Amu The In Public Safety Podcast

What has it been like working in corrections during the COVID-19 pandemic? In this episode, hear from AMU alumnus Jason Whitehead, who has been a correctional officer for 15 years, about his experience working in a correctional facility. Learn how he manages stress, tips on maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and recommendations to effectively interact with inmates. Also learn why he earned a Master’s degree in Intelligence Studies and why he recommends anyone interested in a career in the criminal justice system pursue a degree other than criminal justice.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What has it been like being a black woman working in law enforcement for more than two decades? In this episode, APU professor Dr. Ashley Taylor talks to Dr. Sukeena Stephens about her extensive 24-year law enforcement career working in correctional, immigration and federal law enforcement agencies. Learn about her struggle to get a seat at the table in a white male-dominated field, the disparities she sees when it comes to special assignments and promotional opportunities, and the impact this inequity has on employees who don’t feel supported or recognized by leadership. Learn why senior leaders must have difficult conversations about inequality and work to change their circle of influence in order to create inclusive organizations that better represent America and the communities they serve.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What is a municipal league and how does participation benefit towns and cities? In this episode, APU’s Buster Nicholson talks to Rob Bullington, Director of Communications for the Virginia Municipal League, about the support provided by municipal leagues. Learn how they provide guidance to local elected officials about their roles and responsibilities and keep local officials informed about what’s happening on a state and national level that may affect their municipality. Also learn the strategic role of how municipal leagues communicate with and educate their membership.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Police officers are operating in a new and heightened state of hyper-vigilance. Not only are they feeling attacked and scrutinized for the action of others by the media, the public, and sometimes even family and friends, officers are also responding to an unprecedented amount of civil unrest all during a widespread pandemic. These factors have all taken a major toll on the physical and mental wellbeing of officers and led to an exodus of officers leaving the profession. In this episode, AMU’s Dr. Jarrod Sadulski talks to Rhonda Kelly, Executive Director of the All Clear Foundation, about resources and training to teach officers how to manage cumulative stress, self-regulate, and control their nervous system. Also learn about resources to help law enforcement families, including ways to address rising anxiety and depression in spouses and children.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Few people think of innovation when they think of municipal government. However, in the small city of Innisfil in Ontario, Canada—about an hour north of Toronto—the city council has prioritized finding innovative solutions to help its city prosper. In this episode, American Public University’s Buster Nicholson talks to Lynn Dollin, the mayor of Innisfil, about some of the city’s newest initiatives including accepting cryptocurrency for tax payments, creating an on-demand transit system, building innovative housing options, and creating physical and financial infrastructure to support business startups. Learn more about municipal leaders’ innovative strategies to enhance the quality of life for residents.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

First responders and law enforcement officers have faced an unprecedented amount of stress in the last year. One positive benefit is that it has forced many first responders to acknowledge these stressors, which has helped reduce the stigma around mental health care. In this episode, AMU’s Dr. Jarrod Sadulski talks to Rhonda Kelly, executive director of All Clear Foundation, whose mental health initiative, ResponderStrong, provides resources, tools, and training to help first responders heal from trauma and build resiliency for both themselves and their families.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When people think of human trafficking victims, they often think of girls and women. However, male minors are often sexually exploited. In this episode, AMU professor Dr. Jarrod Sadulski talks to John Long of the U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking about its work to provide safe homes, services, and resources for boys and men who have been trafficked. Learn about the importance of educating law enforcement officers, medical professionals, teachers, and the public about the signs of trafficking of both males and females.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Not everyone is cut out to be a crime scene investigator. In this episode, AMU criminal justice and forensic science professor Dr. Dena Weiss reflects on her 24-year career as a CSI. Learn about the incredible advancements in technology like Touch DNA and genealogy genetic testing, which her department used to solve a 38-year cold case. Dr. Weiss also offers insight into the fragility of crime scenes to help responding officers preserve as much evidence as possible, recommendations for educational pursuits and internships for aspiring CSIs, and insight into managing the stress of a career as a CSI.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On January 6, rioters breached police barricades and forced their way into the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. In this episode, AMU’s Leischen Kranick talks to Anthony Raganella, who spent eight of his 25-year law enforcement career as the Commanding Officer of the NYPD’s Disorder Control Unit and now offers training to prepare agencies for riots and civil unrest. While this incident was shocking because of where it happened, it’s not an uncommon experience for agencies across the country. Learn about efforts to create national standards for training, equipment, and tactics to help agencies plan and prepare for riots and civil unrest.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The coronavirus pandemic has had major consequences for local communities and municipalities. In this episode, Buster Nicholson interviews AMU emergency and disaster management professor Anthony Mangeri about his role as a town manager in Delaware. Learn about the short-term effects on the local economy as well as anticipated long-term effects that many affect municipal revenues for years. Also learn about strategies to build and maintain public trust and keep citizens informed about the changing public health situation.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In Florida, defense attorneys can legally depose underage victims of human trafficking. These depositions are devastating, causing young victims to be needlessly re-traumatized. In this episode, AMU criminal justice professor Dr. Jarrod Sadulski talks to Dr. Yaro Garcia and Janet Ortenzo, about their anti-human trafficking work in Florida and why it’s so important to change the law in Florida. Also learn about the signs of human trafficking, how traffickers commonly move victims, ways to protect children and vulnerable persons, and how to help victims escape from traffickers.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a cascade of new challenges for municipal leaders. In this episode, Buster Nicholson talks to Mercury Payton, the town manager of Vienna, Virginia, about his strategy for long-term capital improvement projects and adjustments made because of the pandemic. Learn what inspired him to become a public servant and why he believes local government leaders must have a “private sector mindset” so they treat residents as customers whom they’re working to deliver the highest level of service.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Active shooter incidents are on the rise in the U.S. In this episode, AMU criminal justice professor Dr. Jarrod Sadulski talks to William Balcerski, who spent 26 years in the military and is currently the Facilities Protection Supervisor, Missiles and Fire Control Division, at Lockheed Martin and AMU alumnus about some of the factors contributing to mass shootings. Learn how the coronavirus, which is forcing people to be inside and online, is leading to radicalization and the “echo chamber effect.” Also learn about warning signs that someone may be planning to act and why now, more than ever, families need to take an intrusive parenting approach to monitoring children’s online activity and behavior.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Broward County, Florida has taken proactive measures to stop human trafficking by dedicating 11 child protective investigators to investigate allegations, but there remains significant challenges in prosecuting cases. In this episode, AMU professor Dr. Jarrod Sadulski talks with Jumorrow Johnson, the human trafficking coordinator for the State Attorney's Office and the president of the Broward Human Trafficking Coalition. Learn why there must be a change in legislation, which currently allows child survivors to be deposed and leads to difficulties in getting survivors to testify. Also learn about efforts to educate officers and the public about what human trafficking really looks like.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

More than ever, law enforcement officers must address mental health issues during their career and into retirement. In this episode, Wendy Hummell, a 24-year career officer and law enforcement spouse, talks about developing a robust peer support program for the Wichita (Kansas) Sheriff's Office. Learn how peer support can bridge mental health gaps with professional counseling, and provide training and resources for spouses and children resulting in more resilient law enforcement families. Also learn about other stress management tools including Yoga for First Responders, tactical breathing, mindfulness training, and more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Human trafficking can look a lot different than what most people expect, especially in rural areas. In this episode, AMU criminal justice professor Dr. Jarrod Sadulski talks to Dr. Christi Bartman about her work in rural Ohio to dispel myths and provide education, awareness, and resources about the reality of human trafficking. Learn about specific warning signs, what questions to ask, the type of resources human trafficking victims need, and much more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Many criminal activities like human trafficking, cybercrime, drug trafficking, and organized crime go beyond national borders. In this episode, AMU criminal justice professor Dr. Jarrod Sadulski talks with Mikel Irizar, Operations Specialist at INTERPOL’s Command and Coordination Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Learn how INTERPOL assists its 194 member-nations by coordinating criminal investigations, providing resources, sharing intelligence data, and even serving as a diplomatic outlet among countries that may not have other diplomatic ties.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Belize Central Prison has not had a single reported case of COVID-19. In this episode, AMU Criminal Justice professor Dr. Jarrod Sadulski talks with Virgilio Murillo, the CEO of the Kolbe Foundation, which manages the prison for the Belize government. Learn about the measures implemented to prevent COVID-19 from entering the prison and spreading including limiting outside visitation, installing hand washing stations, conducting temperature checks, and disinfecting and sanitizing the facility. During all these changes, Murillo talks about the importance of keeping prisoners educated and informed about the virus so they understand the reason behind new protocols and do their part to protect other inmates and staff.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Prisons have long been breeding grounds for communicable diseases, so when COVID-19 hit, those working in corrections were accustomed to the health and safety protocol intended to reduce the spread of the virus. Despite this, the coronavirus has spread rampantly within facilities. In this episode, Dr. Jarrod Sadulski talks to Dr. Michael Pittaro about additional measures to minimize the spread including controversial measures like releasing nonviolent offenders as well as other potential changes that might arise from the coronavirus pandemic.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Experts predict the country will need 100,000 contact tracers to track down the contacts of positive coronavirus cases. As a result, state public health agencies are scrambling to hire and train these professionals. In this episode, hear from Charlie Hunt, a senior analyst at the Kansas Health Institute (KHI) and a former state epidemiologist. Mr. Hunt discusses the critical role of contact tracers, the skills needed to be an effective contact tracer, and the challenges states face recruiting, hiring and training contact tracers during a pandemic. Also learn about KHI's collaboration to create a free, online training program, Every Contact Counts, to help prepare contact tracers for their vital public health role.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.