Topics Archives

Ad Index: June 2025

The advertisers in this issue can help equip your department with the most efficient tools available today! Always mention Police Chief when contacting our advertisers....

Investigations

Two individuals sit at computer displaying code with terms like “resolve” and “function”; blue light streaks overlay scene, suggesting cyber operations.

Teaming Up to Crack Cold Cases

In 2019, the Michigan State Police (MSP) Fifth District Headquarters–Special Investigation Section began a collaborative effort with Western Michigan University (WMU) to leverage university students...

Sponsor Article

Addressing the Crisis

U.S. correctional facilities, wrestling with 1.8 million incarcerated individuals and critical staff shortages, are urgently seeking solutions to maintain safety and security despite dwindling ...

Officer Safety & Wellness

Sustaining a Successful Wellness Program

While it has been well-established that support for officer safety and organizational wellness is crucial for the well-being of officers and their colleagues, agencies, families, and communities, ente...

Legal

Elderly person at table using laptop, yellow tulips in vase foreground, second person gesturing mid-discussion, both faces blurred for privacy.

The Perils of Neglecting Estate Planning

Policing is a dangerous profession.1 The mortality rate among officers is far higher than the U.S. population average, both on the job as well as outside of work and after retirement. In part, this is...

Mental Health

A person is sitting on a white couch with a golden retriever lying beside them. The person is wearing a black hoodie, gray sweatpants, and reflective sunglasses. The golden retriever appears relaxed with its head resting on the person's lap. There is another armchair to the left of the couch, and in the background, there are dark-colored cabinets with labels including one that reads "JUNK DRAWER." A blue blanket or sheet is partially visible at the bottom of the image.

Fight or Flight in Overdrive

Across the landscape of police wellness, there is a critical missing piece when it comes to supporting those who serve and protect. The missing piece is this: Just as multiple head injuries cre...

Mental Health

A person stands alone in the middle of a dimly lit street at night. The scene is illuminated by several streetlights, casting an orange glow through the fog. The person is silhouetted against the light, making it difficult to discern any facial features or specific details about their appearance. Trees and buildings line both sides of the street, and a pedestrian crossing is visible beneath the person's feet. The atmosphere appears eerie and quiet, with no other people or vehicles in sight.

The Science, Honor, and Dignity of Stories

There is a saying that “stories are science,” and this notion holds particular significance when conducting psychological autopsies to investigate police officer suicides among active and retired ...

Officer Safety & Wellness

Two men are exercising outdoors on a rooftop parking lot. The man on the left, with his face obscured, is wearing a black T-shirt and blue shorts. He is holding a kettlebell in both hands. The man on the right, facing away from the camera, is wearing sunglasses, a navy blue T-shirt with "FCPD" and "Strength & Conditioning" written on the back, and dark athletic shorts. He is also holding a kettlebell in both hands. In the background, there are three orange traffic cones placed along the edge of the rooftop, and some buildings are visible in the distance under a clear sky during sunset or sunrise.

The Intersection of Physical Fitness and Use of Force

Physical fitness often comes into play during use-of-force incidents within policing; thus, a lack of physical fitness can increase an agency’s liability and the potential for officer injuries. Phys...