Quality Policing Podcast and Blog

QPP 14: Shoot? Or Don’t Shoot?

A move is afoot to allow warning shots by police; a Baltimore officer doesn’t shoot and it works out; a Seattle officer does the same thing and…well… Episode: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/13383197 An article in USA Today discusses the nascent movement to consider allowing warning shots. Nick and Peter (sort of) disagree. In Baltimore, Officer Angel Villaronga shows…
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QPP 13: Met Police Use of Force Stats

UK Police have released their first-ever report on the Use of Force in Britain. The data don’t support any rational conclusions… Audio: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/13383195 In 2017, of 911 calls to Minneapolis Police on domestic abuse in progress in which force was used, 57 suspects (63%) were black. Blacks are 6.2% of Minneapolis residents. That’s not police…
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QPP 12: Divert to Where? Mental Health Policing in America

This Quality Policing Podcast Extra explores some of the best – and the worst – in policing of the mentally ill in America. Episode is here: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/13383198 There are ten times more people with serious mental illnesses in America’s prisons and jails than in state mental hospitals. Some of our nation’s largest psychiatric in-patient clinics…
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QPP 11: 10/26/17

Do cops in conservative cities shoot more? (6:10) The DC body-worn cameras report on the behavior of cops and citizens. (20:00) A well-handled police-involved shooting – on video. (22:22) Mental health policing done wrong… and done right. (27:20) The racial component to “snitches get stitches.” And (29:05) Cook County State’s Attorney data. Episode: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/13383201 Nick…
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QPP 10: 10/9/17

Chicago cops; an ambushed Georgia detective; a big increase in homicides; jail profits, the Las Vegas Shootings & gun control. Episode: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/13383200 Programming note: the Quality Policing Podcast has moved to a semi-monthly schedule. Also, this is a longer episode than normal, because of our gun control conversation. Obviously, we’re going to get to Las…
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QPP 9: Night Ride-Out

It makes sense you’re patrolling alone: you work at one of the more than 93% of police agencies in America that employ fewer than 100 officers. About half employ fewer than 10. So, backup is at least a couple of minutes away. An instructor in the police academy told me I’d do thousands of car…
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QPP 8: 9/25/17

DC Appeals Court ruling on StingRay usage; Georgia Tech police shooting; Oklahoma City PD, and officer stabbings in Chula Vista, CA. Episode: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/13383196 The D.C. Court of Appeals agreed in a 2 to 1 ruling that police agencies that use cell-site simulators like Harris Corporation’s StingRay product must obtain a search warrant before use. Peter and…
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QPP 7: Radiolab Got It Wrong

Earlier this year, Radiolab produced a two-part examination of police shootings in Florida, Shots Fired. They got it wrong. Episode: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/13383199 I’m a real fan of the WNYC show, Radiolab – have been for years. So I was really excited that Radiolab took on police shootings. I was excited because I really thought they would…
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QPP 6: St. Louis & Stockley acquittal

Nick and Peter discuss the acquittal of former St Louis police officer Stockley. The verdict led to violent protests. Peter thinks the preponderance of the evidence — and then some — suggests the officer was guilty as charged (though that isn’t the legal standard for conviction in a criminal case). Peter can’t get over the…
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QPP 5: Andrew Wittmer and police PTSD

On July 11, 2016, Decatur, Illinois, Police Officer Andrew Wittmer shot and wounded Lonnie Mitchell after a shirtless Mitchell reached for a black semi-automatic pistol in his waistband. Wittmer fired one shot. The podcast episode is here: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/13383204 In this honest interview, Andrew opens up about the trauma and stresses he went through during and…
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