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Are public perceptions of police shaped more by headlines than reality? In this episode of Policing Matters, host Jim Dudley speaks with entrepreneur and author Brandon Steiner about what he learned after spending six months embedded with NYPD officers.
With no law enforcement background, Steiner rode along in some of the city’s most violent precincts — gaining a front-row seat to the chaos, complexity and contradictions of urban policing. His new book, “The Ride-Alongs,” brings a street-level, unfiltered look at what officers face — and what the public needs to understand.
Tune in to discover:
- Why ride-alongs reveal more than headlines — and how seeing police work up close changes the conversation
- How community conditions fuel crime — and why ignoring these neighborhoods costs more in the long run
- Why the staffing crisis runs deeper than recruitment — and how losing veteran officers impacts public safety
- What most people misunderstand about urban policing — and how firsthand exposure breaks down stereotypes
- Why policing can’t succeed alone — and what must change to support both officers and communities
Key takeaways from this episode
- Crime is expensive — and not just for victims: From domestic violence calls to gang investigations, every incident represents hours of officer time, court resources and taxpayer expense.
- The workload is unsustainable: In one Bronx precinct, five cars couldn’t keep up with 911 calls over an eight-hour shift.
- The human toll goes both ways: Steiner witnessed not only the trauma officers endure, but the deep poverty and overcrowding many residents face — multiple families sharing a single apartment, parks that aren’t safe for kids and communities with little hope.
- Policing requires presence — not just response: Steiner advocates for more foot patrols and proactive engagement. He challenges leaders to get out of their offices and into the neighborhoods.
- If we want safer cities, we have to invest upstream: More cops are part of the answer, but so is more counseling, education and community support. Steiner pushes for equal school opportunities and mental health resources in underserved areas, warning that without early investment, the downstream costs are far greater.
About our guest
Brandon Steiner is best known as a sports marketing innovator and the founder of CollectibleXchange. But in his latest venture, he steps into an entirely different arena — urban policing. Driven by curiosity and concern about public safety, Steiner spent months shadowing officers across New York City’s boroughs and beyond, experiencing first-hand the dangers, frustrations and human stories behind the badge. His book, “The Ride-Alongs: What I Learned About Policing, Crime, and the New York City Justice System,” captures his raw observations and candid conversations from the field.
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