The Madison Police Department Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Human trafficking claiming more local victims Jan 08, 2018

Show notes

Det. Roger Baker, of the Special Victims Unit, is a MPD subject matter expert in human trafficking. In this podcast Det. Baker talks about how and why more young women are being victimized by manipulative pimps. He also provides guidance to parents and other loved ones about potential warning signs.

Case detective sheds light on recent scams, some targeting grandparents Dec 26, 2017

Show notes

Det. Deb Plantz joins the podcast to talk about a rise in a despicable type of fraud. These are cases where smooth-talking scam artists target grandparents, and in some cases, have gotten away with tens of thousands of dollars. Host Joel DeSpain and Chief Koval also talk with Det. Plantz about other recent cons. It is hoped the podcast will prevent more from being victimized.

Feds turn MPD down as staffing shortages loom Dec 18, 2017

Show notes

Recently the MPD learned it would not be getting any federal grant money to hire additional police officers in 2018. The bad news comes at a time when the Department is in a serious need of bolstering the patrol services ranks. The new Midtown Police District will be up and running this year, and the city’s annexation of the Town of Madison is looming, both of which will necessitate additional staffing. In this podcast Chief Mike Koval talks about next steps, why he thinks the feds might be kinder a year from now, and why he remains hopeful that city leaders will come through with funds to hire at least a few new officers next year.

Demand for MPD active shooter training high Dec 11, 2017

Show notes

The number of active shooter cases around the country has raised concern across the greater Madison community as many wonder what they would do if – forbid - they got caught up in a volatile situation with and armed suspect. In this podcast one of a team of MPD subject matter experts, Officer Carrie Hemming talks about Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) training sessions that are frequently presented by her group. Hemming gives listeners with some of the top tips for staying alive and staying safe.

MPD lights up social media and response is great Dec 04, 2017

Show notes

Recently, the MPD launched a Twitter campaign titled #NightlyLockup, and is has created a buzz in the media and across the community. In this podcast, West District Capt. Cory Nelson, joins Chief Mike Koval to talk about how a rash of gun thefts from unlocked cars inspired him to push the campaign forward. The creative endeavor now includes a billboard blitz, and will be tweaked frequently to include more crime prevention topics.

MPD Explorer Post 911 thriving as area young people embrace policing Nov 27, 2017

Show notes

They range in age from 14 to 20, and come from around Dane County. All are members of the MPD’s popular Explorer Post 911. In this podcast, post leader, Lt. Lori Chalecki sits down with Chief Koval to talk about all the program offers, and why current members are making their mark at local and national competitions.

Heroin and other opioids: Going after the peddlers of poison Nov 20, 2017

Show notes

Lt. Erik Fuhremann, the leader of the Dane County Narcotics Task Force joins the podcast to talk about the daunting task of stemming the flow of heroin and other opioids into the Madison area. Lt. Fuhremann says the worst of the opiods – fentanyl – is now taking a deadly toll on the city’s streets.

Community Academy: Everyday people learn what it takes to police the Madison Way Nov 13, 2017

Show notes

They come from all walks of life: Some support the MPD; others are often not sure. They all share in common the desire to dig deeper and gain a greater understanding of what it means to police the Madison Way. In this podcast Lt. Dave Jugovich, who leads the Community Academy, joins Chief Koval to talk about the free nine-week program held each year at the MPD’s Training Center. It is always an eclectic and diverse group that learns from some of the department’s top subject experts. The latest participants graduated just this past week.

Federal grant spurs crime-reduction in West District Nov 06, 2017

Show notes

The MPD has received a million dollars in federal grant money to work with community members to help young people and their families in areas of the Raymond Rd. corridor where crime numbers have spiked in recent years. In this podcast, Lt. Mike Hanson, of the West District, discusses how funds will be used by the MPD and its community partners to support youth and adult programming, while also focusing on improving relationships between residents, police, and landlords.

MPD Pride: helping officers, helping the community Oct 30, 2017

Show notes

A relatively new unit of the police department has already become a prized resource for LGBT officers, and LGBT members living in the greater Madison community. In this podcast, Officer Jodi Nelson, an MPD Pride member, talks about the unique challenges of being an LGBT officer and how MPD Pride is helping many resolve them. She also discusses important outreach being done by MPD Pride as officers take their mission into the community.