State police dispatcher Emily joins Dave and Steve for a conversation about the stories behind the headset, from the calls that made her laugh to the voices she still carries home. She explains how dispatchers read people without seeing them, recognize clues hidden in background noise, coordinate major incidents, and sometimes save officers and citizens before anyone reaches the scene. Along the way, they discuss what the public misunderstands about dispatch, what callers should know before dialing 911, and what officers appreciate about a great dispatcher.

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One year after launching The Detectives Podcast, we’re using this July 2026 Squad Meeting to look back at everything that made our first year more than we ever expected. We talk about launching the show in July 2025, breaking into Apple’s Top 100 True Crime chart, building our Patreon Squad, attending conventions, winning three podcast awards, and welcoming some incredible guests along the way. We also look back at important series like The War We Owe Them and K-9 Roll Call, while looking ahead to the official launch of CrimeSCENES. Most importantly, we take time to thank every listener, Patreon member, guest, supporter, and person who helped the podcast grow. Our first year was more than we imagined, and now we’re excited to see what our second year brings!

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“Come back with a warrant.” Don't worry, we already got one. In this episode, Dave and Steve take listeners behind the scenes of the warrant process, from where it begins and how probable cause is built, to judicial review, execution, and what happens after a warrant is served. They break down the differences between search and arrest warrants, tackle common myths about police authority, and explain why warrants are not simply legal obstacles, but some of the strongest investigative tools available. Most importantly, they show why the warrant process matters to citizens, detectives, and the integrity of the entire criminal justice system.

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When a case goes cold, it doesn’t mean detectives stop caring or that the victim has been forgotten. In this episode, Dave and Steve discuss what actually causes a case to lose investigative momentum. They look at exhausted leads, limited evidence, uncooperative witnesses, technology limitations, and sometimes, simple bad luck. They also talk about the emotional weight these cases carry, the difficult resource decisions agencies face, and how one new witness, one new piece of technology, or one fresh set of eyes can bring a cold case back to life.

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Leadership and rank are not always the same thing, but both matter in law enforcement. In this episode, Dave and Steve discuss the people who shaped them throughout their careers, from supervisors and command staff to veteran officers and detectives whose influence extended far beyond their job titles. They also talk about why leadership has to change with the situation, the challenges that can come with promotions, and what organizations lose when decades of experience walk out the door. Leadership matters in every profession, but the stakes can be especially high in law enforcement. The decisions leaders make can affect morale, careers, public safety, and, in critical moments, whether people go home safely at the end of the day. Ultimately, leadership is not just about the authority someone holds. It is about the judgment, culture, knowledge, and example they leave behind.

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A viral traffic stop involving a woman accused of holding a cellphone in a hand she doesn’t have raises a much bigger question: what happens when an officer realizes their original assessment may have been wrong? In this episode, Dave and Steve discuss why admitting mistakes can be difficult in a profession built around confidence and decisiveness, how ego can interfere with good judgment, and why humility is an essential part of the job. They also talk about the role training, accountability, and self-reflection play after a mistake is made, and why sometimes the most professional decision an officer can make is to simply call it a day.

Traffic Stop Video: One-armed woman shuts down officer during texting-and-driving stop

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In this month's Squad Meeting, we share a few podcast updates, including a scheduling change to our live stream this month, and preparations for our upcoming one-year anniversary. We also introduce CrimeSCENES, a new monthly series where we review police movies through the perspective of experienced, active detectives. We explain the Patreon voting process, listener participation, and the evidence marker scoring system. As always, we appreciate all of your support and look forward to building the next chapter of the show together!

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When people hear the phrase "circumstantial evidence," they often assume it means investigators don't really know what happened. In reality, circumstantial evidence plays an important role in many criminal investigations and prosecutions. Crimes frequently occur without eyewitnesses, and confessions are less common than many people think. Instead, investigators piece together timelines, forensic findings, digital evidence, behavior, and other facts to determine what the evidence supports.

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Note: We experienced some audio corruption during the first several minutes of this episode. We apologize for the rough audio quality at the beginning. It clears up shortly afterward.

This week, Dave and Steve release a special edition of Cross Examined, a Patreon series where listeners join the show and ask questions directly. This episode features Angela, one of the show's Lead Detectives on Patreon. Angela has been a registered nurse for 30 years and recently became a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE). Together, they discuss the critical role SANE nurses play in sexual assault investigations, from caring for victims to collecting evidence and working alongside law enforcement.

The conversation explores trauma-informed interviewing, memory recall, delayed reporting, anonymous reporting, cultural barriers that can affect reporting, and the realities of investigating strangulation cases. Angela explains the examination process, the challenges of evidence collection, and they talk about why evidence is not always present even when a crime occurred. Dave, Steve, and Angela also discuss false reports, mental health considerations, the role of technology in modern investigations, and what comes next after a career in investigations.

If you enjoy this episode and would like access to more Cross Examined conversations, bonus content, live streams, behind-the-scenes updates, ad-free episodes, early access, and opportunities to join the podcast yourself, visit the Patreon link below.

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In policing, there are moments where an officer may be legally justified, backed by department policy, and tactically correct, but still ask themselves: just because we can, does that mean we should? The episode explores the tension between procedure and empathy, and how experience changes the way officers view enforcement, suffering, and the people they encounter.

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