Episode 998: Law Enforcement in Crisis — From Portland Streets to National Struggles w/ Oregon State Representative Jeff Helfrich

Oregon State Representative Jeff Helfrich, a former police sergeant and U.S. Air Force veteran, brings a unique perspective to state leadership—drawing from decades of frontline experience in law enforcement and public service. In this episode, he reflects on the evolution of policing, the challenges of recruitment and retention, and what it will take to support the next generation of officers.-----00:00:00:00 - 00:01:14:12Teaser00:01:14:12 - 00:01:51:07Intro00:01:51:07 - 00:10:56:04Jeff’s background00:10:56:04 - 00:14:28:00Taking care of yourself00:14:28:00 - 00:17:32:21The changing path to a career in law enforcement00:17:32:21 - 00:20:14:02Working in law enforcement in Portland, OR00:20:14:02 - 00:28:19:13The new school of policing00:28:19:13 - 00:32:03:06Feeling supported & recruitment issues00:32:03:06 - 00:34:56:18The impact of self-interest on law enforcement00:34:56:18 - 00:41:32:08The criminalization of drugs00:41:32:08 - 00:47:14:01The steady collapse of law and order00:47:14:01 - 00:54:07:20Higher salaries versus better working conditions00:54:07:20 - 00:57:31:09Recruitment versus retention00:57:31:09 - 01:14:27:24Setting officers up for success01:14:27:24 - 01:15:24:18Outro