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Welcome to the FIVE-EAU Podcast
Where the Eau Claire Police Department brings you conversations that matter to our community. Hosted by Shannon Hoyt and Ben Hundt, the podcast explores crime prevention, community safety, policing innovation, and local events, giving you an inside look at how ECPD serves Eau Claire.
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Check us out on Spotify!
EPISODE 8: Answering the Call to Remember
In the 8th episode of the FIVE-Eau Podcast, Answering the Call to Remember, Lt. Jesse Henning reflects on the meaning of Police Week and the lasting importance of honoring law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities. Through personal insight and heartfelt remembrance, he speaks about the courage, commitment, and legacy of fallen officers, including two from our own department whose memories continue to shape and inspire those who serve today. This episode is a powerful reminder that behind every badge is a life dedicated to protecting others, and a responsibility to never forget those who gave everything in answering the call.
EPISODE 7: The Safety Shoeprint: Planning a Secure Eau Claire Marathon
This episode of the FIVE-EAU Podcast, titled “The Safety Shoeprint: Planning a Secure Eau Claire Marathon,” takes listeners behind the scenes of one of the community’s largest events. Featuring Lieutenant Bridget Coit of the Eau Claire Police Department and Race Director Emily Uelmen, the episode blends race-day excitement with an in-depth look at the months of planning required to keep participants safe. The conversation covers the marathon’s growth, its variety of races, and its impact on the community, while highlighting the extensive coordination between law enforcement, city services, and hundreds of volunteers.
EPISODE 6: "911, What's Your Emergency?"
In this episode of the Five Eau Podcast, we sit down with one of the Eau Claire County Communications Center’s most experienced dispatchers, Benny Williams, for an inside look at the voice behind the radio. From handling high-pressure emergency calls to coordinating responses across multiple agencies—including Eau Claire Police, Fire, the Sheriff’s Office, and surrounding departments—our guest shares what it really takes to keep the community safe from behind the scenes. We explore how dispatchers are trained, the challenges they face, memorable moments on the job, and the critical role they play as the first first responders. Whether you’re interested in public safety or just curious about what happens when you call 911, this episode offers a rare and insightful perspective on dispatching in Eau Claire County.
EPISODE 5: WHEN CALLS HAVE CLAWS
Episode 5 of the FIVE-EAU Podcast, “When Calls Have Claws,” combines important public safety updates with an inside look at how animal welfare and law enforcement work together in the Eau Claire community.
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​Guest Addie Erdmann, Marketing & Development Director at the Eau Claire Community Humane Association (ECCHA), shares insight into the organization’s mission, the wide variety of animals they care for, and common misconceptions about shelters. The conversation explores how Community Service Officers respond to over a thousand animal-related calls each year, ranging from stray animals to neglect cases and even unusual encounters like loose pigs or rescued ducks. Listeners also get practical tips on what to do if they find a stray animal. The episode wraps with stories from the field, community engagement initiatives like the “Pawtrol Series” and “Slumber Pawty,” and a teaser for next month’s episode.
EPISODE 4: A Financial Crimes Detective's Survival Guide
Episode 4 of the FIVE-EAU Podcast features Financial Crimes Detective Justin Greuel sharing a practical “survival guide” for avoiding scams during tax season. After opening with department updates, including a notable arrest involving a felon in possession of a stolen firearm, recognition of officer achievements at the 2025 awards ceremony, and a community highlight about Noah Coughlan’s cross-country “Run for USA”, the episode dives into why tax season is prime time for scammers. Detective Greuel explains common schemes such as IRS impersonation calls, phishing emails and texts, identity-theft refund fraud, fake tax preparers, and misleading social media refund claims. He outlines key warning signs, shares insights from real investigations, and offers actionable tips to protect personal information, file taxes safely, and respond if targeted. The episode closes by encouraging listeners to share the information to help others avoid becoming victims of financial crime. 🎧
EPISODE 3: Podcast is in Session
In this episode of the FIVE-EAU Podcast, we sit down with two School Resource Officers to talk about what it’s really like to serve inside our schools. From building daily relationships with students and staff to responding in high-pressure situations, our guests share how their roles go far beyond enforcement.
EPISODE 2: The Future is Taking Shape
In this episode, ECPD's Chief of Police joins us to share major news about transformative projects (an expanded K9 program, updated tech and a new facility) that will begin to take shape for our department and community in 2026. From new initiatives to long-term investments in safety and service, you won’t want to miss this conversation. After that, we asked YOU to ask our Chief what YOU want to know. Stick around for a rapid-fire Q&A.
EPISODE 1: Pilot
This episode dives deep into technology in modern policing, featuring guest Officer Josh Miller. Officer Miller discusses the department’s drone program, launched in 2017, and explains how a 22-member team uses drones for search and rescue, missing persons, large events, and officer and public safety. He covers training requirements, drone capabilities, real-world uses, and the policies in place to ensure privacy, accountability, and community trust.
