Welcome back to Ergo Cogito and Series four. In this episode, Professor Julian Parker-McLeod | Head of School, School of Policing Studies and a former police officer with 17 years of operational experience, explores a critical question facing contemporary policing: what attributes should define the modern police professional? Drawing on his research into police education and professionalisation, alongside international perspectives from Australia, the UK and Canada, Julian reflects on the growing importance of ethical judgement, professional curiosity, reflective practice and adaptability. Julian generously examines this for our listeners and asks how professional education can help prepare officers for the complexity, uncertainty and challenges of modern policing
Topics
- What is reflective practice (Timestamp 03:27)
- Meaningful reflective practice versus superficial reflection (Timestamp 07:09)
- Critical thinking and professional curiosity (Timestamp 11:16)
- Looking ahead (Timestamp 14:33)
Resources
- Parker-McLeod, J. (2026). Moving towards a professional police workforce: a scoping review of reflective, experiential and authentic learning in initial education. Policing : A Journal of Policy and Practice, 20. https://doi.org/10.1093/police/paag006
- Wood, D., Bradshaw, S., Dickens, T., Parker-McLeod, J., & Davis, C. (2026). *Blackstone’s handbook for policing students 2026* (20th ed.). Oxford University Press. https://global.oup.com/academic/product/blackstones-handbook-for-policing-students-2026-9780198972150
