Inside the PD takes you behind the badge and into the real world of school-based law enforcement. Hosted by Assistant Chief Lance Cox, this podcast shares authentic conversations, compelling stories, and lessons learned from the men and women who protect and serve our schools every day.
From memorable moments on campus to leadership insights, community connections, and the challenges officers face in the field, Inside the PD offers an honest, behind-the-scenes look at a profession that blends public safety with education.
Resilience Behind the Badge: Sgt. Kevin Wooden’s Story
In this powerful episode of Inside the PD, Lance sits down with Sergeant Kevin Wooden — a veteran officer whose career is defined by courage, compassion, and resilience.
Sgt. Wooden shares his journey through decades of service, including two critical incidents that forever shaped his perspective: one involving a tragic student shooting and another when a fellow officer was wounded in the line of duty.
Through these experiences, Sgt. Wooden opens up about what it means to lead through crisis, to recover, and to continue showing up for the community you serve. This episode shines a light on the strength and humanity that define the men and women of school-based law enforcement.
8 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT
Sgt. Mario Rodriguez
In this episode of Inside the PD, we sit down with Sergeant Mario Rodriguez, who currently oversees the Criminal Investigations Division and leads the Drone Program at the Austin ISD Police Department. Sgt. Rodriguez shares his journey from his early career with the Socorro Police Department in West Texas to his current leadership role in one of the most dynamic divisions within the agency.
We discuss the lessons he’s learned over his years in law enforcement, how technology like drones is transforming school safety, and the importance of mentorship and teamwork in building a strong investigative unit. Sgt. Rodriguez’s story is one of perseverance, innovation, and dedication — offering an inside look at how experienced leaders continue to shape the future of school-based policing.
1 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT
Protecting Students – with Det. Javier Rodriguez
In this episode of Inside the PD, we sit down with Detective Javier Rodriguez, a career law enforcement officer now serving in the Child Exploitation Unit with the Austin ISD Police Department. Detective Rodriguez shares his journey into school-based policing, the experiences that shaped his career, and the critical work he does today investigating crimes that target some of the most vulnerable members of our community.
Together, we discuss the challenges of combating child exploitation and human trafficking, the importance of strong community and inter-agency partnerships, and the proactive steps schools, parents, and students can take to stay safe. This candid conversation sheds light on the realities of protecting children in today’s world while highlighting the dedication and commitment of the officers who do this work every day.
18 Aug 2025
Mental Health Support with Nary Sos
In this episode of Inside the PD, we sit down with Nary Sos, a Crisis Response Coordinator assigned to our Crisis Intervention Team. Nary shares her journey into the field of mental health, what led her to partner with law enforcement, and how her work supports both officers and the communities we serve. Together, we explore the importance of mental health awareness, strategies for crisis response, and the unique role of collaboration between clinicians and police officers. This conversation provides valuable insight into how proactive mental health support can build trust, de-escalate crises, and create lasting change.
4 Aug 2025
What is SBLE and how has it changed.
This episode I try and answer some simple questions from the episode one. I break down what SBLE is and how it has changed over the last 30 years. I talk about duties, training, responsibilities and relationships and how they all intersect. This is a great follow up to episode 1 leading us in to our firs set of interviews. Give me 45 minutes and learn a little more about what we do and how e do it.
31 Jul 2025
Introduction
In this inaugural episode of Inside the PD, Assistant Chief Lance Cox introduces listeners to the mission and purpose of the podcast — giving a voice to the men and women of school-based law enforcement. With nearly 30 years of experience, Chief Cox shares his own journey through the ranks, from School Resource Officer to Assistant Chief, and reflects on the relationships and moments that have shaped his career.
You’ll learn what to expect from future episodes — real stories from the field, leadership insights, community connections, and the lighter side of life behind the badge. Whether you’re an officer, educator, parent, or simply curious about how police work fits into the school environment, Inside the PD offers an authentic, behind-the-scenes perspective you won’t find anywhere else.
Inside a recent episode
Resilience Behind the Badge: Sgt. Kevin Wooden’s Story
Published 21 Oct 2025 · Transcript excerpt
[…] I've invested time in sitting down with admin. I talked to them about critical incidents that we have over the district. I try to make myself available so that way they have any questions on what should I do if this happens. So we try to have those difficult conversations before the difficult incident happens. […]
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