Policing Matters

Policing Matters podcast host and deputy chief Jim Dudley (ret.) paid a visit to Axon Week 2026 to get an exclusive look at some of the revolutionary advancements in public safety technology and the thought leaders and technology experts making them happen.

In this special episode, sponsored by Axon, Dudley sits down with Jeff Kunins, chief product officer and chief technology officer of Axon. Their discussion examines how Axon is integrating AI and connected technologies to streamline routine police work, improve real-time awareness and enhance officer safety, while emphasizing interoperability and human oversight to ensure responsible use.

About our sponsor

This episode of Policing Matters is sponsored by Axon – the global leader in public safety technology. Discover how Axon is empowering first responders with innovative tools and training to build safer communities and protect more lives in more places at axon.com.

Patrol work starts long before the call. From the moment an officer begins their shift, every decision — what to prioritize, how to respond and when to slow down — can impact outcomes for officers and the public alike. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley sits down with Sergeant John Banner of the White Settlement (Texas) Police Department to break down the critical thinking that happens behind the wheel.

From managing competing demands like ALPR hits and priority calls to navigating fatigue, technology and pursuit decisions, this episode explores how officers maintain situational awareness and make sound judgments under pressure.

Sgt. Banner shares practical insights on preparing mentally for shift, using technology effectively and coaching the next generation of officers — all while balancing the realities of modern policing.

About our guest

Sgt. John C. Banner is from Mineral Wells, Texas, and holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Tarleton State University. He joined the White Settlement (Texas) Police Department in 2012 and has served in a variety of roles throughout his career, including detective, corporal, POA president and vice president, and SWAT operator. He currently serves as a night patrol sergeant and has also completed a rotation in the department’s Street Crimes Division.

Banner is a graduate of the ILEA 146th School of Police Supervision and has been recognized for his service with the Medal of Valor and two lifesaving awards. In 2024, he was also featured on “America’s Most Wanted with John Walsh” (Season 2, Episode 4).

About our sponsor
This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

Police training is designed to push limits — physically, mentally and emotionally. But when the culture of grit outpaces medical awareness and safeguards, the consequences can be irreversible. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley and fitness expert Traci Tauferner examine the risks embedded in high-intensity academy training, the gaps in concussion recognition and the responsibility leaders carry to protect recruits without compromising readiness.

From hydration and baseline testing to psychological support and instructor training, the episode delivers a practical look at how academies can better identify risk and intervene before a routine drill becomes a tragedy.

About our guest

Traci Tauferner is an athletic trainer and strength and conditioning specialist with extensive experience supporting law enforcement, military and public safety personnel. As the director of industrial and tactical medicine at Advanced Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, she works with agencies and municipalities to design and implement programs focused on injury prevention, performance optimization and recovery. Her approach blends clinical expertise with real-world operational demands, helping departments build healthier, more resilient workforces.

Connect with her:

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About our sponsor
This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.

Real time crime centers are no longer a novelty — they are quickly becoming a core part of modern policing. But as agencies invest in cameras, drones, license plate readers and data platforms, a critical question remains: Are these centers actually delivering results, or just generating more data?

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks to Amarillo Regional Crime Center Commander Shane Chadwick about how success depends less on technology alone and more on how agencies integrate, share and use it.

Chadwick’s approach in Amarillo started with a rare advantage — a clean slate. With no legacy systems to untangle, his team built an integrated tech stack aligned to real-world workflows, focused on supporting officers in the field. The result is a regional model where shared platforms, real time data access and high user adoption drive measurable outcomes. Instead of relying solely on traditional metrics like crime rates, Chadwick points to usage — tens of thousands of searches per month — and rapid case breakthroughs, including multi-state investigations solved in hours, as proof that the system is working.

About our sponsor
Peregrine transforms fragmented, siloed information into clear context and actions that move your organization forward. Trusted by hundreds of agencies worldwide, Peregrine maximizes the impact of your real time crime center by centralizing and organizing historical and real time data, making it readily accessible and actionable in the moments that matter most. Visit peregrine.io to learn how your organization can get started.

As agencies face an unprecedented surge in digital evidence — from body-worn cameras and surveillance systems to cell phones and social media — the question is no longer whether to adopt AI, but how to use it responsibly. In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley explores how AI can help investigators manage evidence at scale, streamline time-consuming processes and improve case outcomes while keeping decision-making firmly in human hands.

Dudley is joined by Kelly Inabnett, a former sex crimes and human trafficking detective with the Antioch Police Department, and Jon Gacek, senior vice president and general manager of Veritone’s public sector business unit. Drawing on investigative and technology perspectives, they break down how evidence volume has evolved over the past two decades, where investigators are losing time, and how AI can assist with tasks like video analysis, data organization, redaction and case linkage — without compromising accuracy, oversight or trust.

 

About our guests

 

Jon Gacek is currently SVP and General Manager of Veritone’s Public Sector business unit since 2018.Prior to joining to Veritone, Gacek served numerous executive roles including President and CEO of Quantum, EVP, CFO, and COO of Advanced Digital Information Corp. (ADIC) and was also an audit partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and led the Technology Practice in the firm’s Seattle Office. While at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, he assisted several private equity investment firms with a number of mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts and other transactions.

 

Kelly Inabnett is a former sex crimes and human trafficking detective with the Antioch (California) Police Department. During Kelly’s nine-year tenure with Antioch PD, he was tasked with providing department training on proper response to sexual assault, crimes against children and to recognize the signs of human trafficking. Kelly specialized in forensic interviews, cell phone downloads, social media information, pre-text phone calls and cold cases. While working cases involving children sexual abused material (CSAM), human trafficking, and assisting in other major crimes, he has spent more than a thousand hours combing through digital evidence which could have been cut down to a fraction of the time with an effective digital evidence management system leveraging artificial intelligence. Prior to joining Antioch PD, Kelly also worked with Contra Costa County Sheriffs as a deputy in the county jail. Kelly brings his experience to Veritone to help detectives leverage AI to solve cases efficiently and effectively to spend their time where it is most needed.

About our sponsor
Veritone designs human-centered AI solutions. Since 2014, the people at Veritone have focused on building enterprise AI solutions and applications that solve problems for its customers in the public sector. Veritone's blend of expertise and technology helps organizations spend less time on repetitive tasks so they can focus on what matters –– protecting and serving their communities. Veritone Public Sector enables teams in law enforcement, government and public safety to streamline manual identification and redaction efforts and accelerate audio and video processing with intelligent automation. Veritone is proud to enable public servants at all levels to turn data into action that helps keep people safe and improves life for everyone in the community. For more information, visit veritone.com/public-sector.