In public safety training, stress is not a side effect; it is part of the curriculum. The hard question is how to introduce it at the right time, at the right intensity, in a way that improves decision-making without turning scenarios into predictable check-the-box drills.

A recent study from Texas State University’s ALERRT takes aim at a core debate by asking whether virtual reality can trigger the kind of acute-stress response officers feel in high-fidelity, in-person scenarios, and what that could mean for training quality, consistency and scale.

M. Hunter Martaindale is the director of research and an associate research professor at the ALERRT Center at Texas State University where he leads applied research on police performance, decision-making, and stress in high-risk environments. In this episode of Policing Matters, he breaks down his team’s study comparing biomarkers and self-reported stress in a high-fidelity active attacker scenario versus a VR version built to match the live scenario as closely as possible, and he explains what VR can and cannot replace in modern training.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is brought to you by LVT, the mobile surveillance solution trusted by public-sector leaders nationwide. LVT’s solar-powered mobile surveillance units put eyes and AI analytics where fixed cameras can’t — parking lots, remote borders, disaster zones, and large events. Agencies using LVT have seen up to an 83% drop in parking-lot incidents and a 54% reduction in burglaries. Each unit is rapid to deploy, cloud-connected via cellular or satellite, and secured end-to-end so your team can monitor and respond in real time with fewer resources. See how LVT’s self-powered units protect communities, secure critical infrastructure and support law-enforcement operations and schedule a free trial today at LVT.com.

For years, every police conference, report and panel has hammered on about recruitment and retention best practices, especially when it comes to Gen Z. Yet at too many career fairs, the reality still looks the same: two tired cops standing behind a table of keychains and water bottles, hoping the next generation will somehow be inspired. In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley explores how one big-city agency is finally breaking out of that pattern — blending modern marketing, faster testing pipelines and smarter academy support to turn interested prospects into successful officers.

Today’s guest, San Francisco Police Department Captain Sean Frost, is a 20-year veteran whose roots are in street-level policing — patrol, fugitive recovery and investigations — and now leads SFPD’s recruitment efforts. Backed by the mayor’s office, the city’s innovation team and private-sector partners, Frost is piloting new strategies to find qualified candidates, support them through the academy and field training, and compete for both entry-level and lateral officers in a high-cost, highly scrutinized urban environment.

Equipping Protectors with Passion. That’s how we operate, and it’s how we live. We understand that having the right gear can mean the difference between life and death. Our goal is to get you the gear you need, when you need it, at prices you can afford. This holiday season, listeners receive 10% off now through 12/31 with promo code PR10. Visit OfficerStore.com.

On this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley tackles one of the most painful — and often avoided — topics in law enforcement: the sexual harassment and discrimination women still face on the job. Drawing on a national Police1 survey of more than 500 female police officers, the conversation explores what the data shows about repeat offenders, fear of retaliation and the toll on trust, morale and public confidence when agencies fail to act.

To unpack the findings, Jim is joined by Professor Terry Dwyer — the attorney, former New York State Trooper and Police1 columnist who authored the survey and accompanying analysis. Dwyer brings decades of research on workforce behavior and accountability to help clarify what the numbers reveal about culture, leadership and reporting.

Later, Sheriff’s Detective Carryn Barker from San Mateo County, California, shares her own experience reporting harassment and sexual assault by a supervisor — a case that led to one of the largest known settlements of its kind in the state. She describes the support she received from colleagues, the gaps she encountered inside her agency, and the changes she believes can help law enforcement build workplaces grounded in respect, safety and accountability.

Read Terry Dwyer’s analysis of the Police1 survey here:

• Police1 survey reveals harassment and discrimination of female officers

• What female officers say about harassment and culture in policing

Equipping Protectors with Passion. That’s how we operate, and it’s how we live. We understand that having the right gear can mean the difference between life and death. Our goal is to get you the gear you need, when you need it, at prices you can afford. This holiday season, listeners receive 10% off now through 12/31 with promo code PR10. Visit OfficerStore.com.

The stress of policing doesn’t end at the station door. While officers shoulder trauma, long hours and unpredictable shifts, their families carry the unseen weight at home — the worry, the schedule changes, the emotional whiplash and the silence. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley sits down with Katherine Boyle who lived that reality as a child. She explains how police work shapes family life in ways officers often underestimate and offers practical guidance for staying connected, communicating openly and protecting the well-being of spouses and children.

Katherine, known to many as “the lieutenant’s daughter,” is an advocate for law enforcement kids and families and the host of Beyond the Uniform with the LT’s Daughter. As the daughter of a longtime Philadelphia police lieutenant who served in special victims, she brings a rare dual perspective — the civilian child who grew up inside a police household and the adult who now works to bridge communication gaps between officers and their loved ones. Her mission is to help families understand the job, help officers show up fully at home and give civilians a clearer view of the public safety world they rarely see.

Follow Katherine on Instagram.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is brought to you by LVT, the mobile surveillance solution trusted by public-sector leaders nationwide. LVT’s solar-powered mobile surveillance units put eyes and AI analytics where fixed cameras can’t — parking lots, remote borders, disaster zones, and large events. Agencies using LVT have seen up to an 83% drop in parking-lot incidents and a 54% reduction in burglaries. Each unit is rapid to deploy, cloud-connected via cellular or satellite, and secured end-to-end so your team can monitor and respond in real time with fewer resources. See how LVT’s self-powered units protect communities, secure critical infrastructure and support law-enforcement operations and schedule a free trial today at LVT.com.

For most officers, retirement is a finish line they measure in days and years, but few are ready for what happens when the radio goes silent and the badge comes off for good. And recently, that reality hit home nationwide when a Police1 article on police retirement went viral, striking a nerve with thousands of current and former officers.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley talks with a retired deputy chief about the fear, isolation and loss of relevance many officers feel after they leave the job, and what agencies and officers can do now to make that transition healthier for cops and their families.

Jason Kates started his law enforcement career with the Oak Brook (Illinois) Police Department in 1992, rising through the ranks to sergeant, lieutenant and eventually deputy chief before retiring in 2021. A Marine Corps veteran, Kates now hosts “My Journey With the Badge,” a podcast and YouTube channel where he interviews retired officers about their careers, the trauma they carry and the challenges of life after policing.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is brought to you by LVT, the mobile surveillance solution trusted by public-sector leaders nationwide. LVT’s solar-powered mobile surveillance units put eyes and AI analytics where fixed cameras can’t — parking lots, remote borders, disaster zones, and large events. Agencies using LVT have seen up to an 83% drop in parking-lot incidents and a 54% reduction in burglaries. Each unit is rapid to deploy, cloud-connected via cellular or satellite, and secured end-to-end so your team can monitor and respond in real time with fewer resources. See how LVT’s self-powered units protect communities, secure critical infrastructure and support law-enforcement operations and schedule a free trial today at LVT.com.

When the headlines fixate on big-city crime and national politics, the daily realities of small and rural law enforcement fade from view. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley talks with award-winning journalist and rural LEO advocate Kathleen Diaz about the communities where officers patrol alone for miles, train less because grants dry up and keep rolling on bald tires because budgets don’t stretch.

They discuss the human stakes behind the statistics — from the sheer number of tiny agencies serving towns under 10,000 to the compounding effects of federal funding gaps — and the practical steps chiefs, sheriffs and local leaders can take now to keep their people safe.

Equipping Protectors with Passion. That’s how we operate, and it’s how we live. We understand that having the right gear can mean the difference between life and death. Our goal is to get you the gear you need, when you need it, at prices you can afford. This holiday season, listeners receive 10% off now through 12/31 with promo code PR10. Visit OfficerStore.com.

As agencies prepare for a busy 2026 event calendar — including national celebrations, elections and major sporting events, including Super Bowl 60, the FIFA World Cup and America 250 — law enforcement leaders are reexamining how they plan, equip and coordinate special event operations.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Lieutenant Jon Zimmer of the Anne Arundel County (Maryland) Police Department and Captain John Mocello of the City of Winchester (Virginia) Police Department.

They share how intelligence-led planning, interagency coordination and the right mix of equipment — from barriers to drones — can make the difference between smooth operations and preventable chaos.

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Law enforcement suicide remains one of the most difficult and urgent challenges facing the profession — a crisis that affects officers, families and agencies alike. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley sits down with researchers Dr. Kathleen Padilla and Jessica Dockstader to discuss their study, “Bearing the Badge, Battling Inner Struggles: Understanding Suicidal Ideation in Law Enforcement.”

Their research explores how factors like organizational stress, access to mental health resources, and even relationship status influence officer wellness. In this conversation, they share what one in four officers’ reports of suicidal ideation tell us about policing today — and how changing culture, communication and leadership can turn awareness into prevention.

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.

You’ve seen K-9s track suspects and detect drugs, but a new generation of dogs is focused on something different — firearms. From school hallways to community events, these highly trained dogs are helping keep people safe while reshaping what modern security looks like.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley talks with Andre Lemay, former DOJ firearms task force supervisor and founder of Bullseye K9 Detection, about how firearm detection dogs are redefining safety in schools and communities.

Lemay introduces listeners to Rocket, the German shepherd who’s become a campus favorite — both protector and morale booster. He explains the science behind “scent pictures” that let dogs detect everything from Glocks to ghost guns, the rigorous monthly training that keeps them sharp, and why collaboration among educators, parents and students is key to program success.

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.

Across the country, law enforcement agencies are rethinking wellness as more than just good slogans or EAP brochures. Washington State is leading that shift. Through the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC), agencies of every size joined an eight-week wellness challenge that treated health as a professional competency — something measurable, trainable, and shared across ranks. The program upleveled from “self-care” to total readiness: stronger bodies, sharper minds, and more resilience. By combining competition, clear metrics and statewide leadership, it created a blueprint other states could follow.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley talks with Lexipol’s Mandy Nice, Camas Police Department Chief Tina Jones, and WASPC Program Manager Terrina Peterson about how WASPC’s Wellness Challenge translated that vision into measurable success. The statewide initiative focused on five pillars — physical fitness, mental health, nutrition, peer support and family wellness. It paired clear goals with leadership support, coaching, professional wellness guidance housed in Lexipol’s Cordico wellness app, and friendly competition that inspired lasting behavior change across Washington’s first responder community.

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.

After years of climbing overdose deaths, some jurisdictions are finally seeing declines. But fewer fatalities don’t answer a frontline question: what actually works to cut crime tied to addiction? In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley goes beyond slogans and harm-reduction headlines to examine drug courts — intensive, accountability-driven programs that pair frequent testing, treatment and judicial oversight — and what separates effective models from window dressing.

Joining him is John R. Gallagher, PhD, LCSW, LCAC, an associate professor of criminal justice at Alvernia University and a licensed clinical social worker with more than 25 years of experience in addiction and mental health counseling. Having worked inside county jails and with probationers and parolees, Gallagher has seen firsthand how untreated addiction drives recidivism — and how properly structured treatment courts can turn that cycle around. As a researcher trained in Moral Reconation Therapy, he shares data and field-tested insights on what makes drug courts work, where they fail and how they can balance accountability, rehabilitation and public safety.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is brought to you by LVT, the mobile surveillance solution trusted by public-sector leaders nationwide. LVT’s solar-powered mobile surveillance units put eyes and AI analytics where fixed cameras can’t — parking lots, remote borders, disaster zones, and large events. Agencies using LVT have seen up to an 83% drop in parking-lot incidents and a 54% reduction in burglaries. Each unit is rapid to deploy, cloud-connected via cellular or satellite, and secured end-to-end so your team can monitor and respond in real time with fewer resources. See how LVT’s self-powered units protect communities, secure critical infrastructure and support law-enforcement operations and schedule a free trial today at LVT.com.