The LEO Sideshow

Frank and Patrick unravel and examine the officer involved shooting that occurred in Tennessee involving the Metro Nashville Police officer Josh Baker and Nika Holbert.  We make a sobering critique of what went well and what could be done better next time. United States v. Burrus Video of Incident and WKRN News Write-up Attorney Ashley Upkins Comments Obesity Journal Article BJJ - Jiujitsufive_o Tactics

As police officers, we are the microcosm and front line visible images of local, state, and federal government.  When we intentionally abuse our powers and make erroneous decisions, criticism comes from various entities and the profession becomes tarnished.  In order to counteract the tiny portion of our profession who do not belong, we need to look inward and criticize those LEOs who tarnish the badge. NY Times - Rochester Police Pepper Spray Washington Post Rochester Pepper Spray Youtube Video - Rochester Police Pepper Spray Case of the Week

HR 1280, the “George Floyd Justice in Policing Act” will have profound effects on law enforcement as one of the components within the bill is the elimination of Qualified Immunity for LEOs.  We debate the components of the bill, some good, some bad, and some really really bad and why the bill would do more harm than good. 116th Congress House Bill National Review "Poisonous Police Reform Bill" NPR "House Approves Police Reform Bill Named After George Floyd" George Floyd Fact Sheet USA Today "House Passes George Floyd Police Reform Bill"

Following the tragic death of George Floyd, Minneapolis was the beacon and the starting point for cries of, “Defund the police.”  In response to public outcry, the Minneapolis city council voted unanimously to spend $6.4 million dollars to recruit more police officers.  We discuss this hypocrisy and what this means for the city of Minneapolis from two outsider perspectives. NY Post February 2021 Article. "Spending 6.4 Mil" NY Post September Article "City Council Alarmed" Daily Mail Biased Article Case of the Week

Philly PD does not mess around.  It’s been a long standing unofficial policy to throw trauma victims in the back of their cruisers and speed to the hospital.  Philly refers to this as the scoop and go.  Frank and Patrick talk about how this is another way police are thinking “out of the box” to save lives. Case of the Week Philadelphia Inquirer Article Journal Article 

The LEO Sideshow is please to announce the return of guest Katherine Bopp, our resident attorney.  Katherine jumped at the idea of talking to police about the job.  We talk about the relationship between Prosecutors and the Police and then Katherine tells us what ALL prosecutors wish ALL police officers knew! Columbia Article About Police and Prosecutors

Jordan Blair Woods, author of “Traffic Without the Police,” provides insight into how the societal uprising into police misconduct and community injustice is intertwined into the most frequent police and civilian interaction, the traffic stop.  Woods uses data and statistics to support how the removal of traffic stops from police function can be accomplished.  We debate whether or not this is practical, feasible, and the possible ramifications of police officers losing this function. Jordan Blair Woods Article Case of the Week Recent Barkley News Article NY Times Sandra Bland 

Frank and Patrick unpack Illinois HB3653 which brings “significant changes” to policing in Illinois and talk about how some of the changes are going to affect day-to-day police operations.  Frank and Patrick will not just give you theory, but give real life examples of what this bill means to police. NBC Chicago Article People v. Wells (1985) HB 3653

We start off Season 3 by reviewing a New York Times investigation into the tragic death of Breonna Taylor by officers with the Louisville Police Department.  We sympathize, agree, disagree, and give perspective into a journalistic point of view from outsiders.  Tragedies are never a proposed outcome when law enforcement conduct an investigation, but the only positive to come of this investigation is to prepare law enforcement for the future so bad outcomes like Taylor’s death do not occur again.  There is much to be learned and we all must remember that police are still human, we make mistakes, we learn from those mistakes, and sometimes we pay for those mistakes. NY Times Article and Video CNBC Grand Jury Article Case of the Week!

Frank and Patrick look at some of the issues that the communities across the US have brought up and are asking for police to change.  Change can be good... When it is thought out and vetted.  What we have seen with some of the proposed reforms have not been critiquely examined.  Join the Sideshow in the last episode of 2020.   Case of the Week Philadelphia Case