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 - 00:01:14:12 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