Unarmed + Unplugged Jeremiah Cothren

Unarmed + Unplugged returns to San Francisco amidst the Covid-19 pandemic that transformed the way this guest approached her work with the San Francisco Police Department Hostage and Crisis Negotiation Team. We dive into her work on the frontlines and uncover her journey through sweeping police reforms and calls to defund police across the nation. We also explore the question of gender in an industry that employs few women within its ranks.

The George Floyd Justice for Policing Act is a first step in reckoning with generations of trauma for people of color, but reform is not a one-size-fits-all policy. Divestment from the police will come in various forms, but some cities are taking additional steps and engaging with tech to shift the dynamics of personal safety. On this episode, we hear from Prince Mapp, the Head of Community & Culture at one of the fastest growing apps shifting the narrative on public safety — Citizen. You'll discover how one life-altering moment for Prince, led him on a path to disrupt the criminal justice system to protect his own community. 

Law enforcement officers are more likely to die by suicide than being killed in the line of duty and figures point to depression rates five times higher than that of the civilian population. Despite the stigma of discussing mental health on the force, one former officer shares his journey. 

The pilot episode of Unarmed + Unplugged begins in the San Francisco Bay area as Officer Leutdtke talks about use of force and how perception and communication play out on the beat and what this means for community policing.