Precinct 444: The National Law Enforcement Museum Podcast

On this episode of Encore, we're looking back at the SAFLEO Suicide Awareness Program from May 2021, when the SAFLEO program was introduced as a new initiative for suicide awareness and prevention. SAFLEO develops training and technical assistance programs for law enforcement across the country. The entire program can be found below in the resources section.

The National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum works in partnership with the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR), on this national suicide awareness and prevention program.

Call 988 -or- Text "BLUE" to 741741 if you or someone you know needs help.

Resources:

• SAFLEO https://www.safleo.org/
• Institute for Intergovernmental Research https://www.iir.com/
  • Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness https://www.iir.com/FocusAreas/LEOSuicideAwareness
• Bureau of Justice Assistance https://bja.ojp.gov/
• VALOR Officer Safety and Wellness Initiative https://bja.ojp.gov/program/valor/overview
• Department of Justice Department of Justice | Homepage | United States Department of Justice

Featuring:

• Nick Breul, Officer Safety and Wellness, Senior Project Manager
• Kristen Mahoney, BJA Acting Director
• Brandon Post, IIR Senior Research Associate

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

On this episode of Lifeline, we're revisiting the most recent quarterly review of the NHTSA traffic-related fatality statistics. We're joined by NHTSA Program Manager Reo Nelson and Nick Breul who will discuss the dramatic increase in traffic-related fatalities in the first quarter of 2024.

Nick will present preliminary facts and analysis of the most recent crash fatalities and touch on the final fatality numbers for 2023, as well as a mention of the continuing trend of police vehicles being stolen, leading to chases.

Resources

• NHTSA 2024 1st Quarter Presentation Slides
• National Police Week 2024: Schedule of Events
• National Police Week 2024 App (iOS)
• IACP Impaired Driving and Traffic Safety Conference

Featuring

• Reo Nelson, Traffic Safety Specialist, NHTSA Justice and Enforcement Service Division
• Nick Breul, Senior Program Manager, OSW, National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

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

25 years ago, the world watched as two armed students killed 12 of their classmates and one teacher at Columbine High School and ushered a society out of an age of innocence. In the quarter of a century since the tragedy, Columbine has remained at the forefront of many conversations, informing decisions about law enforcement responses to active shooter incidents, and public concerns for the mental health of our youth. In this month's episode of Law and Disorder, we examine the reasons why we continue to talk about Columbine, both in the Law Enforcement field and as a society, and illuminate why the lessons of Columbine continue to matter.

Register for Picking Up the Pieces, a program about how law enforcement and communities rebuild after mass casualty events.

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

This month marks the 25th anniversary of the mass shooting that took place at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. In addition to the upcoming Museum program, "Picking Up the Pieces: How Law Enforcement and Communities Rebuild After Mass Casualty Events" (link below to register), we at Precinct 444 decided to release a Lifeline-focused episode about mass shooter incidents. Lifeline is all about providing a holistic wellness approach focused on supporting American law enforcement, and in this instance, educate the public on mass shooter situations (link below).

On this episode, Matt Garcia, Deputy Director of OSW Programs and retired Lieutenant with the Connecticut State Police, hosts Supervisory Special Agent, John Skillestad with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to discuss the evolution of mass shooter safety and training developed in law enforcement. They also analyze the effects of this new training (ALERT) from a tactical perspective and the peer support offered to law enforcement following these types of incidents.

You won't want to miss this episode and be sure to register for the upcoming Museum program!

Resources

• Upcoming Museum program, "Picking Up the Pieces"
• FBI Active Shooter Safety Resources

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

On September 10, 1968, two female officers at the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department made history when they became the first women in the United States to be given a patrol assignment in the same fashion as their male colleagues. Years later, Sergeant Betty Blankenship's daughter, Robin Tryon would become a police officer with the same department where her mother made history. In this special episode of Icons, Law and Disorder host, Anna Muckenfuss, sits down with Robin Tryon to discuss her both Robin and Betty's careers, Betty's legacy, and what it means to have her story told at the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, D.C.

Resources: 

• Walking the Same Beat: The First Patrol of Women Officers

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

In this month's episode of Law and Disorder, Anna Muckenfuss sits down with Dr. Jenifer Smith, who boasts a nearly 40-year career in the field of forensic science. They will discuss Dr. Smith's road to the forensics lab, the cases from her career that have stuck with her, and the power of women in the field of forensic science.

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

The National Law Enforcement Museum and the National Organization of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE) worked together to provide this live virtual discussion focusing on empowering women in law enforcement.

Women constitute less than 13% of total officers in this country—with an even smaller proportion of leadership positions—despite comprising over 50% of the total US population. Despite recent efforts to increase representation, the percentage of women in law enforcement has remained stagnant for the past few decades.

How do women contribute in ways that differ from their male colleagues? What strengths do women bring to the field? How do they impact the safety of officers and the communities they serve? These questions and others were discussed during this live program, moderated by Kathy O’Toole.

Museum Public Programs - www.nleomf.org/museum/public-programs/
Upcoming Women's History Month Program on March 22nd- Walking the Same Beat: The First Patrol of Women Officers

Resources:

• National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives – https://nawlee.org/
• Women in Policing Resources, IACP https://www.theiacp.org/women-in-policing-resources#:~:text=The%20Women’s%20Leadership%20Institute%20(WLI,groups%2C%20and%20achieve%20organizational%20goals.
• International Association of Women Police https://www.iawp.org/

Featuring:

Welcome
Paula Balafas, President, National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives

Moderator
Kathy O’Toole, First female commissioner of the Boston (MA) Police Department, first Chief Inspector of the Garda Inspectorate, and Chief of the Seattle (WA) Police Department from 2014 to 2017.

Panelists:

• Chief Gina Hawkins, Fayetteville (NC) Police Department
• Chief Roxana Kennedy, Chula Vista (CA) Police Department
• Sheriff Rosie Rivera, Salt Lake County (UT) Sheriff’s Office
• Sonya K. Chavez, U.S. Marshals Service (NM)
• Chief Jill Lees, IUPD-Bloomington (IN)

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

This week on Law and Disorder, we will introduce you to Frances Glessner Lee, who is regarded by many as the woman who invented modern forensics. Lee’s passion for the field of legal medicine led to the creation of a unique seminar for homicide detectives that focused on her handmade miniature crime-scenes that she called “The Nutshells of Unexplained Death.” This episode will dive into Frances Glessner Lee’s interesting life, and her Nutshells, which are still used to train homicide detectives today.

Resources:

• Smithsonian Institution Exhibit: "Murder Is Her Hobby" 
• "18 Tiny Deaths" by Bruce Goldfarb

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

In partnership with the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), the National Law Enforcement Museum presented Voices for Change: Excellence in Black Law Enforcement Media. This program brought together influential law enforcement officers from around the country who utilize various media platforms such as social networks, public speaking, and documentary films to inspire a new generation of officers and community leaders and create more awareness for the profession of law enforcement and the officers protecting our communities.

 This program was originally released in February 2023.

Featuring:

• Marcia Ferranto, Former CEO of NLEOMF
• Brenda Goss Andrews, 45th President of NOBLE
• Lieutenant Colonel Kristal Turner-Childs (Ret.)
• Assistant Chief Jonni Redick (Ret.)
• Officer Anthony Johnson
• Eric McCants
• Special Deputy Sheriff Jim Klock

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

Today's episode takes a look at NHTSA traffic statistics for the final quarter of 2023. Nick Breul provides an update on these latest law enforcement traffic-related fatality statistics and is joined by Reo Nelson, from NHTSA. 

These webinars aid listeners in understanding what types of crashes were the most common in 2023 and highlights details on the circumstances involved in the crashes.  Nick will cover seat belt use, and other important crash data points, such as tire deflation devices, and single-vehicle crashes.

Contact Nick Breul
202-365-6743
[email protected]

Resources:

• NHTSA quarterly reports
• Presentation Slideshows
• Other Officer Traffic Safety Resources

Featuring:

• Nick Breul, Senior Program Manager, OSW, National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
• Reo Nelson, Traffic Safety Specialist, NHTSA Justice and Enforcement Service Division

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