National Law Enforcement Expert to Discuss Media Strategy, Leadership and Public Trust
Thursday, August 20, 2026
How should law enforcement leaders communicate when every action can be recorded,
shared and scrutinized by millions? That question will be at the heart of an upcoming
event featuring Darrin Porcher, Ed.D., a retired NYPD lieutenant and nationally recognized
law enforcement expert and media analyst.
The College of Human Development, Culture, and Media will welcome Porcher for “When the World is Watching: A Media Strategy for the Law Enforcement Voice,” taking place on Thursday, October, 8 from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Seton Hall Welcome Center at the Gateway Center in Newark. Participants may attend in person or online.
Drawing on his two decades with the NYPD and extensive experience in national media, Porcher will explore the challenges law enforcement leaders face in communicating with the public in an era of 24-hour news coverage, social media and rapidly evolving public expectations.
“When the world is watching, how a law enforcement agency communicates can be just as important as what it communicates.” Porcher explains. “Leaders need to understand how to communicate clearly, credibly and effectively, particularly when an incident is unfolding and public trust is at stake.”
Scholarly research on procedural justice consistently supports this position. An article published in the Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. (Tyler, T. R. 2004), found that public confidence in policing depends heavily on how institutions communicate, not only on what they do (Tyler, 2004).
Porcher brings a unique perspective to this critical conversation. During his 20-year career with the NYPD, he served in a variety of assignments, including as counterterrorism coordinator for the New York City Transit system and in citywide community affairs. A veteran of both the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army Reserve, he also served as a commission officer and executive officer of the 1st Forward Surgical Team during wartime.
Since retiring from the NYPD, Porcher has become a familiar face on national television, providing analysis on high-profile criminal justice and law enforcement cases for CNN, Court TV, Fox News, MSNBC and other major news outlets. He is frequently called upon to explain complex police operations, use-of-force incidents, criminal cases and issues of police accountability to national audiences.
His work also includes serving as an expert witness and providing testimony and case analysis in significant state and federal matters.
That combination of law enforcement experience and media expertise makes Porcher a particularly relevant voice for today's law enforcement leaders, said Kishon C. Hickman, Sr., Ed.D., program director of Seton Hall's M.A. in Law Enforcement Executive Leadership (LEEL) program.
“Law enforcement leaders are operating in an environment where a single video, press conference or interview can have a tremendous impact on public perception,” Hickman said. “This event gives our students and the broader community an opportunity to hear directly from someone who understands both the realities of law enforcement and the demands of communicating in the national spotlight.”
The event is presented in connection with HRTD 6646: Crisis Communications and Media Relations, a course in the LEEL program. The discussion will examine practical strategies for communicating during high-profile incidents, working with the media and maintaining public trust while navigating intense scrutiny.
The M.A. in Law Enforcement Executive Leadership is based within Seton Hall's Department of Education Leadership, Management and Policy in the College of Human Development, Culture, and Media. The program prepares current and aspiring law enforcement professionals for leadership roles by combining leadership development with practical knowledge in areas including organizational management, policy, communications and crisis response.
The event at the Gateway Center is open to Seton Hall students, LEEL alumni and members of the community. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from Porcher, learn from his experiences in law enforcement and national media and explore the increasingly important role communication plays in effective law enforcement leadership.
Categories: Education, Law
