Policing Matters

Automated license plate readers (ALPRs) have been part of American policing for two decades, but they have rarely sparked as much controversy as right now. Social media campaigns, new questions about data sharing and a wave of local officials pausing or canceling programs have put agencies under pressure to defend a tool many leaders see as essential. In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley talks with Jim Burch, president and CEO of the National Policing Institute (NPI), about what the public actually thinks and what police leaders can do about it.

NPI surveyed 1,435 people, and more than half said they oppose law enforcement use of ALPRs in their community. But Burch says the number that matters isn’t the headline figure. It’s how quickly public opinion shifts depending on what the technology is used for and what safeguards come with it. He and Dudley dig into where the public draws the line, why younger residents are the most skeptical, and what one test message revealed about moving opponents toward keeping programs alive.

About our sponsor

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.

Every leader remembers the day they went from being one of the team to being in charge of it. On this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley talks with Dallas Police Chief Daniel C. Comeaux about leadership at every rank. A former Houston officer and DEA supervisor, Comeaux explains how mentors and early mistakes shaped his approach: motivate, inspire and empower.

Comeaux explains how he gives people real decision-making power within clear guardrails, how he wins over cynical troops and why transparency matters when a critical incident is still unfolding. He also draws on his years as a college baseball player, a career that has him slated to be inducted into the Semi-Pro Baseball Hall of Fame this fall. Those lessons from sports, and from leading in law enforcement, business and life, are the heart of his book, “The Active Sport of Leadership: Discipline, Culture, and the Responsibility to Lead,” available at dccbooks.com.

About our sponsor

American Military University supports law enforcement professionals with flexible online programs designed around the demands of the job. Whether you’re looking to grow your own career or support the development of your officers, the Everyday Heroes Grant provides eligible first responders and their families with a 20% tuition grant. Students may also be eligible to transfer up to 45 credits for academy training, prior education, and professional experience, helping them start ahead and finish sooner. Learn more at PublicSafetyAtAMU.com.

Police agencies of every size are still struggling to fill their ranks, even with hiring bonuses, new recruiting campaigns, and a stronger social media presence. The question underneath all of it is whether agencies are trying to recruit a new generation into an old model of leadership. What do millennials and Gen Z actually want from a career in law enforcement, and what makes a young officer decide an agency is a place to build a career rather than a stop on the way to somewhere else?

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley talks with Dr. Nicole Cain, assistant professor in the School of Security and Global Studies at American Military University and a veteran with more than 25 years in law enforcement. Cain’s research focuses on recruitment and retention, and she argues that policing doesn't have a purpose problem, it has a messaging problem. She and Dudley discuss why retention has to come before recruitment, how a cultural assessment can show leaders where they stand, and which leadership behaviors make young officers want to stay. They also cover practical ideas, from storytelling and community partnerships to high school academies and paid internships, that can bring in people who are a good fit for the job.

About our sponsor

American Military University supports law enforcement professionals with flexible online programs designed around the demands of the job. Whether you’re looking to grow your own career or support the development of your officers, the Everyday Heroes Grant provides eligible first responders and their families with a 20% tuition grant. Students may also be eligible to transfer up to 45 credits for academy training, prior education, and professional experience, helping them start ahead and finish sooner. Learn more at PublicSafetyAtAMU.com.

After decades covering the country's most closely watched trials, from Scott Peterson and Casey Anthony to Alex Murdaugh and Johnny Depp, Vinnie Politan has a front-row view of how the public, the press and juries see law enforcement.

He joins host Jim Dudley on Policing Matters to talk about his new YouTube-first video podcast, “Vinnie Politan Investigates,” and what he has learned about why some cases capture the public's attention while most never do. Along the way, he explains how skepticism toward institutions has changed what happens in the jury box.

About our sponsor

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.

As law enforcement agencies weigh the benefits and concerns associated with automated license plate readers, they need more than individual success stories to guide their decisions. Agencies need evidence about what fixed camera networks can — and cannot — reasonably be expected to accomplish, as well as clear policies for privacy, data retention, auditing and responsible use.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Scott Mourtgos, Ph.D., a former police executive and assistant professor of criminology and criminal justice at the University of South Carolina. Mourtgos discusses his working paper, “Automated License Plate Readers, Vehicle Theft and Clearance,” co-authored with Ian Adams, Ph.D. Drawing on agency data from 2017 through 2023, the researchers examined whether fixed ALPR networks were associated with changes in vehicle theft, arrest clearances and recovery time.

About our sponsor
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.