Behind The Badge: Christopher Radcliff, Police Sergeant (Ret.)

Our team doesn’t just talk the talk, they’ve walked the walk. A continuation of ‘Behind The Badge’, a blog series interviewing Utility’s team and discussing their experience in Public Safety.

Prior to becoming a trainer on the Utility team, Chris Radcliff began his law enforcement career in the military as a policeman. After discharge he then became a valued member of the New Castle Police Department in Indiana.

Chris joined the Utility, Inc. team as a Trainer in 2022. In his current role, he applies his over 25 years of extensive knowledge in law enforcement and his experience utilizing our life-saving technology to help serve the agencies he once worked alongside!

Chris sat with Utility’s Blog Editor to answer a few questions about his story:

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself Chris.

A: I graduated early from high school to join the Military. During my service as an MP (military policeman) I was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and served as an SRT member (special reaction team) while stationed at Fort Knox KY. After being discharged from the military I got married and worked several security and smaller police jobs until I got on with the New Castle IN PD. While there I was promoted to Sergeant, worked as a Juvenile and Adult Detective, an instructor in Firearms and Physical Tactics, a DARE instructor, SWAT team leader, and training coordinator for the department. I retired after 24 years with New Castle PD and went to work for Utility where I still get to train officers on things they need to know.

Q: What inspired you to choose the path of working in Law Enforcement?

A: I always wanted to help people and after military service, I knew what I was supposed to do with my life.

Q: What were some highlights from working in Public Safety?

A: Too many to list. I was stationed in Seoul, South Korea during the 1988 Olympics and got to go to some of the games. I was on the New Castle SWAT team for 13 years and had many experiences during that time, and being a police instructor teaching officers tactically sound training to prepare them for dangerous situations.

Q: What has been your biggest “lesson learned” that you’d like to share with other Public Safety leaders?

A: Training. Officers are just like everyone else. They will fall back to the level of training they have in a given situation. Prepare them for everything and then pray they never have to use it.

Q: What does Transparency mean to you?

A: Allowing everyone to see you have nothing to hide. I would always tell my officers “if you would not do it in front of your boss or your grandma, you might want to think twice about doing it at all.“

Q: How have you seen Technology aid in Public Safety?

A: When I started in law enforcement I had a camcorder on the dash and a VCR bolted in the trunk for in car video. Even that saved me many times from false complaints or being sued. What officers have available to them now with body cams and computer systems is lightyears from what I used starting out.

Q:  What advice would you give to an agency that is going through the process of selecting a Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS)?

A: Compare the different systems out there but make sure they can deliver what they promise. Customer service is also very important. I’m biased because I work for Utility but I have seen or used the other stuff out there and I believe we have the better product.