Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept in policing. Agencies are already using AI-assisted tools to analyze digital evidence, identify crime patterns, process body-worn camera footage and accelerate investigations that once took days or weeks to solve. But as adoption spreads, law enforcement leaders are also confronting major questions about transparency, policy, cybersecurity and the risks of overreliance on automation. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Fairfax County Police Major Brendan Hooke about where AI is delivering real operational value, where agencies need guardrails and why human oversight remains critical as policing enters a new technological era.

Hooke, commander of Fairfax County Police Department’s Cyber and Forensic Division, says AI’s biggest impact is helping investigators manage overwhelming volumes of digital evidence. From analyzing jail calls and surveillance video to identifying vehicles through distinctive features beyond license plates, AI tools are helping agencies surface critical leads faster while keeping investigators focused on higher-value work. He also discusses Fairfax County’s use of real-time crime center technology, AI-assisted report writing, predictive analytics and live translation tools, while emphasizing that AI should serve as a force multiplier — not a replacement for human judgment, investigative rigor or community trust.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by Oracle. Today’s public safety professionals face new and evolving challenges every day. The expectations of the communities you serve have never been higher, and your duties have never been more complex. Oracle recognizes the importance of the work you do, and has set out to make a meaningful difference in how you deliver on your oath to service. Oracle’s unified public safety hardware and software suite provides first responders with the advanced tools to boost efficiency and enhance real-time situational awareness, which can help improve issue resolution. To learn more, visit oracle.com.

As agencies prepare for protests, demonstrations and civil unrest, police leaders face mounting pressure to balance public safety, constitutional rights and officer protection under constant public scrutiny.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Robert Sorensen, director of strategic partnerships and agency liaison for SoRite and a longtime less lethal instructor, about the evolving challenges surrounding chemical agents, crowd control tactics and public order policing. Their conversation explores training shortcomings, leadership decision-making, legal liability, decontamination practices and the growing debate over restricting less lethal tools.

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.

Leadership in law enforcement isn’t automatic — it’s learned, often the hard way. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley sits down with Lt. Sean M. Carroll (ret.), author of “A.I.O. Leadership for Law Enforcement: The Proven System That Forges Legendary Leaders Who Adapt, Improvise, and Overcome,” to talk about what really happens when officers step into leadership roles — and why so many struggle early on.

From the jump from officer to sergeant — and the isolation that comes with it — Carroll breaks down the realities of leading in policing, including gaps in training, the importance of self-awareness and the shift from doing the job to developing others. The conversation focuses on what effective leaders do differently — and how agencies can better prepare them from the start.

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.

Drones have rapidly become one of the most transformative tools in public safety, giving agencies faster situational awareness, better documentation capabilities and new ways to respond to incidents. But as adoption grows, so does the complexity of managing the airspace above our communities. The same tools that support law enforcement can also be used for surveillance, disruption or worse. That shift is forcing agencies to rethink how they monitor, interpret and act on drone activity in real time.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Melissa Swisher of SkySafe about what it takes to move from simply using drones to truly understanding the airspace. Swisher outlines how drone detection and airspace intelligence platforms help agencies identify authorized versus unauthorized activity, locate operators and integrate aerial data into the broader operational picture. The conversation also explores the growing challenge of securing large-scale events like the FIFA World Cup, where agencies must manage a mix of friendly, commercial and potentially hostile drones without disrupting operations or public confidence.

SkySafe’s cloud-based drone detection and airspace intelligence platform gives law enforcement real-time visibility into what’s happening in their airspace. The platform turns complex drone data like launch point, flight path, altitude, payload capacity, and operator location into actionable intelligence officers can use to detect, analyze and act on drone activity in real-time. With advanced analytics and industry-leading drone forensics, SkySafe also enables agencies to turn drone data into prosecutable evidence. For more information, visit skysafe.io.

Law enforcement has never had more information at its fingertips. From BOLOs and fusion center updates to emails, radio traffic and crime bulletins, today’s officers operate in a constant stream of inputs. But volume doesn’t equal value. The central challenge is no longer access — it’s relevance. As agencies grapple with staffing shortages and rising demands, the question becomes urgent: How do you ensure critical intelligence reaches the right person in time to act?

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Matt White, CEO and co-founder of Multitude Insights, about why modern policing doesn’t need more data — it needs better intelligence flow. Drawing on his background in military intelligence, White explains how agencies can move beyond overloaded inboxes and disconnected bulletins by adopting systems that prioritize and personalize information delivery.

He discusses how platforms like Multitude Insights’ BLTN surface relevant intelligence based on an officer’s role, location and emerging crime patterns, while also identifying connections across jurisdictions that might otherwise go unnoticed.

This episode is sponsored by BLTN, Powered by Multitude Insights. Better bulletins solve crimes. BLTN is the nationwide intelligence-sharing platform built by law enforcement, for law enforcement. One centralized system to create, distribute, and analyze bulletins—connecting agencies in real time so critical intel reaches the right people when it matters most. No more inbox sprawl, no more missed leads—just faster coordination and better outcomes. Visit multitudeinsights.com to see how agencies are closing more cases, faster.

Policing Matters podcast host and deputy chief Jim Dudley (ret.) paid a visit to Axon Week 2026 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 officer and chief technology officer of Axon. Their discussion examines how Axon is integrating AI and connected technologies to streamline routine police work, improve real-time awareness and enhance officer safety, while emphasizing interoperability and human oversight to ensure responsible use.

About our sponsor

This episode of Policing Matters is sponsored by Axon – the global leader in public safety technology. Discover how Axon is empowering first responders with innovative tools and training to build safer communities and protect more lives in more places at axon.com.

Patrol work starts long before the call. From the moment an officer begins their shift, every decision — what to prioritize, how to respond and when to slow down — can impact outcomes for officers and the public alike. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley sits down with Sergeant John Banner of the White Settlement (Texas) Police Department to break down the critical thinking that happens behind the wheel.

From managing competing demands like ALPR hits and priority calls to navigating fatigue, technology and pursuit decisions, this episode explores how officers maintain situational awareness and make sound judgments under pressure.

Sgt. Banner shares practical insights on preparing mentally for shift, using technology effectively and coaching the next generation of officers — all while balancing the realities of modern policing.

About our guest

Sgt. John C. Banner is from Mineral Wells, Texas, and holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Tarleton State University. He joined the White Settlement (Texas) Police Department in 2012 and has served in a variety of roles throughout his career, including detective, corporal, POA president and vice president, and SWAT operator. He currently serves as a night patrol sergeant and has also completed a rotation in the department’s Street Crimes Division.

Banner is a graduate of the ILEA 146th School of Police Supervision and has been recognized for his service with the Medal of Valor and two lifesaving awards. In 2024, he was also featured on “America’s Most Wanted with John Walsh” (Season 2, Episode 4).

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.

Police training is designed to push limits — physically, mentally and emotionally. But when the culture of grit outpaces medical awareness and safeguards, the consequences can be irreversible. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley and fitness expert Traci Tauferner examine the risks embedded in high-intensity academy training, the gaps in concussion recognition and the responsibility leaders carry to protect recruits without compromising readiness.

From hydration and baseline testing to psychological support and instructor training, the episode delivers a practical look at how academies can better identify risk and intervene before a routine drill becomes a tragedy.

About our guest

Traci Tauferner is an athletic trainer and strength and conditioning specialist with extensive experience supporting law enforcement, military and public safety personnel. As the director of industrial and tactical medicine at Advanced Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, she works with agencies and municipalities to design and implement programs focused on injury prevention, performance optimization and recovery. Her approach blends clinical expertise with real-world operational demands, helping departments build healthier, more resilient workforces.

Connect with her:

• LinkedIn

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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.

Real time crime centers are no longer a novelty — they are quickly becoming a core part of modern policing. But as agencies invest in cameras, drones, license plate readers and data platforms, a critical question remains: Are these centers actually delivering results, or just generating more data?

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks to Amarillo Regional Crime Center Commander Shane Chadwick about how success depends less on technology alone and more on how agencies integrate, share and use it.

Chadwick’s approach in Amarillo started with a rare advantage — a clean slate. With no legacy systems to untangle, his team built an integrated tech stack aligned to real-world workflows, focused on supporting officers in the field. The result is a regional model where shared platforms, real time data access and high user adoption drive measurable outcomes. Instead of relying solely on traditional metrics like crime rates, Chadwick points to usage — tens of thousands of searches per month — and rapid case breakthroughs, including multi-state investigations solved in hours, as proof that the system is working.

Peregrine transforms fragmented, siloed information into clear context and actions that move your organization forward. Trusted by hundreds of agencies worldwide, Peregrine maximizes the impact of your real time crime center by centralizing and organizing historical and real time data, making it readily accessible and actionable in the moments that matter most. Visit peregrine.io to learn how your organization can get started.

As agencies face an unprecedented surge in digital evidence — from body-worn cameras and surveillance systems to cell phones and social media — the question is no longer whether to adopt AI, but how to use it responsibly. In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley explores how AI can help investigators manage evidence at scale, streamline time-consuming processes and improve case outcomes while keeping decision-making firmly in human hands.

Dudley is joined by Kelly Inabnett, a former sex crimes and human trafficking detective with the Antioch Police Department, and Jon Gacek, senior vice president and general manager of Veritone’s public sector business unit. Drawing on investigative and technology perspectives, they break down how evidence volume has evolved over the past two decades, where investigators are losing time, and how AI can assist with tasks like video analysis, data organization, redaction and case linkage — without compromising accuracy, oversight or trust.

About our guests

Jon Gacek is currently SVP and General Manager of Veritone’s Public Sector business unit since 2018.Prior to joining to Veritone, Gacek served numerous executive roles including President and CEO of Quantum, EVP, CFO, and COO of Advanced Digital Information Corp. (ADIC) and was also an audit partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and led the Technology Practice in the firm’s Seattle Office. While at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, he assisted several private equity investment firms with a number of mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts and other transactions.

Kelly Inabnett is a former sex crimes and human trafficking detective with the Antioch (California) Police Department. During Kelly’s nine-year tenure with Antioch PD, he was tasked with providing department training on proper response to sexual assault, crimes against children and to recognize the signs of human trafficking. Kelly specialized in forensic interviews, cell phone downloads, social media information, pre-text phone calls and cold cases. While working cases involving children sexual abused material (CSAM), human trafficking, and assisting in other major crimes, he has spent more than a thousand hours combing through digital evidence which could have been cut down to a fraction of the time with an effective digital evidence management system leveraging artificial intelligence. Prior to joining Antioch PD, Kelly also worked with Contra Costa County Sheriffs as a deputy in the county jail. Kelly brings his experience to Veritone to help detectives leverage AI to solve cases efficiently and effectively to spend their time where it is most needed.

Veritone designs human-centered AI solutions. Since 2014, the people at Veritone have focused on building enterprise AI solutions and applications that solve problems for its customers in the public sector. Veritone's blend of expertise and technology helps organizations spend less time on repetitive tasks so they can focus on what matters –– protecting and serving their communities. Veritone Public Sector enables teams in law enforcement, government and public safety to streamline manual identification and redaction efforts and accelerate audio and video processing with intelligent automation. Veritone is proud to enable public servants at all levels to turn data into action that helps keep people safe and improves life for everyone in the community. For more information, visit veritone.com/public-sector.

Every agency talks about tactics — training harder, shooting better, moving faster. But when critical incidents unfold, the difference between success and failure often comes down to something less visible. On this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Jon Becker, founder of Aardvark Tactical and host of The Debrief podcast, about why culture — not tactics — is the true driver of elite performance in law enforcement.

Drawing on nearly four decades working alongside elite military and law enforcement units, Becker explains how the best teams operate with a shared sense of purpose, humility and continuous improvement. From SWAT selection to patrol supervision, he breaks down how agencies often overvalue measurable skills like fitness and certifications while overlooking the traits that sustain performance — trust, communication and team alignment. As Becker prepares to release his book, “Culture First: Nine Leadership Principles That Build Elite Teams,” he outlines how leaders at every level can build teams that make better decisions under pressure, avoid toxic high performers and create a culture where accountability and initiative thrive.