The Buchanan and Seaton Show has a conversation about the state of policing in black America on April 23, 2021 with criminal defense attorney Jacqueline Newsome and retired police officer Phil Stevens. The dissonance of the conversation was palpable as Attorney Newsome is extremely progressive in her views of 21st century policing solutions, and retired Deputy Chief Stevens ideology is more centrist.

Jacqueline Newsome is a criminal defense attorney in Philadelphia where she represents people who have been accused of committing any crime from bicycle theft to aggravated assault. Jackie is also a preacher. She serves as an assistant minister at St. Paul’s Baptist Church in North Philadelphia. Jackie attended New York University for college, The University of Chicago for law school, and Emory University’s Candler School of Theology for theology school. Jackie identifies as a prison/police abolitionist and a progressive preacher. One fun fact about Jackie is that she was featured on the television network A&E for her legal work on a case where a 15-year-old boy was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of getting out on parole. She also co-hosts a podcast entitled Under God? that questions the Bible in search of hope and justice in today’s America.

Ret. Officer Phil Stevens served at the Cook County Jail from 1977-1980. During his distinguished career from 1980-2010 he served as a patrolman, FTO, detective for the major crime task force, Senior Security Specialist, and Director of Executive Protection for the County Board President. He finally served as the Deputy Police Chief (2010 – 2012) for the city of Dalton. Stevens education includes a BA and MPA.

The conversation is divided into four thirty minute segments, but I guarantee that once you begin listening you will not be able to stop until you get to the end!

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