Precinct 444: The National Law Enforcement Museum Podcast

On this month's episode of Law and Disorder, we are covering a chilling story of an online-tall-tale taken too far. On May 31, 2014, two tween girls, Anissa Weier and Morgan Geiser, brutally stabbed their friend Bella Leutner in one of the most violent crimes the city of Waukesha, Wisconsin had ever experienced... all because of a shared delusion that the killing would appease the fictional creepypasta character, Slenderman. In this episode, we will break down the details of this case, how the line between facts and fiction can feel blurred in our internet age, and the complexities of trying a crime committed by juveniles in adult court.

https://nleomf.org/museum/precinct-444/

On this episode of Lifeline, we're joined by Deputy Director of OSW Programs, Matt Garcia, and Dennis Nayor, Adjunct Professor for the Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership Master's Degree Program at the University of San Diego, with more than 25 years of law enforcement experience. The conversation focuses on the general nature of trauma experienced by law enforcement officers, the impact of unprocessed trauma on officers' mental and physical health, and the challenges of retirement and life after a career in law enforcement.

Lifeline provides content with a holistic wellness approach focused on supporting American law enforcement. This programming is intended to make it safer for those who serve, keeping names off the Memorial walls, and to share best practices to promote overall resilience and survivability.

More about the Officer Safety and Wellness department: https://nleomf.org/officer-safety-and-wellness/

Featuring

• Matt Garcia | Deputy Director of OSW Program, NLEOMF
• Dennis Nayor | Adjunct Professor, LE and Public Safety Leadership Program, University of San Diego, more than 25 years of municipal law enforcement experience, and multi-agency police chief (ret.)

https://nleomf.org/museum/precinct-444/

On this episode of Encore, we're revisiting "Changemakers of Law Enforcement: Post-9/11 Exhibit Series", which was released in September of 2021, brought together the "changemakers" who helped the country move forward following the September 11th attacks.

The response to the challenges brought by the 9/11 attacks—or, in some cases, simply illuminated by the attacks—needed law enforcement leaders willing to innovate and answer the call of duty. By speaking to a selection of these changemakers that helped the country respond and move forward, we learned more about the ways American law enforcement evolved after 9/11, how those changes inform our current challenges and opportunities, and better understand leadership principles and techniques/approaches used by these leaders.

Post-9/11: The Evolution of American Law Enforcement exhibit closed in September of 2022. A walk-thru video of the exhibit can be found here.

Resources

• Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) https://www.policeforum.org/
• FBI Counterterrorism Division https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/terrorism
  • Article: 9/11 Moved Many to Serve https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/911-moved-many-to-serve-090921
• Federal Protective Service, Department of Homeland Security https://www.dhs.gov/federal-protective-service
• House Subcommittee on Crime, Counterterrorism, and Homeland Security https://judiciary.house.gov/subcommittee-on-crime-terrorism-homeland-security-and-investigations
• Brooks Bawden Moore LLC https://www.bbm-dc.com/

Panelists

• Mike Rolince, Section Chief, Counterterrorism Division, FBI Headquarters on 9/11
• Joshua Ederheimer, Deputy Director, Federal Protective Service, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• Chief Ronald Haddad, Dearborn (MI) Police Department
• Caroline Lynch, Formerly Chief Counsel of the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security
• Ronald E. Brooks, Founder & Principal, Brooks Bawden Moore LLC

https://nleomf.org/museum/precinct-444/

On this very special episode of Lifeline, we take another look at mindfulness practices as a way to address traumatic memories and flashbacks as they may related to the September 11th attacks. Many officers state that as a result of post traumatic stress induced events, they experience bouts of anxiety and crippling depression, which can result in unhealthy compensatory mechanisms such as substance abuse, or even suicide.

We welcomed back Mary Petto, the Memorial Fund's Chief Marketing and Corporate Relations Officer, to lead a new mindfulness exercise called "Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction", or MBSR. These particular exercises help bring the mind back to the present and what is currently happening; a great tool when experiencing traumatic flashbacks in the moment and for those suffering chronically with depression or grief. To follow along with this exercise, go to timestamp 09:30.

Resources

• COPS/DOJ | Police Use of Mindfulness Training for Mental Health
• IACP | Mindfulness Toolkit for Law Enforcement

https://nleomf.org/museum/precinct-444/

In the early morning hours of June 3, 2011, IU sophomore Lauren Spierer disappeared as she headed home from a friend’s apartment in Bloomington, Indiana. In. The 13 years since Lauren’s disappearance, her case continues to vex investigators and IU students alike. On today’s episode of Law and Disorder, we will discuss the disappearance of Lauren Spierer and some of the most logical theories that have arisen regarding her disappearance. 

https://nleomf.org/museum/precinct-444/

On this episode of Lifeline, we're evaluating the importance of mental wellness exercises. There are many approaches to improving mental well-being in the law enforcement field, including the effectiveness of mindfulness. Mindfulness is a type of meditation practice that provides officers with the ability to focus their mind on a particular problem.  Studies have shown that implementing regular mindfulness exercises reduces stress and directs the brain towards more positive responses.

During this episode, Mary Petto, the Memorial Fund's Chief Marketing and Corporate Relations Officer, leads a mindfulness exercise centered around compassion called "Just like me". Feel free to participate, wherever you are! To join this exercise, skip to timestamp 18:25.

Precinct 444 will publish another mindfulness-focused episode in early September--so stay tuned!

Resources

COPS/DOJ | Police Use of Mindfulness Training for Mental Health
IACP | Mindfulness Toolkit for Law Enforcement

https://nleomf.org/museum/precinct-444/

Originally airing back in July 2023 and hosted by the National Law Enforcement Museum, we revisit a program about federal policies and how those decisions can impact law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.

There have been times in American law enforcement history when federal policy decisions affected law enforcement professionals and how they were expected to approach enforcing them. In some instances, these policies caused more harm than good on both law enforcement and communities. This program will shed light on some of these historic moments in our nation that should encourage lawmakers and law enforcement officers to work together to ensure we are able to keep both our communities and the officers who serve them safe.

Featuring:

Moderator
Diane Goldstein, Executive Director, Law Enforcement Action Partnership

Participants

• Chief Rodney Bryant, Atlanta PD (Ret.), National First Vice President, NOBLE
• Jon Adler, President, FLEOA Foundation
• Peter J. Forcelli, Deputy Assistant Director, ATF (Ret.)
• Michelle Minton, Senior Policy Analyst, Reason Foundation

https://nleomf.org/museum/precinct-444/

In this episode of Icons, Director of Programs, Anna Muckenfuss, sits down with retired Deputy Assistant Director of the ATF and published author, Peter J. Forcelli. They will discuss his experience rising through the ranks, the transition from NYPD homicide detective to federal special agent, the importance of holding our law enforcement institutions accountable, and much more.

https://nleomf.org/museum/precinct-444/

When Andrew Phillip Cunanan was a senior in High School, he was voted “Most Likely to be Remembered” by his peers. Little did they know he would be known for a killing spree that ended in the death of Gianni Versace, famous fashion designer to the stars. In today’s episode of Law and Disorder, we will discuss the crimes of Andrew Cunanan and the curious criminal psychology behind his crimes.

https://nleomf.org/museum/precinct-444/

On this episode of Encore, we take a look back at "Restorative Justice: Does it work?" from January of 2020, when the Museum hosted a panel of experts from the judicial, law enforcement and restorative justice fields who will discuss how their programs work and the results they have experienced. We invite you to listen in and decide for yourself the value of this initiative for building safer communities.

Addressing criminal conduct, challenging obstacles to lasting corrections reform, and healing the resulting harm to individuals and communities are grave concerns in every society. Effectively resolving how to change criminal behavior and reintegrate offenders into their communities has proved to be even more difficult. Our nation’s current system of punishment, isolation, and the lifelong stigmatization of shame produces the opposite of the results we claim we want: individuals who respect both the law and their fellow citizens so they are less likely to re-offend.

Current safety measures based on arresting and incarcerating as many offenders as we can, for increasingly extended prison terms, has proven to be insufficient for the long-term safety needs of our communities, families, and law enforcement officers who risk everything to keep us safe. This uncomfortable but realistic conclusion is readily apparent when we consider that the vast majority of offenders and victims will return to the communities from which they came with even fewer options that change offender or victim opportunity or outlook for change.

The practice of Restorative Justice seeks to improve that dismal outlook through the rebuilding broken ties with communities by reconnecting offenders with community values and encouraging offenders to take responsibility for their actions.

Featuring:

• Lashonia Thompson-El, Co-Chief of Violence Reduction of the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia
• Sergeant Aaron Rudolph, Metropolitan (DC) Police Department
• Jodie Fleischer, Investigative Reporter NBC4 
• Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney of the Eastern District of Virginia
• Roman Haferd, Restorative Justice Coordinator of the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia

https://nleomf.org/museum/precinct-444/