This the first of three episodes from our series on Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management with guests and LSU NCBRT/ACE subject matter experts Roy Bethge, Mark DuPont, Courtney Tassin, and Maggie Varela.

In this episode, they discuss why a whole community approach is necessary, how the BTAM model can bridge the gap between identifying potential threats and responding to violent acts, and the difference between the BTAM model and other risk assessment tools.

Resources mentioned by our guests during this series: 

Threat Evaluation and Reporting Course (TERC) Training Suite ⁠⁠https://www.dhs.gov/terc-training-suite⁠⁠

Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (ATAP) ⁠⁠https://www.atapworldwide.org/default.aspx⁠⁠

Journal of Threat Assessment and Management ⁠⁠https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/tam⁠

A note: today’s episode contains a recording received by one of our guests containing of election-related threats and explicit language. Please take care while listening.

Today is the second episode in our four-part series on election safety and security with guests Tina Barton and Sheriff Justin Smith. Today, they discuss the threats to election workers and how those threats impact their every day lives. They also talk about the challenges law enforcement face when dealing with criminal statutes pertaining to elections and ways law enforcement try to deescalate these types of situations.

On today’s episode, we begin a four-part series on election safety and security with guests Tina Barton and Sheriff Justin Smith. Tina is a senior elections expert with The Elections Group and is the former senior program advisor to the executive director of the at the US Election Assistance Commission. Justin Smith is a retired sheriff from Larimer County, Colorado and has over 35 years of law enforcement experience. He served as president of the Colorado Sheriffs’ Association and is a former member of the executive committee of the National Sheriffs’ Association. They are both members of the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections, an organization that features cross-partisan experts in election administration and law enforcement who aim to support policies and practices that protect election workers and voters.

Today, they discuss the components of election safety and the societal aspects that influence elections in the United States. They talk about their involvement in the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections, the process for preparing local officials and law enforcement for safeguarding elections, threats faced by local election officials, the history of election interference and questions about election security, and more.

Note: This series includes mentions of physical and sexual abuse, including against children. Please take care when listening. If you or someone you know may be involved in human trafficking, please contact 1-888-373-7888 or visit humantraffickinghotline.org.

Today’s podcast is the third and final in our series on human trafficking with Maria Santamaria, Maggie Varela, and Victor Williams. In this episode, we talk about effective solutions and strategies to combatting human trafficking. Topics include education and training for law enforcement and community leaders, trauma-informed approaches, rehabilitation and recovery programs, and more.

Note: This series includes mentions of physical and sexual abuse, including against children. Please take care when listening. If you or someone you know may be involved in human trafficking, please contact 1-888-373-7888 or visit humantraffickinghotline.org.

Today on the podcast we are continuing our series on human trafficking with Maria Santamaria, Maggie Varela, and Victor Williams. Today, we talk about the challenges for law enforcement when responding to these kinds of cases, cultural biases that that contribute to human trafficking, psychological traumas that human trafficking victims deal with, and more.

The third and final episode of this series will air on Tuesday, September 3rd.

Note: This series includes mentions of physical and sexual abuse, including against children. Please take care when listening. If you or someone you know may be involved in human trafficking, please contact 1-888-373-7888 or visit humantraffickinghotline.org.

On today’s podcast, we are starting a new three-part series on human trafficking. Guests for this series include Maria Santamaria, Maggie Varela, and Victor Williams. Today, we discuss the elements of human trafficking, risk factors that make someone vulnerable to becoming a victim, different types of trafficking, and the emotional and cultural factors that contribute to trafficking.

The second episode in this series will air on Tuesday, August 27th

On today’s episode, we continue our series on leadership with LSU NCBRT/ACE subject matter experts. In this episode, Mark DuPont discusses his view on leadership, experiences that have influenced his view on what leadership entails, having compassion as a leader, and more

Today on the podcast we are continuing our ongoing series on leadership with some of LSU NCBRT/ACE’s outstanding instructors and subject matter experts. On today’s episode, Maggie Varela shares her experiences in the Miami-Dade Police Department, how she defines leadership, maintaining a positive work culture, adapting leadership strategies for different generations, and more.

This is the third and final episode in our series on wildland urban interface (WUI) fires. Guests for this series include subject matter experts Gregg Bird, John Dean, and Andrew “Rat” Rateaver. Today, we talk about things homeowners can do to protect their property from WUI fires; the importance of developing and practicing community evacuation plans; how law enforcement, fire, EMS, and local officials can work together during these crises; and more.

On today’s podcast, we continue our conversation on wildland urban interface (WUI) fires with guests Gregg Bird, John Dean, and Andrew “Rat” Rateaver. In this episode, we discuss mitigation techniques for wildfires in vulnerable urban areas. Topics include ways to get the community informed/involved in mitigation efforts and the challenges responders and officials face when trying to enforce fire mitigation regulations and policies.

The third and final episode in this series will air on Tuesday, July 30th.