Ep. 43 I’m joined by Detective Daniel Carr who has been in law enforcement for more than 17 years with a large agency in the southwestern United States. Daniel also holds a Master's Degree in criminal justice and a law degree, both of which he earned while being a full-time police officer. Many of you know Daniel as the creator of Police Law News – video and written content that honestly examines police incidents, police policy, law, culture and, in my opinion, addresses civilian misperceptions of law enforcement. All of it is thought provoking, well researched and insightful. You can find his video content on all social media platforms and his very well-written articles on Substack. His videos on TikTok alone have garnered him more than 135,000 followers.  (Links below).

In this interview, we look at a range of issues and incidents including several officer involved shootings that Daniel has covered on Police Law News, as well as some other cases I asked him to review with me. We engage in an open-minded and thoughtful examination without judgement. 

Of particular importance is the wrongful conviction of Officer Christopher Schurr of the Grand Rapids Police Department following his use of deadly force while engaged in a life-threatening hand-to-hand confrontation with a subject who had stolen Officer Schurr’s Taser. Officer Schurr has been charged with second-degree murder and will stand trial in October. You can get updates and show your support for him and his family through the Facebook “Stand With Schurr” page. We contrast and compare this with the somewhat similar conviction, later overturned, of Officer Garrett Rolfe, who also was threatened with a Taser by a fleeing subject in Atlanta. 

Within our review of these incidents, we discuss the impact of media bias, the public’s misperception of use of force and why officers “can’t just shoot the knife out of someone’s hand.”

We talk about Daniel’s career in law enforcement as he nears retirement – why he chose police work, the incidents and the people he remembers and the rewards of the job. 

To find Daniel’s work on social media, go to any platform and simply search for Police Law News. Here are some handy links as well:

Facebook

Instagram

TikTok, Twitter, YouTube and Substack Newsletter here: 

https://linktr.ee/policelawnews

Daniel’s Substack breakdown of Officer Schurr’s incident

Stand With Schurr GRPD

Daniel’s Substack breakdown of the Justice for Jaheim Go Fund Me issue

The insightful breakdown I mention of the initial traffic stop in the Tyre Nichols case: Drew Breasy Uncuffed: A Cop Reviews Tyre Nichols Use of Force Case

Thanks for listening to On Being a Police Officer. YOU are what keeps me going. If you are so inclined, please drop me a five-star review on Apple Podcasts. It really helps build the audience!

Find me on my social or email me your thoughts:

Facebook: On Being a Police Officer

Twitter: @AbbyEllsworth13

Instagram: on_being_a_police_officer

[email protected]

©Abby Ellsworth. All interviews, editing, production done by Abby Ellsworth. Music courtesy of freesound.org