Walter Katz, Vice President of Criminal Justice for Arnold Ventures, discusses police oversight, public safety budgets, and minimizing police involved shootings. The podcast also explores the effectiveness of social workers vs police officers, the emotional toll of the criminal justice system, challenges in reducing police-involved shootings, determining consequences for mistakes in public policy, and rethinking police response to mental health problems.
Civilian oversight is crucial in ensuring police accountability, particularly in controversial use of force incidents.
Investing in comprehensive police training programs is essential, focusing on decision-making skills and de-escalation tactics.
Deep dives
Civilian oversight models and crisis response
The podcast episode explores the importance of civilian oversight models and crisis response in the police service. It discusses the role of civilian policymakers and their responsibilities in ensuring accountability around police use of force, particularly in controversial police shootings. The need for transparent and trustworthy investigations is emphasized, and the potential impact of external investigations on improving police accountability is considered.
The significance of improving police training
The episode emphasizes the importance of investing in comprehensive and rigorous police training. It suggests that decision-making skills and de-escalation tactics should be prioritized in training programs. The need for a shift towards treating policing as a regulated profession, with higher standards for training and ongoing education, is highlighted. The potential benefits of specialized training from military agencies and adopting models from other countries, such as the three-year policing university in Scandinavia, are discussed.
Balancing the reduction of police involvement in mental health and disturbance calls
The episode explores the challenge of reducing police involvement in lower-level mental health and disturbance calls while maintaining public safety. It discusses the potential unintended consequences of such a shift, including an increased proportion of use of force incidents among the remaining calls attended by the police. The importance of well-trained officers equipped with de-escalation techniques and proportional use of force is emphasized. The need for alternative response systems and collaboration with other agencies to handle non-violent and non-threatening situations is also highlighted.
The complexities of police funding and defunding
The episode delves into the complexities of police funding and the defunding movement. It acknowledges the need for adequate funding to support training, improved decision-making, and external investigations. The potential consequences of budget cuts without proper alternatives in place are discussed. The importance of nuanced conversations and understanding the consequences of decisions regarding police budgets is emphasized, along with the need for civilian policymakers to step up and make informed choices.
Walter Katz is the Vice President of Criminal Justice for Arnold Ventures. Walter received his law degree from the McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific and his undergraduate degree from the University of Nevada, Reno. His conversation with Jerry Ratcliffe covers his background as a public defender, his work as Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Safety for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, police oversight, public safety budgets and the role of civilian policy makers, police use of force, and minimizing police involved shootings.
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