Shop Talk

Go behind the scenes of Scottsdale Police Department’s social media strategy and discover how content, consistency, and authenticity are helping build real relationships with the community. From engaging posts and behind-the-scenes storytelling to real-time updates and transparency, Scottsdale PD is redefining how law enforcement connects in the digital age. This episode also highlights how the department’s dedicated recruitment platform, @JoinScottsdalePD, is attracting the next generation of officers by showcasing purpose, culture, and opportunity.Chief Joe LeDuc and Sgt. Allison Sempsis sit down with Officer Aaron Bolin and Keri Henningsen to break down how Scottsdale PD connects with the community in meaningful ways both online and in person. From everyday interactions to large-scale events, this conversation explores how modern policing goes far beyond the badge, focusing on trust-building, community engagement, and innovative communication strategies that keep Scottsdale safe and informed.

Event season in Scottsdale is more than sunshine, big crowds, and headline events — it’s months (and sometimes years) of planning to keep everyone safe while they’re having fun. In this episode of Shop Talk from the Scottsdale Police Department, Chief Joe LeDuc and Sergeant Allison Sempsis sit down with Commander Matt Evans and Lieutenant Chris DiPiazza, two of the key leaders at the tip of the spear for Scottsdale’s biggest events.From Barrett-Jackson and the Waste Management Phoenix Open to marathons, festivals, and spring training, the team breaks down how they juggle massive crowds, traffic, and competing events across the city. They talk about long-range planning, after-action reviews, and how strong partnerships with other city departments, neighboring agencies, volunteers, and federal partners all come together to support one mission: ensuring a safe Scottsdale.

Episode 1, Season 2 of Shop Talk with your new host Chief Joe LeDucJoin Kat Palma and Vanessa Villalobos from the Crime Scene Specialist, or CSS. These highly trained professionals are the backbone of criminal investigations, meticulously documenting and collecting evidence that helps bring justice to victims and closure to families. Far from what you see on TV, the real work of a CSS demands precision, critical thinking, and emotional resilience. Every scene is different, every case unique, and the methods and technologies are constantly evolving keeping the job both challenging and rewarding.Now for some more info on your new host Chief Joe LeDuc:-Chief LeDuc was first hired as a police officer in 1991.-He was promoted to Sgt. in 2005 and worked patrol, AND in the Special Victims’ Unit, and Internal Affairs Unit. -He was promoted to lieutenant in 2013 and served as a watch commander in patrol before supervising the detectives in the Special Investigations Section.-In 2016, he promoted to Police Commander and oversaw the Foothills District, then moved to the Downtown District and the Detention Section. -After being promoted to Assistant Police Chief in 2020, Chief LeDuc was put in charge of the Professional Standards & Investigative Services Division. -Chief Leduc has a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. -He is also a graduate of the Leadership in Criminal Justice Administration program from Northwestern University Center for Public Safety.-He is an adjunct Professor for Northern Arizona University AND an Instructor for FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (LEEDA)

🎙️ Behind the Scenes of the WM Phoenix Open: Shop Talk Podcast with Chief Jeff Walther & Sgt. Allison SempsisGet ready to tee off with an exclusive look at how the Scottsdale Police Department prepares for one of the biggest events of the year—the WM Phoenix Open! 🏌️‍♂️⛳ In this exciting episode of the Shop Talk Podcast, Chief Jeff Walther and Sgt. Allison Sempsis discuss the planning, teamwork, and safety measures that make this iconic event a success. Talking with Thunderbird Chairman Matt Mooney.🎯 What to Expect in This Episode:🔹 How the Scottsdale PD works behind the scenes at the WM Phoenix Open🔹 Insights into managing crowd safety and traffic at large-scale events🔹 Stories and strategies from past tournaments🔹 A sneak peek at what makes this year's event bigger and better!Whether you're a golf enthusiast, a Scottsdale resident, or just curious about what it takes to manage a world-class event, this episode offers a fascinating glimpse into the intricate coordination and dedication required to keep the event safe and enjoyable for everyone.Mooney is the Chief Operating Officer of Parkway, a privately-owned, full service real estate investment firm with more than 20 million SF in assets under management across the United States. He graduated summa cum laude from Mississippi State University, where he received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business Administration, and was as a member of the Men’s Golf Team. He and his wife Anna have three children, Connor (age 14), Kathryn (age 13), and Cullen (age 9), and currently reside in Phoenix. He has been a member of The Thunderbirds since 2016.

Erica Gaines is the President and CEO of TacMobility: Controlling the Mind + the Machine, a training program whose vision is to heal the racial divide between people of color (POC) and police officers through law enforcement wellness and community dialogue. Having met over 100,000 officers since 2013, “The Knife Girl'' has gained wide acceptance into the LEO community. While an unlikely candidate to advocate for police, this dark-skinned, multi-racial woman from Phoenix, AZ, continues to use her voice to talk about trauma recovery, self-awareness, and Suicide: the #1 Cop Killer in America.Her research began in 2016 when incidents of police involved shootings with unarmed black males were becoming frequent, prompting the onset of large protests. Feeling that the media portrayal of officers was inconsistent with her unique, personal experience but also wanting to get answers to questions like, “why can’t you shoot people in the leg?”or “if officers are innocent, why the payouts?”, Erica embarked on a four-year journey of conducting candid interviews with police officers at training conferences. In 2017, she participated in the VirTra Use of Force Simulated Training at a FBI National Academy Associate (FBINAA) Conference. Forever changed by the physical experience of a shoot, Erica wondered if ‘police bias’ had more to do with a physiological stress response than racism. With inadequate clinical research to pull from, in 2019, Erica created the world’s most extensive ongoing study of Law Enforcement Officers and Cumulative Stress. Armed with data, in 2020, Erica created a 4-hour Peace Officer Standards & Training (POST) training course accredited through the National Certification Program (NCP) , developed by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST). The training program and fiscally sponsored non-profit, TacMobility: Controlling the Mind and the Machine, offers stress and trauma awareness, rehabilitative stretching, and self-awareness to police officers in the United States. With her straightforward approach, Erica uses TacMobility to heal traumatized officers in an effort to bring communities closer. She believes that supporting the mental and physical health of officers ultimately brings support back to the community; Enabling them to balance compassion and courage, empathy and protection, creating space for positive community engagement. Her organization recognizes that this is a vital component in developing trust between communities of color and law enforcement.Visit https://tacmobility.org/ for more information