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Longform

Polk Award Winners: Brian Howey

Apr 18, 2024
Award-winning journalist Brian Howey discusses his Polk Award-winning investigation exposing deceptive police tactics in California. He shares chilling stories of parents unknowingly speaking ill of deceased relatives during police interrogations. The podcast dives into the controversy surrounding police training methods and the emotional impact of uncovering these practices. Howey's journey of confronting key figures and investigating power dynamics in law enforcement adds depth to the conversation.
29:22

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Families unknowingly provide self-incriminating info in police tactic
  • Journalist's persistence uncovers controversial policing techniques and interviews key figure

Deep dives

Impact of Police Tactic on Families

A controversial policing technique commonly used in California involves interrogating families about a deceased relative's personal details before informing them of the death. This tactic, observed in 20 instances across California, leads to families unwittingly providing self-incriminating information, which is later used against them in cases of wrongful death lawsuits. The company Lexipol popularized this practice through online training sessions aiming to mitigate civil liability for police departments.

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