Learn what makes the Western Illinois University Law Enforcement and Justice Administration Program the best criminal justice program in the State of Illinois. Hear from experienced faculty who have worked in their fields and take dive into their experiences in Law Enforcement and Public Safety!.
WIU Inside the System | S2 EP 2: Director of WIU's Office of Public Safety, Derek Watts
Welcome to WIU: Inside the System, presented by Western Illinois University’s School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA).
On this episode Dr. Johnson introduces us to Derek Watts, Western Illinois University's Director for the Office of Public Safety (OPS). Watts has been with the department for nearly 30 years, and was named director in 2021.He earned his Masters degree from Western Illinois University, and also serves as a part-time instructor for the WIU LEJA program. Watts holds a leadership role (Sergeant-at-Arms) with the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS).
Watts discusses his career in law enforcement from starting out in a small town to becoming the director of OPS. Plus hear about the real world training simulations (VirTra) the agency uses and also offers to students in the law enforcement and justice administration program.
9 Oct 2026
WIU Inside the System | S2 EP 1: Assistant Professor for Fire Protection Chief Gary Baum
Welcome to WIU: Inside the System, presented by Western Illinois University’s School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA).We start our second season of the podcast introducing you to Chief Gary Baum, an Assistant Professor for Fire Protection. Chief Baum has been involved in fire services since 2001 and had been involved in teaching for more than 35 years. Before coming to Western Chief Baum served as a lead Instructor at the Fox Valley Career Center and a Field Instructor for the Illinois Fire Service Institute.In this episode we hear Chief Baum's advice for people wanting to get into fire services, the way foam is used in fire services, and his tips for handling the physical challenges associated with being a firefighter.
30 Apr 2026
WIU Inside the System | EP 16: Emergency Management Professor – Franco Perez
Welcome to WIU: Inside the System, presented by Western Illinois University’s School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA).In this week's episode we are introduced to our newest professor in LEJA, Franco Perez, who teaches in Emergency Management with interests in Homeland Security, Preparedness and Planning, Security, THIRA, Red Teaming, Evacuation Planning, and Strength Training. Professor Perez discusses his journey to Western Illinois University as a student, and eventually a faculty member, as well as what he thinks the importance of AI in emergency management's future is.
10 Apr 2026
WIU Inside the System | EP 15: Real Polygraph Test: How Lie Detector Tests Actually Work
Welcome to WIU: Inside the System, presented by Western Illinois University’s School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA).In this installment Associate Professor David Young shows us how a real polygraph test works in law enforcement. In this episode, we take you inside an actual polygraph examination and break down the science behind lie detector tests.Watch as a subject undergoes a real polygraph, and learn how investigators analyze physiological responses like heart rate, breathing, and skin conductivity to detect deception.Polygraphs are widely used in criminal investigations, background checks, and federal hiring—but how accurate are they really? This epsidoe explores the truth behind one of the most debated tools in modern policing.
26 Mar 2026
WIU Inside the System | EP 14: The Importance of a Four Year Degree in LEJA
Welcome to WIU: Inside the System, presented by Western Illinois University’s School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA).In this installment Dr. Todd Lough is back to explain the significance of earning a four year degree in law enforcement and criminal justice. Hear his story on how his degree helped him be prepared for the academy, and why he thinks a degree will put students ahead of the game in the law enforcement and criminal justice field.
12 Mar 2026
WIU Inside the System | EP 13: Retired Acting Director of the U.S. Marshals Service David Harlow
Welcome to WIU: Inside the System, presented by Western Illinois University’s School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA).In this week's episode we meet David Harlow, a Western Illinois University graduate who served in various positions with the U.S. Marshal Services, culminating in serving as the acting director until his retirement in 2018.Hear about some of his experiences as a U.S. Marshal, as well as some of the things he says are important for today's college students to know when pursuing a career in law enforcement.
18 Dec 2025
WIU Inside the System | EP 12: Implementation Project Manager for D4H, Marie Hunt
Welcome to WIU: Inside the System, presented by Western Illinois University’s School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA).This week's episode, our final one for 2025, we are introduced to Marie Hunt, who is the implementation project manager at D4H. She discusses her career path from personal trainer to the technical side of emergencymanagement, and what she says is the best part about her job. Also hear about where she sees the future of incident management platforms going and AI's role in the future of emergency management software.
20 Nov 2025
WIU Inside the System | EP 11: A Look Into Behavioral Analysis in Law Enforcement
Welcome to WIU: Inside the System, presented by Western Illinois University’s School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA).In this week's episode retired FBI specialist and current WIU professor Dr. Jack Schafer returns to discuss his experiences in behavioral analysis. In law enforcement behavioral analysis is used to aid in criminal investigations by creating profiles of unknown offenders, developing investigative strategies, and preparing interview plans. Experts analyze crime scenes, victimology, and offender behavior to understand motivation, modus operandi, and likely characteristics of a suspect to narrow down possibilities in both active and cold cases. The FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) is a prime example of this practice, providing support for complex cases like terrorism, cybercrime, and violent crimes.Dr. Schafer discusses his experiences as as behavioral analyst assigned to FBI's National Security Behavioral Analysis Program. Hear what some of the physical signals he's looking for during an interrogation are, and how the word, "well" is a sign that a lie is to follow.
13 Nov 2025
WIU Inside the System | EP 10: Emergency Management Leader and CEO of D4H - Robin Blandford
Welcome to WIU: Inside the System, presented by Western Illinois University’s School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA).This week we have a special Guest joining us all the way from Dublin, Ireland, Founder and CEO of D4H, Mr. Robin Blandford. D4H was founded in 2008 and based on Mr. Blandford's own experience in the Irish Coast Guard. He wanted to build meaningful, data driven software that helped emergency and crisis managers save lives during emergencies. D4H software is used by more than 100,000 emergency managers across nearly 40 countries worldwide, and has partnered with Western Illinois University and their Emergency Management program.Hear some of the stories that have made D4H the go to software for Emergency managers, and who are some of the people who have made Robin who he is today.
6 Nov 2025
WIU Inside the System | EP 9: Former Quincy Fire Chief and Professor – Joe Henning
Welcome to WIU: Inside the System, presented by Western Illinois University’s School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA).This week's show is hot, literally, as we introduce you to WIU Fire Protection Services Program professor Joe Henning. Henning is a retired fire chief from Quincy, Illinois, who spent nearly 28 years with the department, 12 of them serving as fire chief. The one thing he tells students when they get started are that no two days are the same. One day you can be putting out a 2 alarm fire, the next you you're helping somebody who got stuck in their bath tub.Hear about some of his experiences during his nearly 30 years in fire services, and why he feels the Western Illinois University Fire Protection Services Program is so beneficial to students.
30 Oct 2025
WIU Inside the System | EP 8: Former FBI Specialist and Professor – Dr. Jack Schafer
Welcome to WIU: Inside the System, presented by Western Illinois University’s School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA).In this week's episode we are introduced to retired FBI specialist and current WIU professor Dr. Jack Schafer. Dr. Schafer specializes in behavioral analytics and served as behavioral analyst assigned to FBI's National Security Behavioral Analysis Program. Hear about how he got started, how he got involved in counter espionage, and advice for prospective students.Dr. Schafer has also authored several books, including:“Psychological Narrative Analysis: A Professional Method to Detect Deception in Written and Oral Communications.” He also co-authored a book titled “Advanced Interviewing Techniques: Proven strategies for Law Enforcement, Military, and security Personnel.” He has published numerous articles on a wide range of topics including the psychopathology of hate, ethics inlaw enforcement, detecting deception, and the universal principles of criminal behavior. Dr. Schafer’s latest book is “The Like Switch: An Ex-FBI Agent’s Guide to Influencing, Attracting, and Winning People Over.”
26 Oct 2025
WIU Inside the System | EP 7: Juvenile Justice Professor –Dr. Barry McCrary
Welcome to WIU: Inside the System, presented by Western Illinois University’s School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA).
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Barry McCrary, a juvenile justice expert and professor at Western Illinois University. Dr, McCrary began his career in 1984 and has held numerous positions in the juvenile justice field, 18 of which were in the Pittsburgh area. Here he was tasked with counseling, designing, implementing and monitoring a progressive treatment program.
Dr. McCrary is also the founder of a nonprofit organization entitled; Maleness to Manhood Inc., which is a faith based mentoring program for inner-city youth. Dr. McCrary created Maleness to Manhood Inc. as an approach to mentor young men in the juvenile justice system and also as a preventive approach to delinquency.
In addition to his work for Juvenile Court, Dr. McCrary has worked as a counselor, consultant, therapist and crisis intervention specialist for various organizations and programs.
9 Oct 2025
WIU Inside the System | EP 6: Former LAPD Officer and Police Chief – Dr. Thomas Meloni
Welcome to WIU: Inside the System, presented by Western Illinois University’s School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA).
In this episode, Professor Dr. Thomas Meloni sits down with Dr. Johnson to discuss his nearly forty year career in law enforcement that included stops in Will County as a sheriff's deputy, Los Angeles as a police officer, Thornton, Illinois as the chief of police, and finally Wheaton, IL as the deputy chief of police. They discuss topics like police ethics, effective police communication, and touch on some of the politics in policing. Hear what he also says about officers and AI...
Dr. Meloni also serves as a member of the Ethics Advisory Council at the Center for Law Enforcement Ethics and as an adjunct faculty member of the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration, which are both housed at their parent organization, the Center for American and International Law in Plano, Texas.
2 Oct 2025
WIU Inside the System | EP 5: Professor Patricia Walton –Attorney and Judge
In this episode of WIU: Inside the System, presented by Western Illinois University’s School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA), Dr. Jamie Johnson introduces Assistant Professor and Graduate Coordinator Patricia Walton, a former attorney and judge with over 40 years of experience..Professor Walton retired as an Associate Judge in 2019, serving in the Ninth Judicial Circuit of IllinoisDuring her career of more than forty years she has served as an attorney with a concentration on Constitutional Law, and 25 years as a judge in the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Illinois specializing on juvenile law.Now a professor at WIU, Professor Walton shares her expertise on the court system as LEJA's go to for everything about the legal system..Hear how she got started, her advice for prospective students interested in a career in the courts, and just how accurate the movie My Cousin Vinny actually was.
25 Sept 2025
WIU Inside the System | EP 4: Professor Robert Kelly –Police Policy Expert
In this episode of WIU: Inside the System, presented by Western Illinois University’s School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA), Dr. Jamie Johnson introduces Professor Robert Kelly, a 25-year veteran of the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP).Professor Kelly retired as a Lieutenant and Station Commander, serving in both field operations and administrative leadership roles. His career included:• Supervising criminal investigative and patrol sections• Over 10 years in research and policy development with the PSP Bureau of Research and Development• Drafting agency-wide policies to improve law enforcement operations• Serving as a featured speaker at the 2017 International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference in PhiladelphiaNow a professor at WIU, Dr. Kelly shares his expertise in police leadership, criminal justice, and policy development to prepare students for careers in law enforcement.Join in on the conversation with a police policy expert who shaped operations in one of the nation’s most respected state police agencies.
25 Sept 2025
WIU Inside the System | EP 3: Professor Glen Schwartz – IL State Police Veteran & District Commander
In this episode of WIU: Inside the System, presented by Western Illinois University’s School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA), we sit down with Instructor Glen Schwartz, a 27-year veteran of the Illinois State Police.During his decorated career, Instructor Schwartz served in multiple ranks of Trooper, Special Agent, Sergeant, Master Sergeant, Lieutenant, and District Commander (Districts 14 & 20).The majority of his law enforcement career was spent in the Division of Criminal Investigation, Zone 4, where he worked in a narcotics task force and general criminal investigation units.Beyond policing, Instructor Schwartz is also a U.S. Navy Veteran. Since 2011, he has taught Criminal Investigations at WIU, where he now serves as the Internship Coordinator, guiding the next generation of criminal justice professionals.Explore the career path of a veteran officer who held nearly every rank in IL State policing, from Trooper to District Commander.
25 Sept 2025
WIU Inside the System | EP 2: FBI Special Agent Turned Professor – David Young
Welcome to WIU: Inside the System, presented by Western Illinois University’s School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA).In this episode, Professor David Young shares his incredible journey as a 26-year FBI Special Agent. Assigned to the Atlanta and Springfield Divisions of the FBI, Professor Young investigated cases involving: Violent crimes, Public corruption, Civil rights violations, Criminal enterprises, Bank robbery & kidnapping, White-collar crime, Drug trafficking.He also served as Acting Chief Division Counsel for the Springfield Division. He was part of the FBI Evidence Response Team, responding to historic events such as the Oklahoma City bombing, the Centennial Olympic Park bombing, and the World Trade Center bombing.Since 2019, Professor Young has been part of the faculty at Western Illinois University, bringing his field experience into the classroom to prepare the next generation of law enforcement and criminal justice professionals.Don’t miss this deep dive into the real-world experiences of an FBI Special Agent turned professor.
25 Sept 2025
WIU Inside the System | EP 1: Dr. Todd Lough on Chicago Policing & Law Enforcement
Welcome to the first episode of WIU: Inside the System, presented by Western Illinois University’s School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA).In this episode, Interim LEJA Program Director Jamie Johnson chats with Dr. Todd Lough, who shares his experiences as a former Chicago Police Officer and current WIU professor. With nine years at the Chicago Police Department (CPD), Dr. Lough worked in multiple roles, including Patrol Officer, Gang & Tactical Officer, Neighborhood Relations Officer, and Gang Violence Analyst. As a Gang Violence Analyst in the CPD’s Deployment Operations Center, he conducted weekly analyses of street gang-related shootings, helping deploy resources to reduce gang violence and lower Chicago’s homicide rate.Beyond policing, Dr. Lough has experience in private security, working for organizations such as Major League Baseball and Sotheby’s. His research interests include policing issues, private and public security concerns, and multi-jurisdictional responses to terrorism.Now, as a faculty member at WIU, Dr. Lough brings both frontline experience and academic expertise to prepare the next generation of criminal justice leaders.Don’t miss this in-depth conversation on the realities of Chicago policing, crime analysis, and the transition from law enforcement to higher education.
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