Advertise on podcast: AMU In Public Safety Matters

Hear from graduates and faculty members as they celebrate the classes of 2020, 2021, 2022! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Corrections officers die by suicide at a rate of three to four times that of the general public. In this episode, AMU Criminal Justice professor Dr. Michael Pittaro talks about the mental health crisis in corrections. Learn about his upcoming testimony in Washington, D.C. advocating for awareness and change to help correctional officers. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Inflation rates are skyrocketing. In this episode, AMU’s Buster Nicholson talks to Mayor Scott Conger of Jackson, Tennessee about his initiative to invest in and education his constituents about investing in Bitcoin and cryptocurrency to hedge inflation. Learn about the potential of digital funds, the city’s efforts to educate people about cryptocurrency, and how its adoption could benefit municipalities and lead to the evolution of our monetary system. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Recidivism rates across the country are extremely high. In this episode, AMU’s Dr. Jarrod Sadulski talks to Jon Ponder, the CEO of Hope for Prisoners, a faith-based, non-profit organization that focuses on reducing recidivism by helping to rehabilitate offenders and prepare them for reentry. Learn about its intensive training program with inmates while they’re still incarcerated and its case management and mentoring programs that assist for 18 months after their release. Also learn how they partner with law enforcement agencies to work with inmates as well as companies to hire formerly incarcerated people. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In 2020, there were 365,000+ reports of missing children across the United States. Law enforcement agencies often do not have the resources, manpower or intelligence-based skillsets to bring these children back to their families. In this episode, AMU professor Dr. Jarrod Sadulski talks to Richard Ring, CEO of F3 Missing Children's Intelligence Agency, about bringing together intelligence analysts, retired special operations and military personnel, and retired federal law enforcement officers to help investigate missing children cases. Learn about the importance of using an intelligence-based approach to finding missing children and the challenges associated with investigating cold cases. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Are you interested in working in law enforcement or the criminal justice field? In this episode, Dr. Jarrod Sadulski talks to AMU Criminal Justice professor Dr. Michael Pittaro about his new book, “Pursuing and Navigating a Career in Criminal Justice,” based on his 30+ years of experience working in the criminal justice system. Learn how to get into the field, including tips on preparing for the interview process, the background check, as well as the physical and psychological exams. Once hired, learn what to expect in the Academy, during the probational period, and how to set yourself up for future promotions. Also learn how to navigate the many challenges that law enforcement brings including stress, burnout, low morale, and mental health issues as well as some of the critical coping mechanisms to manage the stress and difficulties of the profession. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There are more than 250,000 unsolved murders in the United States and law enforcement simply does not have the personnel or resources to investigate all of them. As a result, average citizens, private investigators, and the media have come together to help reinvestigate many of these cold cases. In this episode, Glynn Cosker talks to AMU criminal justice and forensic science professor, Jen Bucholtz, about her work as a private investigator to investigate several cold cases. Learn how she has used the power of crowdsourcing and social media to engage people and uncover new information, and how advancements in DNA technology and forensic genealogy are helping police solve more cases. Also hear why it’s so important for law enforcement agencies to embrace the assistance of outside sources to help bring justice for the families of these victims. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After seven plus years of hard work, a former news reporter, Dale Julin, has cracked some of the Zodiac Killer’s numerous ciphers and anagrams. In this episode, AMU criminal justice and forensic science professor, Jen Bucholtz, who also has a background in counterterrorism and private investigations, shares how the ciphers were decrypted using the suspect’s full name. She also discusses the mounting evidence pointing towards Gary Francis Poste including matching physical scars that had been identified by multiple witnesses, military training on a specific type of cipher and decrypting methodology used in the Zodiac letters, geographical location during the times of the murder, and more. Learn why she has partnered with The Case Breakers, an investigation group of more than 40 former law enforcement and experts, to bring this evidence to police in hopes they’ll take this information seriously and find resolution to one of the country’s most notorious unsolved serial killing cases.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Leaving the military and transitioning to the civilian workforce isn’t easy and requires hard work and preparation. In this episode, AMU professor Dr. Jarrod Sadulski talks to William Balcerski, who successfully started a new civilian career after 30 years of active duty and reserve experience in the U.S. Coast Guard. Learn why servicemembers need two years to prepare for this transition to develop their professional network, earn a degree before separating, and conduct research on companies and its leaders. Also learn practical advice like how to identify transferable skills, tailor your resume for each position, and develop a post-military budget so you’re financially prepared when your service ends. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Being a municipal leader means working with a diverse group of people. In this episode, AMU’s Buster Nicholson talks to Horace McHugh, President of Florida City County Management Association about his experience in municipal leadership and the strategies that have worked best to help him accomplish community goals. Learn the importance of training and professional development, the role of ethics and integrity in government leadership, and why all municipalities should encourage mentoring among employees.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In August 2021, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti causing massive and widespread destruction. Shortly after the earthquake struck, a tropical depression swept through the country causing further devastation and impeding rescue and recovery efforts. In this episode, Glynn Cosker talks to AMU’s Dr. Chris Reynolds about his experience responding directly to the 2010 earthquake and his perspective on the challenges Haiti faces. Learn how limited infrastructure, rampant governmental corruption including a recent coup and the assassination of Haiti’s president, along with criminal violence have all contributed to Haiti’s inability to prepare or respond to disasters and its reliance on foreign aid. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Across the country, law enforcement agencies are seeing an exodus of officers leaving the profession. Agencies are also receiving fewer, high-quality candidates applying to fill those positions. In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to AMU Criminal Justice program director Dr. Chuck Russo about the current state of law enforcement. Learn how agencies need to do a better job accurately representing the work of police officers to attract new and diverse recruits who have the right skillsets for the profession. Also hear discussion about topics like qualified immunity, body camera policies, training improvements, and more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.