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Oғғ ᴛʜᴇ Cᴜғғ Pᴏᴅᴄᴀsᴛ | Eᴘɪsᴏᴅᴇ #26

"Empowering Youth" - SPO Kayla Richard

We brought on School Resource Officer Kayla Richard to showcase how an early interaction with a police officer can light the flame for a lifetime of service, which has now in turn made her a catalyst for positively impacting the lives of juveniles in our city.

Kayla’s path runs through North Dakota State Radio during the DAPL protest, the clerk’s office where paperwork shapes outcomes, and the Youth Correction Center where structure and trust turn “punishment” into progress. She opens up about academy realities—hospital corners, EVOC, firearms, and the infamous OC spray—and the quieter skills that last longer than a bruise: patience under pressure, empathy that doesn’t flinch, and the discipline to look squared-away because details signal control. We talk frankly about women in policing and why layered critical thinking, rapport with teens, and time bought through conversation can change the arc of a call.

The episode centers on two powerful scenes: a violent fight at the high school where Kayla moved first and stabilized fast, and a late-night rescue at a gas station where a mother and two little girls found safety and a way home. 

If you care about safer schools, resilient youth, and practical public safety, this one’s for you.

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