On Our Watch

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You know the refrain. With each new scandal involving law enforcement, another horrific video of misconduct, evidence of assault, or act of fatal negligence, police officials tell the public: "We're investigating." But what really happens inside those internal investigations that promise accountability? For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent, if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden behind a wall of official secrecy. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, NPR and KQED reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. Hosted by KQED Criminal Justice reporter Sukey Lewis, On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve? New episodes on Thursdays.

NPR


    • Apr 15, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 43m AVG DURATION
    • 27 EPISODES
    • 1 SEASONS

    Ivy Insights

    The On Our Watch podcast is a truly powerful and eye-opening exploration of police misconduct and abuse of power. This podcast delves into cases that have been covered up or ignored, shedding light on the dark underbelly of law enforcement. Living in LA, I appreciate being able to hear about these cases and finally know what happens after the initial headlines. The show is incredibly well-done, with thorough research and a balanced perspective.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is its ability to resonate with listeners long after they've finished listening. The stories presented are recent and relevant, making them highly relatable and impactful. The podcast does an excellent job of presenting a balanced view, even when faced with stonewalling from internal investigating organizations or law enforcement departments. It exposes the lax self-policing within many police organizations, revealing the toxic environment that allows bullying and abuses of power to go unchecked.

    On the other hand, one downside to this podcast is that it may be seen as biased towards anti-police sentiment. While it presents a balanced view overall, some listeners may interpret it as painting all cops as corrupt when in reality it's only a small percentage. It would be beneficial for future episodes to provide more examples of officers who uphold their duty with integrity to counterbalance this perception.

    In conclusion, The On Our Watch podcast is an essential listen for anyone interested in understanding police violence, institutionalized racism, and abuses of power within law enforcement. It offers deep insights into internal policing investigations while maintaining factual support and balance. The work done by KQED and NPR in creating this series deserves recognition for bringing crucial issues to light and holding those responsible accountable. I sincerely hope that more episodes will be produced in the future to continue shining a light on these important topics.



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    Latest episodes from On Our Watch

    On Our Watch Presents: Suave Season 2 from Futuro Studios

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 4:21


    Today we're sharing with you the trailer for Season 2 of Suave, the Pulitzer Prize-winning podcast from Futuro Studios. “Suave” Gonzalez was released from prison after 31 years serving a life sentence without parole. He was one of thousands of juvenile lifers granted a second chance at life. Season 2 is his story about life after incarceration—and the search for the true meaning of freedom. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    BONUS: “More Work to be Done” | S2: New Folsom

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2024 45:30


    Sukey and Julie have some news and updates about Valentino Rodriguez Sr., Mimy Rodriguez and some of the key players at New Folsom prison. We also share a recent conversation with an attorney who has been involved in the legal fight for disability rights in California state prisons for decades.   Read our digital article: 'How to Kill a Cop': Death, Despair and Corruption in California's Most Violent Prison. Mental health resources If you are currently in crisis, you can dial 988 [U.S.] to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. SAMHSA National Help Line 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Helpline US Health and Human Services Warmline Directory Episode Transcript Find more information at our website. If you have tips or feedback about this series please reach out to us at onourwatch@kqed.org.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    On Our Watch Presents: Hush

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2024 46:37


    Today we're sharing the first episode of 'Hush,' an investigative podcast from Oregon Public Broadcasting focused on uncovering the buried truth about critical stories in the Pacific Northwest. This series looks at the case of Jesse Lee Johnson, a Black man who lived for 17 years on Oregon's death row for a crime he says he didn't commit, and tries to understand why the state tried for so long to kill him. Follow and listen to more episodes of “Hush” here: https://www.opb.org/show/hush/ If you're in a mental health crisis, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    On Our Watch Presents: The Youth Development Center

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2024 34:51


    Today we're sharing the first episode of “The Youth Development Center,” a series from New Hampshire Public Radio. This podcast from the creators of "Bear Brook" and “The 13th Step” dives deep into how New Hampshire became the center of one of the largest youth detention abuse scandals in the country. This episode follows the story of Andy Perkins, a man who remained silent about his experiences at the Youth Development Center for decades. Then, he saw something on the news that made him realize he wasn't alone.  Follow and listen to more episodes of “The Youth Development Center” here: https://link.chtbl.com/ch14Qgb_?sid=KQED   Click here to read the companion digital story made in collaboration with The Pudding.   If you have suffered abuse and need someone to talk to, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. If you're in a mental health crisis, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    BONUS: Sukey on NPR's The Sunday Story | S2: New Folsom

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2024 34:13


    Get a behind-the-scenes peek at the reporting for On Our Watch: New Folsom as Ayesha Rascoe, host of NPR's The Sunday Story from Up First, speaks with Sukey about the season and the wider context of this kind of journalism. Resources If you are currently in crisis, you can dial 988 [U.S.] to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. SAMHSA National Help Line 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Helpline US Health and Human Services Warmline Directory Whistleblower resources The Lamplighter Project The Signals Network EMPOWR Whistleblowers of America Government Accountability Project National Whistleblower Center Whistleblower Aid Listen to the original broadcast on NPR's The Sunday Story. Episode Transcript Find more information at our website. If you have tips or feedback about this series please reach out to us at onourwatch@kqed.org.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    BONUS: Right to Know | S2: New Folsom

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2024 28:54


    On Our Watch was made possible by the passage of a groundbreaking law enforcement sunshine bill in 2018. Today we talk to California State Senator Nancy Skinner, who co-authored the state's “Right to Know Act," about the legacy of her landmark bill, ongoing obstacles to transparency, and the need for accountability in California prisons. Learn more about Sen. Skinner's work on law enforcement transparency, including The Right to Know Act (SB 1421) and SB 16, by visiting her webpage. The California Reporting Project, a coalition of newsrooms, provides insights into how these open-records acts are being implemented. Mental health resources If you are currently in crisis, you can dial 988 [U.S.] to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. SAMHSA National Help Line 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Helpline US Health and Human Services Warmline Directory Episode Transcript Find more information at our website. If you have tips or feedback about this series please reach out to us at onourwatch@kqed.org.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    BONUS: “The Prison Beat” | S2: New Folsom

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2024 44:15


    Reporting on prisons from the outside is often difficult; it's a closed and secretive world. But there is also important reporting being done by people who are inside prison, which comes with dangers of its own. Sukey and Julie sit down with two formerly incarcerated journalists, Rahsaan Thomas and Jesse Vasquez, to talk about the challenges and opportunities of prison reporting. Rahsaan Thomas is the Executive Director of Empowerment Avenue and a producer at Ear Hustle. Jesse Vasquez is the Executive Director of the Pollen Initiative and former Editor-in-Chief of the San Quentin News. Mental health resources If you are currently in crisis, you can dial 988 [U.S.] to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. SAMHSA National Help Line 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Helpline US Health and Human Services Warmline Directory Episode Transcript Find more information at our website. If you have tips or feedback about this series please reach out to us at onourwatch@kqed.org.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    BONUS: The Whistleblower Playbook | S2: New Folsom

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2024 39:32


    Sukey sits down with Mary Inman and Poppy Alexander, two whistleblower attorneys who talk about the cost of speaking up, and unpack the playbook that employers use to keep people quiet. They also discuss a shift in thinking that can protect both whistleblowers and their organizations. Mental health resources If you are currently in crisis, you can dial 988 [U.S.] to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. SAMHSA National Help Line 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Helpline US Health and Human Services Warmline Directory Whistleblower resources Whistleblower Partners, LLP (where Mary and Poppy are partners) The Lamplighter Project The Signals Network EMPOWR Whistleblowers of America Government Accountability Project National Whistleblower Center Whistleblower Aid Mary Inman was profiled in the New Yorker piece, "The Personal Toll of Whistleblowing." Episode Transcript Find more information at our website. If you have tips or feedback about this series please reach out to us at onourwatch@kqed.org.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    8. Last Stand | S2: New Folsom

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2024 85:18


    After his son's death, Valentino Rodriguez Sr. waited for the warden of New Folsom prison to call him. That call never came. In our season finale, we walk through the gates of New Folsom to ask the warden for answers. We also get a rare glimpse inside the world of correctional officer discipline and hear from Sgt. Kevin Steele in his own words.  Mental health resources If you are currently in crisis, you can dial 988 [U.S.] to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. SAMHSA National Help Line 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Helpline US Health and Human Services Warmline Directory Whistleblower resources The Lamplighter Project The Signals Network EMPOWR Whistleblowers of America Government Accountability Project National Whistleblower Center Whistleblower Aid Episode Transcript Find more information at our website. If you have tips or feedback about this series please reach out to us at onourwatch@kqed.org.  

    7. “We Don't Do Coincidences” | S2: New Folsom

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2024 74:09


    We get to listen in on confidential interviews conducted by Sgt. Kevin Steele before his death. Plus, we finally get to see surveillance footage from inside the B8 unit that sheds new light on the murder of Luis Giovanny Aguilar. Resources If you are currently in crisis, you can dial 988 [U.S.] to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. SAMHSA National Help Line 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Helpline US Health and Human Services Warmline Directory Episode Transcript Find more information at our website. If you have tips or feedback about this series please reach out to us at onourwatch@kqed.org.  

    UPDATE: Episode 7 will drop April 2!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2024 2:46


    Hi listeners! Thanks for your patience as we've been sifting through new evidence and secret internal tapes that were recently leaked to us by a confidential source. Our next episode will be here in the feed on April 2!

    6. The Day Room | S2: New Folsom

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2024 66:52


    The team digs deep into the homicide of Luis Giovanny Aguilar—the murder in the day room that Officer Valentino Rodriguez was tasked to write a report about, and that had consumed Sgt. Kevin Steele up until the last day of his life. We track down each of the men who took part in the stabbing to find out: did officers also play a role? Resources If you are currently in crisis, you can dial 988 [U.S.] to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. SAMHSA National Help Line 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Helpline US Health and Human Services Warmline Directory Episode Transcript Find more information at our website. If you have tips or feedback about this series please reach out to us at onourwatch@kqed.org.  

    5. End of Watch | S2: New Folsom

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2024 55:22


    Valentino Rodriguez Sr. is on the treadmill one morning when he gets a call—Sgt. Kevin Steele is dead. Val Sr. has lost not only his friend, but his partner in their shared quest to find the truth. A meeting with the FBI provides few answers, even as new questions arise about why a second whistleblower from New Folsom has lost his life. Resources If you are currently in crisis, you can dial 988 [U.S.] to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. SAMHSA National Help Line 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Helpline US Health and Human Services Warmline Directory Episode Transcript Find more information at our website. If you have tips or feedback about this series please reach out to us at onourwatch@kqed.org.  

    4. "Foul Play" | S2: New Folsom

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2024 62:00


    How did Sgt. Kevin Steele go from being a true believer in the institution of New Folsom to writing an explosive memo hoping to tear it down? We sift through video evidence, interrogation tapes and internal reports to find glimpses of his transformation. But when he feels his reports of corruption are ignored—he takes an even more drastic step. Resources If you are currently in crisis, you can dial 988 [U.S.] to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. SAMHSA National Help Line 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Helpline US Health and Human Services Warmline Directory Episode Transcript Find more information at our website. If you have tips or feedback about this series please reach out to us at onourwatch@kqed.org.  

    3. Superhero | S2: New Folsom

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2024 61:37


    Valentino's unexpected death just days after a confidential meeting with the prison's warden leaves his grieving father with a tangle of questions and suspicions. When law enforcement and prison leadership fail to act, Val Sr. finds an ally in Sgt. Kevin Steele, a senior officer who'd taken Valentino under his wing. The two men have a shared mission–to find justice for Valentino.  Resources If you are currently in crisis, you can dial 988 [U.S.] to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. SAMHSA National Help Line 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Helpline US Health and Human Services Warmline Directory Episode Transcript Find more information at our website. If you have tips or feedback about this series please reach out to us at onourwatch@kqed.org.  

    2. Running the Race | S2: New Folsom

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2024 51:31


    Consumed with stress and fed up with how he's being treated, Valentino Rodriguez reaches a breaking point at work. A veteran officer and mentor to Valentino starts looking into the murder that happened in the dayroom. Valentino and Mimy get married, then Valentino goes in for a final meeting with the warden of New Folsom.  Resources If you are currently in crisis, you can dial 988 [U.S.] to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. SAMHSA National Help Line 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Helpline US Health and Human Services Warmline Directory Episode Transcript Find more information at our website. If you have tips or feedback about this series please reach out to us at onourwatch@kqed.org.

    1. Welcome to the Family | S2: New Folsom

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2024 54:02


    Soon after correctional officer Valentino Rodriguez starts working at New Folsom prison, he gets caught up in a bad incident. An incarcerated man ends up in the hospital with horrific injuries, and the prison starts an investigation. Valentino feels pressured to back up his fellow officers' version of the story, even though he thinks it might not be the truth. Then he gets an opportunity he's dreamed of-- to join an elite unit investigating crimes in the prison. Resources If you are currently in crisis, you can dial 988 [U.S.] to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. SAMHSA National Help Line 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Helpline US Health and Human Services Warmline Directory Episode Transcript Find more information at our website. If you have tips or feedback about this series please reach out to us at onourwatch@kqed.org.

    S2: New Folsom - Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2024 3:11


    We're back with a second season of On Our Watch from KQED! “New Folsom” traces the footsteps of two whistleblowers in an elite investigative unit in California's most dangerous prison. Host Sukey Lewis and co-reporter Julie Small piece together a gripping narrative about broken promises and unwritten rules. It's a story about who gets hurt when the system that promises to keep us safe is bent on protecting itself. New episodes drop weekly, starting February 6. 

    Update: Oscar Grant and the Attorney General

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2021 14:31


    Less than six weeks after On Our Watch published an episode examining the shooting and death of Oscar Grant, California's Attorney General Rob Bonta opened an external investigation into the 12-year-old case. In a wide-ranging interview with On Our Watch's Sukey Lewis, Bonta talks about California's systemic issues in policing, his efforts at addressing them and says the Oscar Grant case remains unresolved. We also look at new police reforms promising that cops who commit serious misconduct can be stripped of their badges.

    Under Color of Law

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2021 66:22


    One of the first police shootings to be captured on cell phone, millions saw Bay Area Rapid Transit police Officer Johannes Mehserle fire a single, fatal gunshot into Oscar Grant's back as the 22-year-old lay face down on the train station platform. Now, a lawsuit filed by NPR member station KQED has forced BART to comply with California's 2019 police transparency law, and release never-before-heard tapes from inside that investigation.

    The Brady Rule

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2021 39:56


    Fellow officers long suspected a veteran detective in Antioch, Calif., was leaking operational police secrets to a drug dealer. For years, the department didn't act on their concerns. Even after the detective was finally fired in 2017, his record remained secret. In episode six of On Our Watch we look at the incentives departments have to investigate dishonest cops and what the secrecy around police misconduct means for criminal defendants who are prosecuted on their testimony.

    fellow antioch calif brady rule on our watch
    Neglect of Duty

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2021 52:00


    An officer is repeatedly disciplined for not turning in his police reports on time. A mom goes to the police asking for help with her missing daughters. In the fifth episode of On Our Watch, we look at what can happen when police don't follow through on reports of victimization, and an accountability process that doesn't want to examine those failures.

    duty neglect on our watch
    Perceived Threat

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2021 48:20


    A 16-year-old Black kid walks into a gas station in Stockton, Calif. to buy gummy worms for his little sister. When the teen gets in an argument with the clerk over a damaged dollar bill, a white officer in plainclothes decides to intervene — with force. In the fourth episode of On Our Watch, we trace the ripple effects of this incident over the next 10 years in a department trying to address racism and bias. But can the chief's efforts at truth and reconciliation work when the accountability process seems to ignore the truth?

    20-20 Hindsight

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2021 52:55


    After his son is shot and killed by a Richmond, Calif. police officer, a father looking for answers becomes a police transparency advocate. When the files about his son's death are released, they show an accountability system that seems to hang on one question: did the officer fear for their life? And in a rare interview, we hear from the officer who pulled the trigger.

    Conduct Unbecoming

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2021 47:07


    One officer in Los Angeles used car inspections to hit on women. In the San Francisco Bay Area, another woman says an officer used police resources to harass and stalk her. The California Highway Patrol quietly fired both of them for sexual harassment, but never looked into whether their misconduct was criminal. The second episode of On Our Watch examines the system of accountability for officers who abuse their power for sex and exposes where that system falls short.

    In Good Faith

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2021 46:48


    In the small Northern California town of Rio Vista, a woman named Katheryn Jenks calls 911 for help. But after the police arrive, she ends up injured and inside a jail cell, facing serious charges. That same day, California Governor Jerry Brown signs a new law, State Senate Bill 1421, that opens up long hidden records of police misconduct, including files that might change the outcome of Jenks' case.

    Introducing On Our Watch from NPR and KQED

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2021 4:03


    What happens to police officers who use excessive force, tamper with evidence or sexually harass someone? In California, internal affairs investigations were kept secret from the public — until a recent transparency law unsealed thousands of files. On Our Watch is a limited-run podcast from NPR and KQED that brings you into the rooms where officers are interrogated and witnesses are questioned to find out who the system of police accountability really serves, and who it protects. New episodes drop weekly, starting Thursday, May 20.

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