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Police1’s “What Cops Want in 2025" survey delivers a stark message: officers feel increasingly vulnerable on the job. In a wide-ranging conversation, host Jim Dudley and Below 100 founder Dale Stockton break down the survey’s key findings, exposing persistent safety threats and a growing disconnect between command staff and the realities of front-line policing.
Tune in to discover:
- How delayed backup, undertraining and understaffing form a dangerous trifecta for officer safety.
- Why pairing officers isn’t a guaranteed safety solution — and how the “contact and cover” model helps.
- What leaders can do right now to bridge the disconnect between command staff and line officers.
- How real-time situational awareness and distraction-free policing can prevent deadly outcomes.
- Why training that reflects real-world risks — not checkbox mandates — is critical for survival.
Key takeaways from this episode:
- Solo patrols increase risk: 82% of officers say they frequently patrol alone, while 92% believe working with a partner improves safety. But Stockton cautions that simply assigning two officers doesn’t guarantee safety — tactics and coordination matter more.
- Delayed backup is common and dangerous: Three in four officers report backup arriving too late. Agencies must reinforce situational awareness and encourage officers to prioritize safety over speed.
- Complacency and digital distractions threaten safety: Stockton warns that frequent low-risk calls can breed complacency, and smartphone use during patrols is becoming a critical distraction.
- Understaffing is a systemic issue: 83% of officers say staffing shortages impact their safety. Leaders must rethink call prioritization, leverage technology like drones, and reassign low-priority response tasks to non-sworn staff.
- Leadership presence is lacking: Officers say their command staff is out of touch. Effective leadership requires more than policy — it demands proximity, support, realistic training expectations and a shared sense of mission.
About our guest
Dale Stockton is a 32-year veteran of law enforcement, having worked in all areas of police operations and investigations and retiring as a police captain from Carlsbad, California. He is a graduate of the 201st FBI National Academy and holds a master’s degree in criminology from the University of California, Irvine. He has served as a Commissioner for California POST, the agency responsible for all California policing standards, and taught college-level criminal justice courses for more than 20 years. He is also known for founding Below 100, a non-profit national training program dedicated to driving down line-of-duty police deaths. Dale has presented the program to tens of thousands of officers around the country and received a Lifesavers Award from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for his efforts.
About our sponsor
This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by Utility. Utility is transforming how law enforcement captures, manages and shares critical data through body-worn cameras, in-car video, and a fully integrated digital evidence platform. Our mission is to empower officers with technology that’s intuitive, reliable, and built for the realities of the job. We’re proud to sponsor today’s conversation around what officers need most to serve their communities safely and effectively. To learn more about how we’re supporting agencies nationwide, visit Utility.com
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