As is true of most professions, the people who devote their careers to working in law enforcement like to stay well-informed on all things related to their jobs, from crimes that are in the news to training tips, officer wellness, and new equipment and technology.
The following is a carefully curated selection of law enforcement and police websites (some of which also distribute print publications). The police blogs, police websites, law enforcement advocacy organizations and podcasts listed here offer timely and relevant law enforcement news, informational resources, real-life stories, career and networking opportunities.
Law Enforcement Blogs & Websites
PoliceOne
With more than 2 million visitors per month and over 650,000 registered members, PoliceOne (est. 1999) is one of the largest and most-visited law enforcement websites. It offers a comprehensive mix of breaking news, analysis of relevant topics, career and training information, and more. “Our mission,” it says, “is to help officers fulfill their mission. We provide law enforcement with the information and resources they need to better protect their communities and come home safe every day.”
Police Magazine
Another extremely popular police site, PoliceMag.com provides coverage of breaking news, an engaging police blog and sections devoted to weapons, technology, training and careers, etc. On the lighter side, it also features a colorful dictionary of “Cop Slang,” as well as fun features such as Stupid Criminals and Police Humor (Recent sample: “Florida Department Introduces ‘Bird Unit’ as April Fool’s Gag”)
Cop In the Hood
Former Baltimore Officer Peter Moskos is now Professor Moskos, chairperson of the Department of Law, Police Science and Criminal Justice Administration at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. The author of three books, he blogs about news, the stories behind statistics, law enforcement dilemmas and police life. (A recent post begins: “This was not a good shooting. And cringe-worthy from an officer’s perspective. From the suspect’s perspective, well, he’s dead.”) His list of “Blogs and Links I Like” includes:
- How to Become a Police Officer
- Law Enforcement Action Partnership
- NYPD CompStat
- NYPD Confidential by Leonard Levitt
- Police Link
- The Crime Report
- The Trace
Improving Police
David Couper’s resume page identifies him as “police chief, priest, poet, and social activist” — and the introduction to his blog mentions something about the “radical idea of police being partners in improving American society.” Also an author, Couper offers a unique perspective. For example: “Throughout my 30+ year police career I’ve had a burning desire to see police improve – I always thought police could be more than they were — like defenders our Constitution and Bill of Rights and ‘social workers in blue.’”
Discover Policing
Published by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), this site is a comprehensive resource for those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement. Chockful of career-related advice and resources, it also emphasizes the sense of personal fulfillment offered by police work, saying, “Policing is as much about helping people and maintaining community quality of life as it is about enforcing laws.”
Police Chief Magazine
Also published by the IACP, Police Chief Magazine offers a variety of stories news stories, opinion columns and articles focused on professional development. Areas of coverage include Community-Police Relations, Cybercrime, Ethics, Officer Safety & Wellness, Leadership and many more.
Sheriffs.org
The National Sheriffs’ Association (est. 1940) publishes a wide variety of resources for members and website visitors, including breaking news in its Press Center and a professional development information in its Career Center.
ROA.org
The website of the Reserve Officers Association (“America’s only exclusive advocate for the Reserve and National Guard – all ranks, all services”), ROA.org offers content focused on news, issues and legislation that is relevant to the nation’s “citizen-warriors.”
Motor Cop
Tagline: “If you got stopped … you deserved it.” Irreverent is a good way to describe Motor Cop, a blogger, podcaster and YouTuber who identifies himself as “a police officer in the Great State of California.” He’s a colorful storyteller who hopes to “elicit an occasional chuckle or perhaps a guffaw,” and who also focuses on professional development.
Chief Kristen Ziman
Kristen Ziman’s blog features a large picture of her badge and a small picture of her, perhaps signifying that she considers the job of law enforcement to be more important than her service. Chief of the Aurora (Illinois) Police Department, where she started as a cadet in 1991, Ziman writes about professional development and the law enforcement brotherhood and a range of related issues. She is also a founding member of a law enforcement leadership training program called BlueCourage.com.
Second City Cop
Stop by Second City if you’re in the mood for some “Sarcasm and Silliness from a Windy City Cop,” but also seriousness. A post titled “Dear God” mourns the loss of a state trooper killed in a head-on collision. Departed officers are regularly saluted in this space. Other reports offer short-form looks at area hot topics, cases and controversies – mostly specific to the Chicagoland area.
Cops Alive
Its mission: “Saving the Lives of the People Who Save Lives.” Simply put, “CopsAlive.com was founded to provide information and strategies to help police officers successfully survive their careers.” Statistics show that it’s not just about “the bad guys killing us, it’s about other things like heart attacks, suicide, alcoholism and stress.” Among other activities, programs and informational posts, Cops Alive runs a training seminar called Armor Your Self.
American Police Beat
A print publication and website, APB delivers news and commentary on law enforcement issues, summaries of court decisions affecting the law enforcement community and information on relevant products, while providing a voice to the law enforcement community.
Officer.com
News, news, news — plus technology, interviews, products reviews, chat forums and sections titled Tactical, Investigations, Command/HQ, On the Street and Training & Careers.
Frontline
A publication of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Frontline offers the agency’s perspective in such stories as “CBP Takes Aim at Forced Labor,” “Walls Work,” “Facing the Challenge of Maria” and “Fighting the Opioid Scourge.”
PubSecAlliance.com
Describing itself as an informal “community of union and association leaders from groups representing sworn personnel in law enforcement agencies in the U.S., Canada and around the world,” PubSecAlliance covers a range of issues including staffing levels, workplace benefits and collective bargaining.
FOP Connect
A publication of the Fraternal Order of Police, FOP Connect supports the mission of the quarterly FOP Journal while also featuring exclusive content covering new products, equipment and procedures relating to police work, lifestyle issues and much more.
NAPO.org
Calling itself “the strongest unified voice supporting law enforcement officers in the United States,” the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) is a coalition of more than 1,000 police unions and associations from across the country. In addition to news and updates, it presents an annual awards program called Top Cops.
CopBlue
Billing itself as “Home to America’s Street Cops,” CopBlue publishes articles discussing breaking news, tactical and training best practices and ethics in law enforcement. It also provides access to officer training and mental health resources through its partners. Written in “the language of street cops,” CopBlue does not look for its authors to be “politically correct.”
Law Officer
Cutting-edge training, both in person and online, is a core focus at LawOfficer.com, which also posts “daily breaking new stories and editorials designed to keep law enforcement safe on the job.”
Corrections.com
“Where Criminal Justice Never Sleeps.” A leading provider of news and information about the corrections field, this site delivers daily headlines, forums, job postings and helpful industry links.
CorrectionsOne.com
A sister website to PoliceOne, CorrectionsOne (est. 2007) says its “mission is to provide the information and resources correctional officers need to make their facilities safe and controlled environments.” In addition to news, analysis and career networking, CorrectionsOne helps correctional facilities deliver training with 300 HD training videos and 100 full-length training courses.
IAPE.org
Evidence is essential to the criminal justice process. IAPE is the International Association of Property & Evidence, is an advocacy website whose most useful resources is its collection of Evidence Resources for law enforcement officials and its regular updates of “The Latest Evidence News From Around The Globe.”
C.O.P.S.
The acronym stands for Concerns of Police Survivors. C.O.P.S. describes its mission as follows: “Each year, between 140 and 160 officers are killed in the line of duty and their families and co-workers are left to cope with the tragic loss. C.O.P.S. provides resources to help them rebuild their shattered lives.” Its membership of 50,000 survivors includes “spouses, children, parents, siblings, significant others and co-workers of officers who have died in the line of duty.”
Police and Security News
Regular columns and features have headings such as: “The Wheels of Justice,” “… And Nothing But the Truth” and “BUSTED! – Real Stories of Genuine Absurdity.” The site also offers useful resources in multiple categories (Swat & Tactical, Police Vehicles, Technology, Training & Education, Weaponry, etc.).
Police K9 Magazine
The website’s News & Videos section features stories and videos about K9s on the job, assisting their human partners with drug busts, security patrols and arrests, and getting honored for their contributions.
Law Enforcement Today
Chockful of breaking news and stories about real-life police work, Law Enforcement Today posts multiple articles each day and also provides comprehensive network of support resources and information. The Sgt. A. Merica feature invites law enforcement officers to submit articles, which if accepted run anonymously after their identities are confirmed.
Thin Blue Line of Leadership
TBLL is focused on providing resources for law enforcement leaders, with blog posts covering Leadership Accountability, Team Building, Predictive Policing and more. Their mission: “To inspire law enforcement supervisors to be the best leaders they can be by providing positive leadership and culture development tactics.”
ModernPolicing.com and WorldPolicing.com
This pair of informative blogs is run by professor emeritus Cory Gordner, law enforcement textbook author and chief research advisor for the National Institute of Justice. World Policing features curated law enforcement-related news reports from across the globe.
PORAC Law Enforcement News
PORAC – The Peace Officers Research Association of California – represents over 75,000 public safety members in California, making it the largest statewide association in the nation. Law Enforcement News is PORAC’s official monthly magazine, covering legal and labor issues, legislation, finances, public safety trends, training, employment and more. The magazine can be read online, and select articles are also posted in a blog-like format on their In The News section.
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Law Enforcement Podcasts
Our LAPD Story
The official podcast of the Los Angeles Police Department, “Our LAPD Story” aims to share some of the stories of the nation’s third largest police force — “from calls for service, to moments that changed lives forever.”
Reducing Crime
Professor Jerry Ratcliffe interviews influential thinkers in law enforcement and leading crime and police researchers working to advance public safety, in an ongoing discussion about strategies for reducing crime.
Off-Duty Pursuits
Dedicated to what cops do when they aren’t on the beat, this podcast showcases law enforcement and first responders as entrepreneurs, influencers, non-profit leaders and much more.
The Law Enforcement Social Media Podcast
Take a closer look at (or, listen to) “the most powerful community policing, marketing and communication tool available to law enforcement today.”
Firearms Nation Podcast
A veteran law enforcement officer talks with firearms instructors, competitive shooters, military and law officers, gear/gun manufacturers, journalist and anyone else in the Firearms Nation.
Policing Matters
Hosted by PoliceOne.com the Policing Matters covers a wealth of topics, with popular episodes including no-pursuit policies, tattoo policies and traffic stop safety.
Finest United
A New York City-focused podcast covering “the realness from our perspective on and off duty.” It invites listeners to tune in with the words: “You may laugh, you may cry, you may agree or disagree, but you will feel true emotion as result of listening.”
The Squad Room
Delivering advice from Navy SEALs, tactical operators, nutrition experts, conditioning coaches and more, The Squad Room reports: “We tackle any subject that might improve our wellness and commitment to ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities that we serve.”
Quality Policing
Former Baltimore Officer Peter Moskos, now a professor and blogger, describes his podcast as “a quality discussion about policing and crime prevention with a focus on current events and honest data.”
Blue Lives Radio
Lt. Randy Sutton, a highly decorated officer Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officer, now an author, actor and public speaker, presents compelling stories and analyzes important issues.
Things Police See
A former cop conducts candid interviews with a variety of law enforcement officers about their most intense — shocking, humorous, terrifying — moments on the job.
On The Job With PORAC
Hosted by Brian Marvel, president of the Peace Officers Research Association of California, this podcast addresses a wide variety of topics ranging from public safety to legislation/advocacy to officer health and wellness. Recent topics covered include managing your finances and building your credit capacity, policing in a hostile climate, and setting a national precedent to reduce use of force.
Note: This post will be updated periodically, so be sure to reach out to us at [email protected] to recommend any links you’d like to see added to this list.
