Episode 39 | Police Chief Darren Goodman on the Debate Over Police Education

In this episode of Lo and Order, SEBA Executive Director Lolita Harper sits down with San Bernardino Police Chief Darren Goodman to unpack the heated debate surrounding education mandates in law enforcement.

From his unique journey through USC, Harvard, and beyond, Chief Goodman shares why a college degree shouldn’t be the golden ticket into policing—and how Sacramento’s top-down policies are missing the mark.

Together, they explore the real-world consequences of a "one-size-fits-all" academic requirement, the dangers of legislating from flawed premises, and how removing life experience from the badge equation could cost communities far more than politicians realize.

Learn More about the San Bernardino Police Department: https://www.sbcity.org/412/Police-Department

Follow Police Chief Darren Goodman: https://x.com/SBPD_CHIEF

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Topics Covered:

07:45 – Education vs. Experience in Policing Why checking the "degree box" isn’t a silver bullet—and how real-world experience often matters more.

11:40 – Sacramento’s Modern Policing Bill A deep dive into the legislation’s origins, its flawed premise post-George Floyd, and the political virtue-signaling behind it.

18:20 – The Problem with One-Size-Fits-All Mandates How requiring a degree could devastate recruitment, especially in underserved communities.

23:50 – Diversity Beyond Skin Color Why life experience, military service, and cultural familiarity matter more than classroom credentials.

28:30 – What Makes a Great Cop Chief Goodman’s must-haves: heart, grit, public service commitment—and why a degree can’t teach those.

33:00 – Political Disconnect in Sacramento How state leaders are legislating in a vacuum, ignoring the people who actually keep streets safe.

38:40 – The Real Cost of Virtue Signaling Personal stories from San Bernardino: what the community loses when good candidates are locked out by mandates.

46:10 – Recruitment, Retention, and California's Exodus Why even military vets and seasoned professionals are leaving the profession—or the state altogether.

52:00 – Human Trafficking Hypocrisy & Misguided Reforms A brutal look at how legislation aimed at "equity" is inadvertently enabling exploitation.

57:30 – Public Involvement and Civic Action Chief Goodman’s call to action: how everyday citizens can stop reckless policymaking before it’s too late.

1:02:00 – Closing Thoughts Why heart will always beat a diploma—and the danger of punishing police instead of empowering them.

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Learn more about the Sheriff's Employees' Benefit Association (SEBA): https://www.seba.com/

SEBA is the Sheriff's Employees' Benefit Association proudly representing 4,000+ public safety officers in San Bernardino County since 1946

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