“There is nothing more important at the retail level of government than effective policing.” Those are the words of retired Milwaukee, Wisconsin Police Chief Ed Flynn, sharing what motivated him to pursue a career in law enforcement in the latest episode of the COPS Office podcast The Beat. One of the leading voices in American law enforcement, Flynn began his 47 years in uniform in a small department in New Jersey and ended it with a ten-year stint at the helm of the Milwaukee Police Department. In retirement, he has continued to work with departments throughout the country to support their efforts to better protect and serve communities. Policing, says Flynn, “is a purpose driven life like few others.”

In this episode, Flynn discusses everything from the field’s recruitment challenges to the effective use of data in the fight against crime, as well as a range of other contemporary issues in policing, to how officers and police executives can maintain their idealism and commitment to advancing the profession in the face of challenges.

Listen to Chief Flynn’s interview with The Beat.

Additional Episodes in the “Profiles in Law Enforcement Leadership” Series

Daniel Hahn: A Profile in Law Enforcement Leadership

Affectionately known as the ‘City of Sacrament’ and the ‘River City,’ Sacramento, California is not immune to the complexities that affect many metropolitan areas. It is only fitting that the recently retired Chief of the Sacramento Police Department, Daniel Hahn, has a first-hand understanding of those complexities based on unique insights he has gained during an unconventional childhood in a hard-edged Sacramento neighborhood. During this episode of The Beat, Retired Chief Hahn discusses lessons of community service taught to him by his adoptive mother, his journey through a 34-year career in policing, and the need for collective understanding of how law enforcement and low-income communities can move forward together.

Mike Chitwood: A Profile in Law Enforcement Leadership

At heart, Mike Chitwood is a hard-charging cop who got his start chasing criminals through Philadelphia’s subway system and now serves as the elected sheriff of Volusia County, Florida. He is a dichotomy, viewed equally as a reformer and someone whose style and results endear him to traditionalists. Sheriff Chitwood joins The Beat to discuss his unyielding approach toward fighting crime, strategic improvements being implemented in his agency, effective community engagement, and contemporary issues in policing.

Kathleen O’Toole: A Profile in Law Enforcement Leadership

Kathleen O’Toole worked her way through the ranks to become arguably the most experienced woman in the history of American policing. She has served as the chief of the Seattle (Washington) Police Department, Commissioner of the Boston (Massachusetts) Police Department, Lieutenant Colonel of Massachusetts State Police, Secretary of Public Safety for the State of Massachusetts, and Chief Inspector of Ireland’s National Police Service. Chief O’Toole (ret.) joins The Beat to share her experiences and discuss current law enforcement issues.

Chuck Jordan: A Profile in Law Enforcement Leadership

Chuck Jordan retired as the chief of the Tulsa (Oklahoma) Police Department in 2019, and during his 50-year career he made quite a mark on the profession. From his very first day on the job when he responded to an armed robbery call, to serving as a commander of the United Nations Civilian Police Mission in war-torn Kosovo, Jordan has seen a lot. As the chief in Tulsa, a city with a well-documented history of trauma stemming from the 1921 Black Wall Street Massacre, Jordan led his department’s response to a high-profile police-involved shooting and a racially motivated spree of shootings that threatened to reopen wounds that were almost a century old. Whether you are a patrol officer, supervisor, or executive, Chief Jordan’s conversation with The Beat offers insight into contemporary issues in policing that should not be missed.

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