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.

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00:00:00:00 - 00:01:14:12

Teaser

00:01:14:12 - 00:01:51:07

Intro

00:01:51:07 - 00:10:56:04

Jeff’s background

00:10:56:04 - 00:14:28:00

Taking care of yourself

00:14:28:00 - 00:17:32:21

The changing path to a career in law enforcement

00:17:32:21 - 00:20:14:02

Working in law enforcement in Portland, OR

00:20:14:02 - 00:28:19:13

The new school of policing

00:28:19:13 - 00:32:03:06

Feeling supported & recruitment issues

00:32:03:06 - 00:34:56:18

The impact of self-interest on law enforcement

00:34:56:18 - 00:41:32:08

The criminalization of drugs

00:41:32:08 - 00:47:14:01

The steady collapse of law and order

00:47:14:01 - 00:54:07:20

Higher salaries versus better working conditions

00:54:07:20 - 00:57:31:09

Recruitment versus retention

00:57:31:09 - 01:14:27:24

Setting officers up for success

01:14:27:24 - 01:15:24:18

Outro