Policing Matters

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will bring enormous public safety demands to cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico — including places that are not hosting matches. For Dallas, the challenge is especially complex: While games will be played in nearby Arlington, the city will serve as home to FIFA’s International Broadcast Centre and host major fan events expected to draw international crowds. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, guest host Rob Lawrence talks with Lt. Mark Rickerman of the Dallas Police Department about how the agency is preparing for the 2026 World Cup and what other departments can learn from the process. Rickerman discusses the challenges of coordinating across law enforcement, fire, transit, private security, event organizers, local government and federal partners, as well as the importance of building plans that can change quickly once the event begins. About our sponsor This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by Panasonic. Built to withstand the harshest environments, TOUGHBOOK rugged police laptops and tablets are the ultimate police technology equipment. From police car laptops and police car computers to versatile police tablets, these solutions ensure uninterrupted access to mission-critical data. With advanced features like high-performance processors, long battery life, and secure connectivity, TOUGHBOOK empowers officers and deputies to leverage police tech and new police technology for faster response times, informed decision-making, and improved operational efficiency. When reliability matters most, TOUGHBOOK is the trusted choice for police computers and police technology that keeps law enforcement ready for anything. For more information, visit https://connect.na.panasonic.com/public-safety.

Police leaders have long embraced the idea that preventing crime is more effective than simply responding to it. Yet despite decades of emphasis on proactive policing, many officers find themselves spending most of their shifts answering calls, writing reports and moving from one incident to the next. Results from Police1's “What Cops Want in 2026” survey highlight the challenge, revealing widespread frustration with limited time for proactive work and the growing demands placed on patrol officers. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley spoke with Las Cruces (New Mexico) Police Chief Jeremy Story about the barriers preventing officers from engaging in proactive policing and what agencies can do to overcome them. Story discussed the role of evidence-based policing, crime analysis, technology and leadership accountability in helping departments shift from a purely reactive model toward one focused on crime prevention and community impact. About our sponsor 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.

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. About our sponsor 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. 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.

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. 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.