Show Notes

The Inside Skinny on a Jury Trial in Manatee County, Florida.

Join Serge and Clarke as they share Nathan Steelman’s experience sitting as a juror in the judgment of a woman charged with domestic violence in Florida.  You have heard the expression “I’d rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6.” (Clarke disagrees: he would rather be carried by six than judged by 12).  But…

The Tragic Death of NYPD Police Officer Jonathan Diller

Serge and Clarke comment on the murder of Ofc. Diller and update the listeners on renewed efforts on the Columbia Project. Worth a listen.

Stand Your Ground Doesn’t Legalize Illegal Deadly Force

Serge and Clarke celebrate Easter. We have friends who have a blessed Ramadan. We have friends who we will wish Happy Passover in several weeks. We have re-uploaded an episode. We will be back next week with a brand-new episode. In rural New York, a 65-year-old man fired two shots from his porch killing a…

If Only There Was a Way for Civilians to Experience “Shoot Don’t Shoot.”

Law Enforcement firearms training has historically emphasized reaction time and marksmanship. But the decision to shoot or not shoot is the most fundamental choice the police officer faces in highly stressful situations. For the most part, civilians (who sit in judgment of the police) have not had large-scale access to simulator training. In this week’s…

Seize the Day But Don’t Necessarily Take the Bonus

At the request of a listener, Serge and Clarke offer their advice to young people without law enforcement experience who wish to apply to become police officers. People: this is solid advice from two men who have been there.

Seven Seconds and One Shot Into a Burglary Investigation and Melvin Jay is Dead.

February 1, 2024 — Prince George’s County, Maryland. Prince George’s County Police Officer Braxton Shelton is dispatched to a burglary in progress at an apartment in Suitland. He arrives within a minute of the dispatch, finds the apartment door ajar, and enters by himself. Seven seconds later Shelton fires one shot killing Melvin Jay, who…

What’s Worse Than a Criminal With a Handgun? A Criminal with a Glock and Glock Switch.

What is worse than a plethora of undereducated, jobless, and unfocused young men with semi-automatic handguns shooting at each other in cities across America? Answer: A group of undereducated, jobless, and unfocused young men with machine-guns shooting at each other in cities across America. Welcome to the $50 “Glock switch.” This small, inexpensive, and easily…

The CSI Checklist Phone App is the Preeminent Tool for Criminal Investigators

There IS something new under the sun! Tom Mauriello, the mastermind of FORENSIQ, has organized decades of law enforcement expertise in a CSI phone app that is exceptional, affordable, and practical. Any criminal justice stakeholder can access an investigative blueprint for every type of investigation from arson to mass casualty event. In this episode of…

Our 100th Episode — Serge, Clarke, and our Listeners Reach a Milestone

The Black and White and Thin Blue Lines podcast began in Spring of 2021 as the effort of Serge Antonin and Clarke Ahlers. The podcast concerns itself with issues of criminal justice, particularly at the intersection of race in America. Since then, Serge and Clarke have learned the technology of podcasting, produced and edited 100…

Maryland Fights Crime by Taxing Law-Abiding Citizens and More

The Maryland General Assembly proposes an excise tax on the sale of guns and ammunition, the Howard County Council debates a ceasefire in Gaza, and several state senators propose to eliminate good time credits for a very small number of convicted felons. Is our government fiddling while our community burns? Serge and Clarke add their…