," an integrated initiative centred on prevention, victim safety and offender accountability.

The discussion highlights the model of co-locating a community case manager directly inside police headquarters to enable daily collaboration and early intervention before crises escalate.

Join us on this episode of Blue Line, The Podcast, as we sit down with Sgt. Francis Manila of the Eeyou Eenou Police Force (EEPF) to discuss his 13-year journey policing northern Quebec’s Cree communities.

Manila shares his unique perspective on managing a territory the size of a mid-sized European country, where extreme logistical challenges mean specialized backup can be more than 8 hours away. We explore the EEPF’s Indigenous-led staffing model that prioritizes prevention and community policing, demonstrating how simple human interactions help break down stereotypes and build critical trust.

From navigating the isolation of remote service to his essential leadership advice on integrity and accountability, Manila offers invaluable lessons for officers across Canada on the professional and personal impact of humanizing the badge.

In this episode of Blue Line, The Podcast, Editor Brittani Schroeder was joined by Chief Fiona Wilson of the Victoria Police Department. In late 2023 and early 2024, the pair sat down to discuss British Columbia’s drug decriminalization pilot project. With the recent announcement from the B.C. Provincial Government that it will end the pilot and not seek an extension, Schroeder and Wilson reconvened to share Wilson’s thoughts on the pilot’s conclusion and the key lessons learned over the past few years.

In this episode of Blue Line, The Podcast, host Brittani Schroeder is joined by Insp. Dawn-Lyn Blake of the Tsuut'ina Nation Police Service to discuss one of the most pressing issues in law enforcement today: recruitment.

Blake shares her personal journey into policing and offers a unique perspective on the challenges police services face in attracting new members, particularly within Indigenous communities. The conversation explores specific barriers to recruiting Indigenous women, examines past and present recruitment efforts, and identifies what more could be done to attract diverse candidates to the profession.

In this episode of Blue Line, The Podcast, editor Brittani Schroeder sits down with psychotherapist Stephanie Samuels, executive director of Copline, to explore the profound impact of repetitive head trauma on law enforcement mental health. Samuels explains why head trauma is a critical “missing piece” in understanding challenges like PTSD and suicide risk, and how its symptoms are often misattributed to other psychological issues. 

Drawing on the case of Brent Simpson, the first publicly known officer diagnosed with CTE, this episode also highlights the subtle signs of brain injury that officers, families and colleagues should watch for. Despite the seriousness of the topic, Samuels offers a message of hope, emphasizing that head trauma is treatable and outlining what a clear path forward can look like for officers and their families grappling with these challenges.

n May 2025, Ontario’s Inspectorate of Policing released its first spotlight report, focusing on the State of Public Order Policing in Ontario. Inspector General Ryan Teschner and his team made 12 recommendations to address growing demands and emerging strains. 

In this episode of Blue Line, The Podcast, editor Brittani Schroeder and Ryan Teschner discuss the role of the Inspectorate of Policing, the findings of their study on public order policing, their recommendations, and their vision for improving police performance in Ontario. 

 Thank you to NicheRMS365 for sponsoring this episode of Blue Line, The Podcast.

“Made in Canada, NicheRMS365 sets the standard for Police RMS worldwide, serving more than 168,000 sworn officers in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States. That’s more than our top eight competitors combined! The UI provides a consistent, intuitive user experience so agencies can simply train once and use anywhere, on any device. It’s the most highly configurable, capable, and respected RMS platform in the world. One demo and you’ll know! Learn more at www.NicheRMS.com.”

While the Military Police Group primarily serves the Canadian military community, there are striking similarities between military police officers and their counterparts in civilian law enforcement across Canada. 

In this episode of Blue Line, The Podcast, host and editor Brittani Schroeder sits down with Canadian Forces Provost Marshal, Vanessa Hanrahan. As the commanding officer of the Canadian Armed Forces Military Police Group, Hanrahan shares insights into her new role as CFPM, reflecting on the challenges and transformations that have shaped the Military Police over recent years.

In this episode of Blue Line, The Podcast, editor Brittani Schroeder was joined by Brian Carwana, who provides religious literacy training to communities and organizations. They discussed the importance of this knowledge for law enforcement personnel as they perform their roles.

In this episode of Blue Line, The Podcast, editor Brittani Schroeder was joined by Dwayne Zacharie, Chief Peacekeeper of the Kahnawake Mohawk Peacekeepers in Quebec. The two discussed the unique challenges and triumphs of First Nations policing in Canada. 

Zacharie highlighted the importance of community connection and culturally appropriate policing, emphasizing the need for increased resources and recognition as an essential service. The interview also addressed a landmark Supreme Court of Canada decision regarding equitable funding for First Nations police services, underscoring the ongoing struggle for fair resource allocation and the vital role of First Nations policing in Canada's national security.

A lot has changed in the world of law enforcement since the 1980s. Mike Callaghan, who recently retired as the Chief of the Belleville Police Service, left public safety with over 38 years of policing experience.

In this episode of Blue Line, The Podcast, editor Brittani Schroeder sat down with Callaghan to look back at his incredible career, and to see what has changed for police most over the last four decades.

We hope you enjoy this special podcast episode, dedicated to celebrating Blue Line’s 35th anniversary.