Talking the beat to cover what matters to you as an LEO. Join deputy chief Jim Dudley (ret.) every weekly as he sits down with law enforcement leaders and crimi...
Promotions, parenthood and policing: How women can rise (and thrive) in law enforcement
Women remain significantly underrepresented in law enforcement, especially in leadership roles. But proactive mentorship, targeted training, and authentic conversations about career and family balance can change that dynamic. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with LAPD Captain Julie Rodriguez about her journey from frontline officer to influential leader, highlighting the critical role mentorship and advocacy play in supporting women through their police careers.
With nearly three decades in law enforcement, Rodriguez is a passionate advocate for women in policing, mentorship and career development. She has served on the board of the Los Angeles Women Police Officers and Associates organization (LAWPOA) and is the incoming president of the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE). Rodriguez has leveraged her personal experiences â overcoming promotional challenges, balancing motherhood and career advancement, and thriving in operational leadership roles â to mentor and inspire women nationwide.
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.
2025-4-02
40:25
Critical connections: The challenges and solutions in public safety communication
Whether responding to a medical emergency, coordinating disaster relief or ensuring officer safety in high-risk situations, public safety radio systems provide mission-critical communications that enable first responders to fulfill their missions.
What does it take to ensure these systems remain functional, interoperable and adequately funded?
This special episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by Kenwood, features a panel discussion on public safety radio systems. Guest host Police1 Editorial Director Greg Friese speaks with three emergency management and communications experts about the vital role of radio communications in emergency response, the obstacles agencies face in maintaining and upgrading these systems, and best practices for building a reliable network that meets the demands of modern public safety.
About our sponsor
This episode is sponsored by KENWOOD, a trusted leader in public safety communications. KENWOOD ATLAS P25 Systems provide reliable, secure, and flexible solutions for mission-critical operations, ensuring seamless interoperability across agencies. Combined with KENWOOD Viking P25 radios, first responders get the clarity, durability and advanced features they need to stay connected and operational in any situation.
2025-3-27
53:06
Stronger, leaner, built for the job: A first responderâs guide to real-world fitness
Police officers face immense physical and mental demands on the job. Strength, endurance and overall fitness arenât just optional â theyâre essential for peak performance and long-term health.
In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley talks physical fitness with Dru Mejico, a 13-year law enforcement veteran with the Orange County (California) Sheriffâs Department and the founder of 911 Strong and the Fit for Duty Academy.
With a background in strength and conditioning coaching, Dru has helped more than 1,000 first responders improve their fitness, lose fat and build muscle â ensuring they are ready for anything. Druâs insights offer a roadmap for police officers looking to stay fit and perform at their best on and off duty. Connect with Dru on Instagram.
About our sponsor
This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.
2025-3-26
35:18
From crisis to cutting-edge: How San Pablo PD used technology to transform community safety
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. Through strategic use of automated license plate readers, video cameras and innovative AI tools, San Pablo PD has become a leader in public safety technology integration, seeing a remarkable 80% reduction in crime over a decade.
In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley welcomes Chief Brian Bubar of the San Pablo Police Department, who shares insights from his rise through the ranks, the evolution of his agency, and the powerful impact technology has had on crime reduction and community trust. Chief Bubar details how strategic communication, thoughtful policy-making and embracing technological advances positioned San Pablo as an exemplar for agencies nationwide seeking similar outcomes.
About our sponsor
Peregrineâs real-time decision and operations management platform empowers law enforcement agencies with the data they need to solve their hardest problems and do their best work. Through advanced data integration technology, 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.
2025-3-25
36:46
From the beat to the bookshelf: How a veteran cop turned real-life policing into gripping crime fiction
Police work is more than just a job â itâs a reality that shapes those who serve. And when crime fiction is penned by someone whoâs lived the job, walked the beat and investigated cases, it carries a different weight.
In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley sits down with Dave Case, a retired Chicago Police Department lieutenant who now serves as a police commander in Bridgeview, Illinois. Dave has taken his decades of real-world experience and turned it into compelling crime fiction, with his novel âOut of Cabriniâ earning critical acclaim. From his time working in some of Chicagoâs toughest neighborhoods to his transition into writing, Dave shares an inside look at the realities of policing and how storytelling can capture the complexities of the job. Daveâs journey from the frontlines of law enforcement to the pages of crime novels offers a unique and insightful perspective into both the realities of policing and the power of storytelling.
About our sponsor
This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.
Talking the beat to cover what matters to you as an LEO. Join deputy chief Jim Dudley (ret.) every weekly as he sits down with law enforcement leaders and criminal justice experts to discuss strategy, challenges and trends in policing.