Are public perceptions of police shaped more by headlines than reality? In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with entrepreneur and author Brandon Steiner about what he learned after spending six months embedded with NYPD officers. With no law enforcement background, Steiner rode along in some of the city’s most violent precin…

What happens when a split-second decision on the street becomes a media headline is stripped of context? In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, retired LAPD Captain Greg Meyer joins host Jim Dudley on the Policing Matters podcast to discuss his new book, “Hard Cases: Police Use of Force in America.” Drawing from decades of experience and …

Many agencies still rely on legacy field training models that emphasize evaluation over education — often scoring recruits before they’ve had time to learn. Recognizing the limitations of this approach, law enforcement leaders are moving toward a more effective model grounded in adult learning science. In this episode, Dan Greene, executive directo…

In law enforcement, wellness can’t be an afterthought — it must be part of the foundation of operations. That means moving beyond surface-level initiatives to fully integrating mental health support into operations, training and leadership strategies. From proactive threat assessment to long-term officer resilience and retirement planning, embeddin…

When officers respond to a call that seems routine — like a mental health check — they often have no idea how quickly that encounter could escalate. For Officer Alessandra Winterbauer of the Lincoln (Nebraska) Police Department, what began as a calm conversation with a confused subject turned into a life-or-death confrontation. Her ability to remai…

In a rare bit of encouraging news, the FBI’s 2024 report on active shooter incidents shows a 50% drop in cases — from 48 in 2023 to 24 in 2024. But is this a trend or an outlier? In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley talks with two of the country’s foremost experts on mass shootings and prevention: former FBI executive Ka…

Domestic violence is often dismissed as unpredictable, but the data says otherwise. Red flags — like strangulation, firearm access and prior abuse — frequently precede fatal outcomes. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Captain Eric K. Threlkeld of the Eddy County (New Mexico) Sheriff’s Office, who makes the…

Over the past 30 years, American cities have seen crime rates surge and fall — sometimes dramatically. No city illustrates this swing better than New York, where murders dropped from more than 2,200 in 1990 to under 300 by 2017. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, former Baltimore cop and current John Jay professor Peter Moskos discuss…

Snohomish County 911 has officially opened a new $67.5 million emergency communications center designed to keep first responders connected and supported — no matter the crisis. The facility consolidates operations under one roof for the first time in the agency’s history, dramatically improving coordination, communications and continuity of service…

What happens inside a jail is often hidden from public view — unless you’ve been booked yourself. But for Flagler County, Florida, Sheriff Rick Staly, transparency isn’t just a talking point — it’s a strategy. By opening his facility to A&E’s “Booked: First Day In,” Staly hopes to reshape perceptions of corrections work, showcase the professionalis…

Police1’s "What Cops Want in 2025" survey delivers a stark message: officers feel increasingly vulnerable on the job. In a wide-ranging conversation, host Jim Dudley and Below 100 founder Dale Stockton break down the survey’s key findings, exposing persistent safety threats and a growing disconnect between command staff and the realities of front-l…

Policing Matters podcast host and deputy chief Jim Dudley (ret.) paid a visit to Axon Week 2025 to get an exclusive look at some of the revolutionary advancements in public safety technology and the thought leaders and technology experts making them happen. In this special episode, sponsored by Axon, Dudley sits down with Jeff Kunins, chief product…

Cyber attacks against public safety agencies are rising, with 324 confirmed globally in 2024, including 25 complete system shutdowns. The Public Safety Threat Alliance, established by Motorola Solutions, is a cyber threat Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (ISAO) recognized by CISA that provides actionable intelligence to public safety a…

For police officers, access to the right information at the right time is critical. Most operate in a sea of data from across public safety systems — radio dialogue, streaming video from fixed, mobile and body cameras, location data — but it can be hard to identify and analyze what’s most important in the moment. New devices and applications of art…

Bringing 911 intelligence directly into real-time crime centers can help expedite police response when children go missing, retail thefts occur or shots are fired. Advances in technology are making it possible for RTCC analysts to review real-time transcripts and translations of emergency calls, AI-generated call summaries and videos or images from…

In the wake of 2020’s seismic shifts in public perception, police agencies across the country are reevaluating their strategies for preventing crime. While reactive policing still dominates the landscape, there’s growing recognition that proactive strategies — built on research, precision and community engagement — offer a more sustainable path for…

With over 240 million 911 calls made each year, a faster response time to a call can make a consequential difference. Drone as a First Responder programs allow 911 call handlers to immediately dispatch drones in response to emergency calls, streaming video of the scene back to the command center and to officers in the field so that they arrive bett…

Paperwork is a necessary reality of police work, but a handful of public safety agencies are introducing innovative new technologies to streamline how this work is done and help maximize the time officers are able to spend on the beat. The Los Angeles Police Department is one of the first major police departments in the U.S. to adopt a mobile-first…

A challenge in emergency response is often the gap between the rapidly evolving event and the information available to authorities. By establishing secure channels for community partners to share vital data including emergency contacts, floor plans and security camera livestreams, authorities are able to gain enhanced real-time visibility. This bri…

Technology alone won’t transform policing — but how you use it will. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley explores the mindset shift that’s helping law enforcement agencies maximize impact: using layered technology, shared intelligence and integrated systems to solve crimes faster and respond more effectively — no matter…

Crime statistics are meant to help police departments identify trends, allocate resources and shape effective public safety strategies. But what if the national crime data we rely on — like FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) and NIBRS — is incomplete, outdated or misleading? In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks wit…

Every officer knows traffic is dangerous — but most don't realize how fast everything can change. Bob Bemis didn’t either, until March 27, 2015. Responding to a vehicle fire, he was struck by a swerving car, crushed and left fighting to walk, see and live again. Today, the retired Pennsylvania State Police sergeant is on a mission to change how age…

When we talk about officer safety, our minds often go straight to firearms and physical confrontations — but one of the deadliest threats doesn’t come from an armed suspect. It comes from traffic. Every year, roadway incidents rank among the top causes of line-of-duty deaths for law enforcement. And while the risk is constant, many agencies still a…

When a man called 911 in 2015 to report his girlfriend had been kidnapped and he’d been drugged and tied up, police didn’t believe him. The story was too strange, too cinematic — bearing uncanny resemblance to the plot of the movie “Gone Girl.” But the real twist was how wrong law enforcement got it. This episode of the Policing Matters podcast rev…

Communities across America strive for safer streets and stronger connections between police and residents, but few achieve transformative success. Once labeled the nation's most violent city per capita, San Pablo, California, dramatically reversed its trajectory by combining targeted technology investments with proactive community engagement. Throu…