August 2, 2026
Mics, murder, and major side-eye
Police in the US are making their own true crime podcasts
Now the cops want podcast fans to solve murders — and commenters are deeply creeped out
TLDR: Police in the US are launching true crime podcasts to help crack cold cases, and a few have already been linked to big developments. But commenters are alarmed that police could use slick storytelling to push one-sided claims, turning investigations into publicity with a badge.
America’s police departments have discovered the true crime boom and apparently thought: why let civilians have all the downloads? From California to Illinois to Colorado, officers are now making their own murder podcasts to revive cold cases, attract tips, and, in some cases, point to real breakthroughs. One California series came before the capture of fugitive Peter Chadwick; an Illinois podcast about Karen Schepers launched, and her body was found within weeks. On paper, it sounds like a streaming-era win for justice.
But in the comments, the mood was less Serial and more sirens going off. The loudest reaction was fear that police-made shows could turn into official-sounding one-sided stories, especially when suspects have not yet been convicted. One commenter zeroed in on the article’s most eyebrow-raising detail: a man who had pleaded not guilty was reportedly called a “murderer” in the podcast, not an alleged one. That sparked the biggest hot take of all: if the people with badges also get the microphone, who checks the script?
And then came the darker, funnier backlash: critics mocked the idea of state power chasing tips, clout, and maybe a little fame through the same format people use for ghost stories and scam recaps. One commenter said they couldn’t fully explain it, but their instincts were screaming “exceptionally bad idea”. Translation: the public may love true crime, but plenty of people are not ready for Law & Order: Subscribe and Follow.
Key Points
- •US police departments are using true crime podcasts to generate public tips in cold cases and other investigations.
- •The article cites California, Illinois and Colorado cases as examples of police-produced podcasts tied to unsolved or long-running investigations.
- •Aurora Police Department launched a podcast in summer focused on the 2016 fatal stabbing of Chelsea Yasser to seek new leads.
- •Experts quoted in the article say police podcasts may help departments reach wider audiences and control the public narrative around a case.
- •The article says police-produced cold-case podcasts remain relatively uncommon but may become more widely adopted over time.