Why Police Departments Are COLLAPSING (A Police Chief Explains) | Built Different Ep 24

Описание: Former Police Chief, State Representative & POA Business Manager Jeff Roorda shares untold stories from 30+ years in law enforcement — from undercover narcotics buys to navigating Ferguson's aftermath.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:
1. Dispatching During the Crack Epidemic (1980s St. Louis)
Jeff breaks down what it was like orchestrating chaos on the radio during one of the most violent eras in St. Louis history — and why dispatching is more stressful than patrol.

2. Undercover Narcotics & Major Federal Cases
Over 100 undercover buys, 100+ search warrants, and multi-agency investigations involving DEA, Customs, and ATF. Jeff shares how one meth case resulted in 23 federal indictments and a 32-year sentence.

3. From Police Chief to State Representative
Jeff won his first election by just 83 votes and spent 8 years in the Missouri House as the go-to legislator on public safety issues. He explains why he left the streets for the statehouse — and what he learned about politics vs. policing.

4. City Control vs. State Control of St. Louis PD
Jeff served as Business Manager for the St. Louis Police Officers Association for 12 years and witnessed both systems firsthand. He discusses what worked, what failed, and why returning to state control isn't a magic fix.

5. Staffing Crisis & Loss of Institutional Knowledge
The department is over 400 officers short — but the real crisis isn't just numbers. It's the loss of experienced officers who carry decades of street-level wisdom. Jeff explains why you can replace bodies but not experience.

6. Media Narratives & the Ferguson Effect
Jeff wrote one of the most comprehensive books on Ferguson and secured an exclusive interview with Darren Wilson. He breaks down how media narratives shaped public perception and changed policing forever.

7. Use of Force Reality vs. Perception
Over 1 billion police-citizen interactions happen annually in the U.S. Police shootings result in ~1,000 deaths, with over 90% deemed justified. Jeff discusses the restraint shown by American law enforcement and why individual cases don't represent the whole picture.

ABOUT JEFF ROORDA:
Jeff Roorda spent over 30 years in public safety, starting as a police dispatcher with the St. Louis City Police Department in 1986. He worked undercover narcotics for 5 years, served as Police Chief and City Administrator in Kimmswick, and represented Missouri's 111th District in the state legislature for 8 years (2004–2012). He later served as Business Manager for the St. Louis Police Officers Association for 12 years, navigating some of the most turbulent times in modern policing. He is the author of [Book Title], which includes an exclusive interview with Darren Wilson.

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