Policing Matters

Behavioral Threat Assessment Management (BTAM) stands as a crucial first line of defense in preempting and mitigating acts of mass violence, offering a systematic approach to identifying individuals who exhibit threatening or concerning behaviors. By analyzing these behavioral cues and assessing the potential risks they pose, law enforcement and threat assessment professionals can proactively intervene, providing support or taking action to prevent tragic incidents before they unfold.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by OfficerStore.com, host Jim Dudley speaks with Dr. Jack Rozel, a Professor of Psychiatry and Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Pittsburgh, about how law enforcement, behavioral sciences professionals and the community can work together to identify those at risk of committing acts of mass violence. 

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

Policing can create a range of emotions and feelings such as fear, excitement, grief, anger and sadness. Do officers ever catch a break and enjoy some levity and laughter? While policing is mostly serious business, wouldn’t it be great to be entertained by someone who knows about comedy and police work? Today's guest fits that role. Vinnie Montez, a Colorado police officer with more than two decades of service, also happens to be a successful comedian.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by OfficerStore.com, host Jim Dudley speaks with Vinnie about how his journey to better mental wellness led to a career in comedy. 

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

In 1954, the 83rd U.S. Congress amended the 1938 act that had made Armistice Day a holiday, striking the word “Armistice” in favor of “Veterans.” President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the legislation on June 1, 1954. From then on, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars. According to the Department of Justice COPS Office, nearly 25% of American law enforcement officers have a military background.  We thank them for their service.

Sadly, the rate of suicide for veterans is roughly 57% higher than the general public for a variety of reasons, from PTSD to substance abuse to other mental health issues. With this in mind, The Independence Fund, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, initiated the Veterans Justice Initiative under the guidance of Clark Pennington, a former police chief. The initiative's goal is to enhance law enforcement's comprehension of the challenges faced by veterans and facilitate their access to the necessary treatment. The first year was such a success that the state of North Carolina officially extended funding through its recently passed state budget.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Lexipol, host Jim Dudley speaks with Clark Pennington about the program, the goal of which is to confront deeply rooted mental health and substance abuse issues within the veteran community.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Policing strategies based on data and research are needed more than ever in order to deflect criticisms of race, economics and other biases.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Lexipol, host Jim Dudley speaks with Dr. Phllip J. Cook, a criminologist and researcher, about the need to develop effective strategies and programs to reduce gun violence and hold offenders accountable.

Dr. Cook, who co-authored "Policing Gun Violence" with Anthony Braga, is a renowned researcher and co-author of the Boston Gun Project's Operation Ceasefire. He has been a member of the Duke University faculty for 50 years, and is currently Professor Emeritus of Public Policy Studies.

Dr. Cook was one of the first scholars to undertake research on gun violence prevention. In 2020 his contributions in this area were recognized by the award of the Stockholm Prize in Criminology. 

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Given the nature of the job, police officers will always sustain injuries. If you make an arrest, you may encounter a resistive suspect; if you make a traffic stop, an ensuing pursuit may lead to a traffic collision. Sometimes an injury may be obvious and apparent, but some may be deceptive. Have you ever “shaken it off” after a knockdown, drag-out fight? Ever get out of a minor vehicle fender bender and walk it off? Sure you have. 

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Lexipol, host Jim Dudley speaks with Stephanie Samuels, a psychotherapist who works exclusively with police officers, about her research into the role repeated head injuries play in mental health disorders in law enforcement. and a probable link to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in officer suicides.

Stephanie is also the founder and director of Copline, a 24/7 hotline answered by retired LEOs to engage with callers who want to talk about anything from a bad day to a full-blown mental health crisis. Active and retired officers and their families can call the line. Call 1-800-COPLINE to access the service.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Amid all the grumblings about law enforcement over the years, there have been bright spots of support, which can be hard to see among all the negative chatter.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by OfficerStore.com, host Jim Dudley speaks with Craig W. Floyd, founder and president of Citizens Behind the Badge (CBB), a nonprofit advocacy organization formed in 2020 to end the disastrous “defund and defame the police” movement and ensure that our nation’s law enforcement professionals receive the support and respect needed and deserved to keep America safe.

Craig is also the founding chief executive officer emeritus of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), a nonprofit organization he helped establish in 1984 to honor the service and sacrifice of America’s law enforcement officers. Craig retired from the Memorial Fund at the end of December 2018.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by OfficerStore.com, host Jim Dudley speaks with Alicia Wadas, who has been honored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for her exceptional service in the public interest. 

The award is a one-time, first-ever recognition that spotlights her impact while serving as president of the FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association (FBINCAAA), an FBI community outreach partner.

Alicia Wadas is a successful businesswoman with Lavidge, a Phoenix advertising agency, where she has been for 20 years and is currently the chief operating officer and executive vice president.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

Force is inevitable in law enforcement situations with non-compliant suspects. Police officers know how to use de-escalation, but sometimes voice commands are not effective in dealing with subjects under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or if they are in a mental health crisis. De-escalation does not work well when a suspect flees, so what are your options?

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Lexipol, host Jim Dudley speaks with Kevin Mullins from WRAP Technologies about the BolaWrap, a remote restraint device officers can use to safely detain individuals without injury or the need to use higher levels of force.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Ghost guns are firearms that are privately assembled and untraceable. They can be assembled from "buy build shoot" kits or from other parts, or they can be 3D-printed. Unlike other guns, these weapons don't have serial numbers.

Google “ghost guns” to see the ubiquity of them and that they have been used to assault law enforcement officers and commit crimes by people who most likely would not be able to lawfully purchase a firearm otherwise.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Lexipol, host Jim Dudley speaks with Tom Chittum, who recently retired from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), about the proliferation of ghost guns, as well as the value of gunshot detection systems.

This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

The future of policing is in the hands of our best recruiting efforts. In a world where most careers have swift hiring procedures, why does law enforcement take up to nine months? Can we continue to rely on passive strategies like billboards to attract quality applicants? 

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Coach George Rush, a legend in the realm of college football with an impressive record of 326 wins, 22 conference titles, 7 state titles and 7 national championships in his 38-year career. Post-retirement, Rush has taken on a new challenge – working with the San Francisco Police Department on their recruitment efforts.

Can the strategies that led to overwhelming success on the football field be replicated in the law enforcement recruitment process? Tune in to find out as Coach Rush shares his experiences, strategies and vision for the future of police recruitment.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.