417. Amanda Schlichting

In this episode, host Bidemi Ologunde spoke with Amanda Schlichting—an Arizona-licensed private investigator and nationally certified animal-cruelty investigator—about her career arc from patrol officer to trainer to PI, her 2014 push to overhaul animal-case policies inside her department, and her current work setting up a statewide coalition, the Arizona Animal Cruelty Task Force, to connect investigators, veterinarians, and law enforcement. The conversation dug into why animal-cruelty cases often sit at the crossroads of major crime—gangs, narcotics, illegal firearms, money laundering, and trafficking—and how better data plus efficient report writing, forensics, and media strategy can raise the odds of justice. We also cover her free ARS 13-2910 briefings for officers, and practical advice for communities on how to spot animal neglect or abuse.