About this episode:

Traditional police work has struggled to meet the needs of cities like Rapid City, South Dakota. Often, police are called to address situations that are related to mental health crises, homelessness, and substance use. In this episode: Rapid City’s Chief of Police, Don Hedrick talks about what it means to police with public health in mind, the success of partnerships and outreach, and how a nontraditional approach helped Rapid City address an influx of violent crime.

Guest:

Don Hedrick is the Chief of Police of Rapid City, South Dakota and a Bloomberg Fellow at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Host:

Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department.

Show links and related content:

Law Enforcement With A Public Health Lens—Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine

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851 - Policing With a Public Health Lens in South Dakota