Leapodcasts

Episode: 00339 Released on October 5, 2026 Description: Kimber Burks-Reece has spent more than two decades with the Harris County Sheriff's Office, building a career that has taken her from working as a patrol clerk to supporting investigations, working alongside HIDTA and FBI analysts, helping develop an analytical unit, and providing real time crime and intelligence support.

In this episode of Analyst Talk, Kimber joins Jason to talk about how she discovered crime analysis almost by accident and the experiences that shaped the analyst she became. She shares her Analyst Badge Story involving a stolen vehicle, a license plate reader hit, and a robbery crew that officers were able to track as the investigation unfolded.

Kimber also shares her three dos and three don'ts of case support. She explains why analysts need to know their audience, read between the lines, ask better questions, and continue working a problem even after a suspect has been identified or arrested. She also discusses the importance of not burning bridges, getting other analysts involved in your work, and continuing to learn as technology, investigative techniques, and the profession change.

The conversation explores information sharing between agencies, building relationships with investigators, communicating analytical findings effectively, and Kimber's involvement with TXLEAN and the Greater Houston law enforcement analyst community. Kimber also discusses her unique role with the Harris County Sheriff's Office Honor Guard and how volunteering outside her traditional analyst responsibilities helped her build relationships throughout the agency. Plus, Jason and Kimber look back at what technology, entertainment, and life were like when she began her career in 2005, talk books and reading, and close with Kimber's Words to the World about keeping work in perspective and not allowing the difficult parts of the job to define the rest of your life. 🎧 Listen, share, and keep talking!   [Note:  Description produced by ChatGPT.]

Name Drops: Linda Green (00:03:20), Deanna Roman (00:07:40), Erin Havelka (00:13:00), Sergeant Thomas (00:27:10), Major Razo (00:27:30), Matt White x2/Joe Ryan (00:56:00), Heather Lane (00:57:20), Krista Whitehead (01:00:00), Michael Jackson/Lauren Patterson (01:01:30), Anne Bishop (01:05:30), L.J. Smith (01:06:30), Sherrilyn Kenyon/Laurel K. Hamilton/Sarah J. Maas (01:07:00), James Lichau (01:10:15)  

Erin Havelka (https://www.leapodcasts.com/e/analyst-talk-erin-havelka-the-intern-turned-mentor-analyst/)

00:00:25 - Introducing Kimber

Episode: 00338 Released on September 28, 2026 Description: What does it take to build a common foundation for law enforcement analysts? Brittany Winslow returns to Analyst Talk with Jason Elder to discuss Arizona's Law Enforcement Analyst Training and Academy, a program adapted from Florida's established analyst training model. Brittany explains the 40-hour prerequisite course, the six-month academy, the hands-on exercises, testing, networking, and the strategic assessment analysts complete for their agencies.

 🎧 Listen, share, and keep talking!   [Note:  Description produced by ChatGPT.]

Name Drops: Mary Bertuccelli (00:12:20), Mike Winslow (00:14:40) 

Episode: 00337 Released on September 21, 2026

They also explore what not to do. Don't overstate what the data shows, overwhelm the jury, overcomplicate your explanation, overthink your answers, or overreact during cross-examination. From phone analysis and courtroom presentations to jury questions and defense interviews, Jason and Mike offer practical advice for analysts who may someday find themselves testifying about their work. The takeaway is simple: prepare, know your work, communicate clearly, and let the data speak for itself. 🎧 Listen, share, and keep talking!   [Note:  Description produced by ChatGPT.]

Name Drops: Brittany Winslow (00:08:19)

Association(s) Mentioned: 

Vendor(s) Mentioned: 

Contact: [email protected]; https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikewinslow1414/ 

Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/ejfmg32tjgu8apyg/dyk06_transcript.pdf 

Podcast Writer: 

Podcast Researcher: 

Theme Song: Written and Recorded by The Rough & Tumble. Find more of their music at www.theroughandtumble.com.

Logo: Designed by Kyle McMullen. Please visit www.moderntype.com for any printable business forms and planners. 

Podcast Email: [email protected]  

Podcast Webpage: www.leapodcasts.com  

Podcast Twitter: @leapodcasts

Episode: 00336 Released on September 14, 2026 Description: In the second episode of LEAN: Law Enforcement Analyst Networks, Jason Elder talks with Ben Haiman, Executive Director of the National Association of Professional Staff in Public Safety (NAPSPS). Founded in 2025, NAPSPS is building a national network for professional staff working throughout law enforcement and public safety. Ben discusses the association’s focus on professional development, networking, and advocacy, along with the challenges professional staff can face when it comes to inclusion, compensation, leadership opportunities, and having a seat at the decision-making table. Jason and Ben also explore how analysts can move beyond producing reports to become problem solvers, trusted advisors, thought partners, and strategic leaders within their agencies. They discuss why analysts may benefit from connecting outside the traditional crime analysis community and how analysts can contribute their own expertise back to NAPSPS.

This episode is part of LEAN: Law Enforcement Analyst Networks, connecting analysts with the associations, communities, and professional networks that support their growth. 🎧 Listen, share, and keep talking! [Note:  Description produced by ChatGPT.]

00:00:25 - Introducing Ben

Episode: 00335 Released on September 7, 2026 Description: Welcome to the first episode of JAM: Jason and Mindy on Analyst Talk! After years of talking about doing a show together, Jason Elder and Mindy Yoon finally make it happen. In this quarterly series, Jason and Mindy discuss what’s on their minds in law enforcement analysis: what’s their jam, what’s not their jam, and whatever else comes up along the way.

In this inaugural episode, Jason argues that analysts may be neglecting one of their most important clients: themselves. Jason and Mindy discuss using automation, dashboards, repeatable processes, and proactive analysis to make analysts more efficient and better prepared to serve everyone else.

Then the conversation moves to farmers markets, crime prevention, situational awareness, and whether problem-oriented policing (POP) has lost some of its prominence even though many of its principles remain embedded in modern policing and crime analysis.

Finally, things get a little less serious as Jason and Mindy discuss their personal “jams,” ’90s music, Pokémon, Titanic, Pulp Fiction, and Mindy’s theory that Titanic might actually be a time-travel movie.

It’s law enforcement analysis, professional discussion, random rabbit holes, and plenty of jam. 🎧 Listen, share, and keep talking! [Note:  Description produced by ChatGPT.]

00:00:50 - Introducing JAM

Episode: 00334 Released on August 31, 2026 Description: Amy O’Neill didn’t set out to become a law enforcement analyst. After earning a geography degree, a temporary opportunity with Humberside Police introduced her to intelligence analysis and launched a career spanning tactical analysis, major investigations, leadership, and the UK’s National Crime Agency.

00:00:25 - Introducing Amy

Episode: 00333 Released on August 24, 2026 Description: What motivates police officers to embrace proactive and evidence-based policing? In Episode 6 of Research Remix, Jason Elder and Jamie Roush examine a 2025 study by Peterson, Lum, and Koper exploring the factors that influence officers’ proactive policing activities. Jason and Jamie discuss the importance of organizational culture, supervisor expectations, training, experience, rewards, and accountability, and why simply telling officers to “be proactive” may not be enough.

The conversation also turns to the role of law enforcement analysts. From developing analytical products that guide proactive deployments to evaluating whether an initiative actually worked, analysts can help turn research into practice. The episode also explores professional development for analysts, the value of gaining experience outside a single analytical specialty, and why organizations need to give analysts room to experiment, learn, and occasionally make mistakes.

Research Remix takes academic research and asks the question that matters to working analysts: What does this mean for us? 🎧 Listen, share, and keep talking! [Note:  Description produced by ChatGPT.]

00:00:25 - Introducing Jamie

Episode: 00332 Released on August 17, 2026 Description:  Matt Lambert has spent his career exploring where law enforcement analysis can take him from local crime analysis and federal contract support to geospatial data science and eventually supervising an analytical unit. In this episode, Matt joins host Jason Elder to discuss his unconventional path into the profession, his analyst badge story involving a years-long indecent exposure series, and what he learned when he moved from doing analytical work to leading the people who do it. Matt shares lessons from supervising analysts, including adapting to different personalities and learning styles, delegating work you know you could do yourself, advocating for analysts, building trust, creating a strong unit culture, and recognizing the qualities that help analysts thrive. Matt also offers advice for aspiring analysts trying to break into an increasingly competitive profession and explains why one principle has followed him throughout his career: always be a student of what you do. 🎧 Listen, share, and keep talking! [Note:  Description produced by ChatGPT.]

00:00:25 - Introducing Matt

Episode: 00331 Released on August 10, 2026 Description:  What does an investigative analyst actually do? In this episode, Jason sits down with Vanessa Martinovici, Criminal Intelligence Analyst with the Rocky Mountain Information Network (RMIN), to discuss her journey from discovering the profession during a college internship to supporting complex investigations across the western United States. Vanessa explains how Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) support agencies with specialized analytical services, why investigative analysts have become indispensable in the digital evidence era, and how analysts contribute to child abuse, organized retail crime, and transnational investigations. She also shares insights into the Arizona Law Enforcement Analyst Academy, the growing specialization within the profession, and why stepping outside your comfort zone is essential for career growth. The conversation concludes with an important discussion on online child safety and the emerging challenges posed by AI-generated child sexual abuse material. 🎧 Listen, share, and keep talking! [Note:  Description produced by ChatGPT.]

Svetlana Gubin (https://www.leapodcasts.com/e/atwje-svetlana-gubin-the-power-of-math/)

Episode: 00330 Released on August 3, 2026 Description:  What happens when you review 850 analytical job postings spanning nearly three years? Dr. Jessica Herbert did exactly that, and what she found should make every law enforcement leader rethink how they hire analysts. In this episode, Jason and Jessica discuss the disconnect between job postings and the actual work today's analysts perform. They examine why many agencies continue recycling outdated job descriptions, why technical skills like SQL and Python are often overlooked, and how organizations should rethink hiring, onboarding, and professional development. Whether you're hiring your first analyst, managing an established crime analysis unit, or planning your own career, this conversation provides practical guidance on preparing the analytical workforce for the future.

 🎧 Listen, share, and keep talking! [Note:  Description produced by ChatGPT.]

Name Drops:  Deborah Osborne (01:10:30)

Substack: https://drjessicaherbert.substack.com/ 

Website: https://asbatra.com/ 

Access to the first white paper: asbatra.com/from-my-desk

00:00:25 - Introducing Jessica