Policing In America Podcast

Policing In America Podcast

Welcome to Policing in America – a podcast about race and policing: the good, the bad and the ugly. The goal? To have, at times, uncomfortable conversations to spark positive change. Your host is currently the Officer in Charge of a unit that creates, delivers and maintains police training in the largest urban police department on the West Coast of America: Sergeant Tom Datro.

Recent Episodes

When biology meets the badge.
Feb. 19, 2026

When biology meets the badge.

In this episode, I sit down with Professor Steven James of Washington State University to explore one of the most overlooked variables in modern policing: sleep. We talk about what happens when human physiology collides with ...
The Future of Police is Already Here
Nov. 30, 2025

The Future of Police is Already Here

In this episode we speak with James Bueermann. Chief Jim Bueermann (ret.) is the Founder and President of the Future Policing Institute, a think tank dedicated to advancing policing that is effective, empathetic and just. He...
The RISE of Rashmi Airan
Oct. 27, 2025

The RISE of Rashmi Airan

In this gripping episode, I sit down with Rashmi Airan , whose fall from grace exposed the quiet power of rationalization, cultural pressure, and the slow erosion of integrity. From the courtroom to a prison camp, Rashmi's st...
The Real Operative: Inside Child Trafficking with Paul Hutchinson
April 30, 2025

The Real Operative: Inside Child Trafficking with Paul Hutchinson

By far the most emotional podcast I have done.  Paul Hutchinson is a modern day hero.  He has walked through the gates of hell to meet the Devil himself in order to save the most innocent among us.  Please enjoy this episode!   If...
Leaving the X - Lessons from a CIA Operator
April 10, 2025

Leaving the X - Lessons from a CIA Operator

Former CIA counterterrorism officer Michele Rigby Assad joins us to talk espionage, fear, intuition, and how to own your presence in the world’s most dangerous places. This isn’t Jason Bourne, because that's Hollywood.  Michele lived that...
Too Many Rules, Too Little Thinking
March 25, 2025

Too Many Rules, Too Little Thinking

In this episode, Sgt Tom sits down with Professor, philosopher, and martial artist Barry Lam to unpack the hidden costs of rule-heavy systems in high-stakes professions like policing. Together, they explore why too many rules can actually undermine...

About the Host

Sgt. Tom Datro Profile Photo
Sgt. Tom Datro

Host