123. Successful policing requires the right training and accountability
From JUSTUS with Jack & Gonzo by Jack D’Aurora and John Gonzales
February 23, 2026 · 49 min · Episode 123
About this episode
The episode discusses the importance of proper training and accountability in policing with expert Jeff Wenninger.
Today, we are joined by Jeff Wenninger , a retired LAPD Lieutenant, a nationally recognized law enforcement expert and author of “On Thin Ice,” an analysis of how poor leadership and entrenched mindsets have eroded public trust in police. Good policing requires standardization and training. The lack of standardized training nationwide is evident. Police academies across the nation vary significantly in required training hours, with the national average being about 800 hours. For context, a cosmetology license requires 1,500 hours of training. In contrast, Nordic countries train their police for two to three years and continuously monitor candidates to ensure they possess the necessary characteristics for success. Often a department’s culture may not align with its standards. Law enforcement policies are only as effective as the culture that enforces them. Training must be assessed, and officers must be held accountable for their actions. Proper police response requires self-awareness, both of the situation and how an officer’s actions can escalate or de-escalate an incident. Officers must ensure that any force used is proportional to the threat and the severity of the crime…
People in this episode
Hosts: Jack D’Aurora, John Gonzales
Guest: Jeff Wenninger
Topics covered
- policing
- training
- accountability
- law enforcement
- public trust
- police culture
Keywords
- policing
- training
- accountability
- law enforcement
- public trust
- Nordic countries
- policy-practice divide
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: LAPD
Books & works: On Thin Ice
Places: Nordic countries
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