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Law Enforcement Talk: True Crime and Trauma Stories
Law Enforcement Talk: True Crime and Trauma Stories
Author: John "Jay" Wiley, Bleav
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© 2025 John Jay Wiley
Description
True Crime with a twist. By and from those that have been there. Crime stories from those that investigated crimes and caught criminals. Also victims of crimes tell about their experience. Plus trauma stories, by those that have been through it. Often crime based, but not always, people talk about the trauma, how it impacted them and how they built their lives after. Law Enforcement Talk: True Crime and Trauma Stories Radio Show and
It is a True Crime Show, a Law Enforcement Officer Show and a Human Interest show all in one. Get a glimpse of life behind the badge, investigations of true crimes, violence they encounter and experience. Law enforcement officers, first responders, military veterans, victims of crime and their families tell their stories of the trauma they experienced mostly regarding True Crime incidents. They also talk about how they built their new lives they wanted afterwards. While many people think the show is about Law Enforcement Training, or Law Enforcement specific topis, it is not, think of True Crime Podcasts with a twist.
The Law Enforcement Talk Show goes to radio first. Therefore it is required that I use a clock for the length of segments. You've probably seen on television news interviews that they have a hard break. It's the same with radio. The stations have to be able to program in their commercials, news, weather, traffic reports etc. These are called avails, they are NOT Optional. Every guest knows about and is informed of the length of the segments and that I will interrupt them if needed to go to the break. The interviews are recorded and the guests know that the segments must be in a certain length and it is required and they get to tell their stories to millions of people for free.
The bi-weekly podcast version of the syndicated Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show, with numerous affiliate US Radio Stations, broadcasting once a week to millions of people.
The show host, John "Jay" Wiley, is a radio DJ and Retired Baltimore Police Sergeant. The show started as a podcast, before being recruited by terrestrial AM-FM radio stations and has been in continuous operation since March of 2017. You can reach him at jay@letradio.com.
Background song Hurricane used by permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer, get more information about them and their music on their website.
You can follow us and connect on social media, if you are in the Clubhouse Drop In Audio App make sure you follow our club LET Radio and Podcast. You can also find and follow the host of the show John J Wiley on the Clubhouse Drop In Audio Chat program.
Be sure to check out our website.
Like and follow our facebook page. Our Twitter account. Also on Instagram.
It is a True Crime Show, a Law Enforcement Officer Show and a Human Interest show all in one. Get a glimpse of life behind the badge, investigations of true crimes, violence they encounter and experience. Law enforcement officers, first responders, military veterans, victims of crime and their families tell their stories of the trauma they experienced mostly regarding True Crime incidents. They also talk about how they built their new lives they wanted afterwards. While many people think the show is about Law Enforcement Training, or Law Enforcement specific topis, it is not, think of True Crime Podcasts with a twist.
The Law Enforcement Talk Show goes to radio first. Therefore it is required that I use a clock for the length of segments. You've probably seen on television news interviews that they have a hard break. It's the same with radio. The stations have to be able to program in their commercials, news, weather, traffic reports etc. These are called avails, they are NOT Optional. Every guest knows about and is informed of the length of the segments and that I will interrupt them if needed to go to the break. The interviews are recorded and the guests know that the segments must be in a certain length and it is required and they get to tell their stories to millions of people for free.
The bi-weekly podcast version of the syndicated Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show, with numerous affiliate US Radio Stations, broadcasting once a week to millions of people.
The show host, John "Jay" Wiley, is a radio DJ and Retired Baltimore Police Sergeant. The show started as a podcast, before being recruited by terrestrial AM-FM radio stations and has been in continuous operation since March of 2017. You can reach him at jay@letradio.com.
Background song Hurricane used by permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer, get more information about them and their music on their website.
You can follow us and connect on social media, if you are in the Clubhouse Drop In Audio App make sure you follow our club LET Radio and Podcast. You can also find and follow the host of the show John J Wiley on the Clubhouse Drop In Audio Chat program.
Be sure to check out our website.
Like and follow our facebook page. Our Twitter account. Also on Instagram.
681 Episodes
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When Undercover Police Plans Go Bad: From Virginia State Police to the ATF. The consequences can be immediate, violent, and life-altering. Few understand this reality better than Jennifer Clark Eskew, a retired ATF agent whose career began on the front lines as an undercover Virginia State Police trooper and later evolved into some of the most dangerous covert work in federal law enforcement. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
Eskew’s story is one of grit, calculated risk, and survival, one that continues to resonate across law enforcement circles and on platforms like the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast's Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and beyond, where her experiences are discussed through interviews, her Podcast appearance, and content shared on their website, also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and most major podcast platforms.
A Bad Day Undercover
Jennifer Eskew’s undercover career started early, and it started hard. As a Virginia State Police trooper, she was selected for undercover work at a time when female officers were still rare, especially in deep-cover assignments. Supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .
One operation in particular would change everything. When Undercover Police Plans Go Bad: From Virginia State Police to the ATF.
“It was just a really bad day,” Eskew has said of the moment when an undercover operation unraveled. “The gang I was dealing with started getting weird. The energy shifted.” Available for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and most major Podcast networks.
Her backup was slow to respond. What Eskew didn’t yet know was that the very gang members she had been investigating had mistaken someone else for a rival. They shot and killed the wrong man, shooting him five times.
“That’s when you realize how fast things can go sideways,” she later reflected. “You can plan everything perfectly, and it still falls apart.”
The incident underscored a harsh truth of undercover policing: even when an officer survives, the psychological toll can be profound. Eventually, Eskew made the decision to leave the agency, not to step away from undercover work, but to continue it at a higher level. Look for The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
From State Trooper to ATF
Eskew transitioned to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), where her undercover experience made her a natural fit for high-risk federal investigations. At ATF, she went deeper than ever before, posing not just as a criminal associate, but at times as a contract killer. When Undercover Police Plans Go Bad: From Virginia State Police to the ATF.
“She was essentially an undercover hitman,” one colleague noted. “Or hitwoman. She had to convince the worst people you can imagine that she was one of them.”
Much like famed ATF undercover agent Jay Dobyns, Eskew infiltrated violent criminal organizations. Her role required adopting a persona capable of inspiring fear and trust at the same time, an impossible balance where a single misstep could mean death. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms.
“In those moments,” Eskew has said, “you’re constantly asking yourself where the act ends and where Jennifer begins.”
The Power and Risk of Female Undercover Officers
Eskew’s career highlights why female undercover officers are uniquely valuable in law enforcement. Often perceived as non-threatening, women can exploit dangerous misconceptions held by criminals.
“I could go into any bar, and I wouldn’t pose a threat,” Eskew explained. “I could get an enormous amount of information. They may look at me as a victim, but not as a threat, and that makes you incredibly valuable for UC work.” When Undercover Police Plans Go Bad: From Virginia State Police to the ATF. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
Female officers have proven especially effective in infiltrating drug rings, organized crime syndicates, and prostitution-related operations. As more women enter law enforcement, agencies are increasingly recognizing these tactical advantages.
But the work comes with risks that male officers rarely face.
“Overcoming sexual advances is a constant concern,” Eskew noted. Across the United States, there have been documented cases where female undercover officers were sexually assaulted during operations. These realities demand specialized training, preparation, and institutional support.
More information and the interview with her is available on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other major platforms
“There are things we deal with that men don’t,” she said. “But there are also things we can do better.”
Breaking Barriers in a Male-Dominated World
Jennifer Clark Eskew always felt a spark, a calling to serve and protect. When she entered the all-male world of the Virginia State Police, she endured grueling academy challenges and relentless pressure to prove herself. When Undercover Police Plans Go Bad: From Virginia State Police to the ATF. The episode can be found on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and across most podcast platforms where listeners will find authentic law enforcement stories.
Determined to succeed as one of the first female troopers in that State Police agency, she faced rookie mistakes, high-stakes decisions, and constant scrutiny. Then came her selection as the first full-time female undercover state police officer in Virginia.
Immersed in a world of drug dealers and gun traffickers, Eskew thrived under pressure, even as the adrenaline and danger blurred the lines between her real identity and her undercover persona.
“With her fire burning stronger than ever,” one admirer wrote, “she refused to be extinguished.”
Becoming Fire
Eskew’s journey is chronicled in her Book, Becoming Fire: Chasing the Passion to Protect, Serve, and Love. Part memoir, part survival story, the book captures the emotional cost of undercover work alongside the humor, fear, and resilience that define it.
“You’ll laugh, you’ll cry,” Eskew has said, “but you won’t forget it.”
Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
Today, her story continues to reach new audiences through her appearance on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, their Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and video platforms like YouTube, offering a rare look into what happens when undercover police plans go bad, and what it takes to come back stronger. When Undercover Police Plans Go Bad: From Virginia State Police to the ATF.
Jennifer Eskew’s legacy is not just about danger or deception. It’s about courage, adaptability, and a woman who walked into the darkest corners of criminal life and came out still burning.
You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website .
Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms.
Interested in being a guest, sponsorship or advertising opportunities send an email to the host and producer of the show jay@letradio.com.
Listen to this special episode on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and most major podcast platforms.
Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo.
Be sure to check out our website .
Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news.
Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer.
When Undercover Police Plans Go Bad: From Virginia State Police to the ATF.
Attributions
Amazon
Peace Officers Research Association of California
Professional Law Enforcement Training Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Police, They Said It Could Not Be Done, Undercover With the Crips in Texas. For years, many in law enforcement believed it was impossible. Crossing racial, cultural, and gang boundaries at the deepest level of a violent criminal organization was something most said simply could not be done. But one Texas police officer proved them all wrong. Available for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and most major Podcast networks.
Tegan Broadwater, a veteran of the Fort Worth Police Department, spent nearly two years embedded in one of the most dangerous Crips gangs operating in Fort Worth, Texas. What began as skepticism, and even laughter from colleagues, turned into one of the most successful undercover investigations the department had ever seen. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
“They told me flat out that it wouldn’t work,” Broadwater later said. “That I wouldn’t blend in, wouldn’t be accepted, and wouldn’t survive long enough to make a case. I took that personally.” Supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .
A Mission Few Would Attempt
Undercover work, also known as a covert or clandestine operation, requires an officer to assume a false identity, gain trust, and quietly gather intelligence without ever revealing who they truly are. Unlike plainclothes policing, undercover operations demand total immersion, deception, and constant vigilance.
Broadwater’s assignment went even further.
“There’s undercover, and then there’s deep cover,” he explained. “Deep cover means you live a separate life. You don’t visit it, you become it.” Police, They Said It Could Not Be Done, Undercover With the Crips in Texas. Look for The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
His experience existed somewhere between traditional undercover work and deep cover. Pretending to be a high-end cocaine dealer, Broadwater infiltrated a violent Crips set responsible for drug trafficking, prostitution, and brutal violence that terrorized innocent residents. The risk was absolute.
“If you’re discovered, there’s no arrest,” he said. “There’s no backup. There’s just consequences.”
Two Years Inside the Fishbowl
What followed was a high-stakes, real-life cat-and-mouse game between Broadwater and M.D., a calculated drug lord with a street-level MBA and sharp instincts. Broadwater earned trust, navigated betrayal, and lived daily with the psychological strain of maintaining his cover.
“The stress doesn’t turn off,” he said. “You’re always acting, always watching, always measuring your words. Eventually, that pressure catches up to you.” Police, They Said It Could Not Be Done, Undercover With the Crips in Texas. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms.
Over the course of the operation, Broadwater helped dismantle a major Crips network, leading to the arrest of 51 gang members. But the cost was high. The emotional toll of living among violent criminals, forming complex relationships, and witnessing generational cycles of crime ultimately led him to retire early from the Fort Worth Police Department.
“I didn’t leave because I was weak,” Broadwater said. “I left because the work changes you. And I knew it was time to choose my family, my health, and my future.”
From the Streets to the Page
Broadwater documented his experience in his book, Life in the Fishbowl – The Harrowing True Story of One Cop Who Took Down 51 of the Nation’s Most Notorious Crips. The book is both an action-packed account of undercover policing and a deeply reflective examination of America’s War on Drugs, gang culture, and more. Police, They Said It Could Not Be Done, Undercover With the Crips in Texas. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
“All book profits are donated to charities that mentor children of incarcerated parents,” Broadwater noted. “If we want real change, we have to break the cycle before it starts.”
The book has drawn praise from some of the most respected voices in law enforcement and beyond.
“For me there’s no more compelling reading than books written by cops who can write,” said Mike Levine, NY Times bestselling author of Deep Cover. “This is must-reading for every cop in or out of uniform.”
Former Apollo XVII Commander Gene Cernan called it “a gripping story of determination and courage,” while retired FBI Hostage Rescue Team Commander Danny O. Coulson described Broadwater as “the insider’s insider.”
More information about his work can be found at his website, see below, and his content is available on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other major platforms
Beyond the Badge
Today, Tegan Broadwater continues to share his story through the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, their Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Apple, Spotify, Podcasts, and News platforms, offering rare insight into undercover policing, stress, identity, and survival. His podcast and book are available through his website, where he focuses on education, mentorship, and reform. Police, They Said It Could Not Be Done, Undercover With the Crips in Texas. The episode can be found on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and across most podcast platforms where listeners will find authentic law enforcement stories.
“They said it couldn’t be done,” Broadwater reflected. “But sometimes the impossible just needs someone willing to step into the fire and stay there long enough to change things.”
In the end, his story is not just about police work, it’s about courage, consequence, and the unseen cost of walking undercover into a world most people could never imagine.
Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer.
You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website .
Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms.
Interested in being a guest, sponsorship or advertising opportunities send an email to the host and producer of the show jay@letradio.com.
Listen to this special episode on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and most major podcast platforms.
Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo.
Be sure to check out our website .
Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news.
Police, They Said It Could Not Be Done, Undercover With the Crips in Texas.
Attributions
Tegan Broadwater
Amazon
Wikipedia
United Nations Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
FDNY Firefighter Experienced Severe Trauma: How Cooking Is His Salvation. For many first responders, the uniform becomes both a source of pride and a shield, one that often hides pain, grief, and trauma the public never sees. For this veteran FDNY firefighter and U.S. Air Force veteran, a lifetime of service came with losses so profound that few could endure them without lasting scars. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
He comes from a family of firefighters, a tradition rooted in courage and sacrifice. But his career began with tragedy. Early on, he lost his mother in a devastating house fire, an event that would forever shape his understanding of loss, duty, and survival. Available for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and most major Podcast networks.
“That kind of loss never leaves you,” he has said. “You don’t just mourn your mother. You replay every ‘what if’ for the rest of your life.”
Years later, tragedy struck again. His brother, Michael Bonanno, a retired FDNY firefighter, died by suicide in 2012. The loss exposed the unspoken mental health crisis that continues to affect firefighters and other first responders across the country. Supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .
“We’re trained to run toward danger,” he explained, “but we’re not trained to talk about what that danger does to us afterward.” FDNY Firefighter Experienced Severe Trauma: How Cooking Is His Salvation.
As if those personal losses were not enough, his career culminated at one of the darkest chapters in American history, working at Ground Zero during the 9/11 attacks in New York City. The physical danger was immediate, but the emotional toll would last decades.
“You don’t leave the pile unchanged,” he said. “You carry those images, those smells, those sounds. They stay with you.”
How Cooking Became His Salvation
Like many firefighters, he struggled in silence. Trauma accumulated quietly, from the firehouse to family life, from loss to loss. But unexpectedly, healing began not in therapy rooms or training halls, but in the kitchen. Look for The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
Cooking became his refuge.
“In the kitchen, I could focus,” he said. “It grounded me. Cooking gave me something positive to build when everything else felt broken.” FDNY Firefighter Experienced Severe Trauma: How Cooking Is His Salvation.
What started as a personal coping mechanism evolved into a mission. He began writing and speaking openly about the connection between food, firehouse culture, and mental health. Today, he is not only a firefighter and USAF veteran but also a podcaster, author, and advocate for recovery through creativity and connection. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms.
From Firehouse to Media Platforms
His work now reaches audiences through the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast,their facebook, Instagram, YouTube and other News and Social media outlets. His voice has resonated with firefighters, veterans, and civilians alike, especially those searching for ways to recover from trauma they’ve never been encouraged to discuss.
“Food brings people together,” he explained. “Around the table, walls come down. Conversations happen that wouldn’t happen anywhere else.” FDNY Firefighter Experienced Severe Trauma: How Cooking Is His Salvation. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
He is the founder of American Firehouse Cuisine, a platform dedicated to firehouse cooking and culture. His recently published cookbook, American Firehouse Cuisine, celebrates the meals that fuel firefighters while honoring the traditions that bind them together.
Previously, he authored The Healthy Firehouse Cookbook and The Firehouse Grilling Cookbook, blending nutrition with the realities of firehouse life. He also wrote a children’s storybook, Monutza the Firefighting Elephant, aimed at helping young readers understand bravery, service, and compassion.
More information about his work can be found at his website, see below, and his content is available on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other major platforms.
A Message of Recovery and Hope
Today, his story stands as a powerful example of resilience. An FDNY firefighter experienced severe trauma, losing family, enduring historic catastrophe, and facing the silent burden carried by so many first responders. Yet through cooking, storytelling, and connection, he found a way forward.
“Recovery doesn’t mean forgetting,” he said. “It means finding a way to live with what you’ve been through, and helping others do the same.” FDNY Firefighter Experienced Severe Trauma: How Cooking Is His Salvation. The episode can be found on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and across most podcast platforms where listeners will find authentic law enforcement stories.
By turning pain into purpose, he continues to serve, this time not only with fire and steel, but with food, honesty, and hope.
Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news.
Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer.
You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website .
Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms.
Interested in being a guest, sponsorship or advertising opportunities send an email to the host and producer of the show jay@letradio.com.
Listen to this special episode on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and most major podcast platforms.
Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo.
Be sure to check out our website .
FDNY Firefighter Experienced Severe Trauma: How Cooking Is His Salvation.
Attributions
American Firehouse Cuisine
FDNY Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Police Officer Arrested and Convicted, Sent to Prison, Was It Fair?. The Case of Stephanie Mohr. Was a police officer unfairly prosecuted and sent to prison by the Department of Justice? That question sits at the center of a Special Episode available for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and most major Podcast networks.
Former Prince George’s County, Maryland police officer and K9 handler Stephanie Mohr is telling her story, one that spans nearly three decades, from a routine call for backup outside Washington, D.C., to a federal conviction, a 10-year prison sentence, and ultimately a Presidential Pardon. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
“This was never just about one incident,” Mohr says. “It became about making an example of me.”
A Routine Call That Changed Everything
In 1995, Mohr was a relatively new K9 handler when she responded to a suspected burglary in Takoma Park, Maryland. At the time, the area was experiencing a series of break-ins. Two suspects were discovered on the roof of a building, and during the arrest, Mohr’s police dog bit one of the men as he attempted to flee. Police Officer Arrested and Convicted, Sent to Prison, Was It Fair? Supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .
What followed was anything but routine.
Years later, Mohr was charged and ultimately convicted in 2001 of a federal civil rights violation, becoming a police officer arrested and convicted, sent to prison for actions she maintains were lawful and consistent with her training.
“I did what I was trained to do,” Mohr explains. “I never imagined it would cost me my career and a decade of my life.”
An Extraordinary Prosecution
According to Mohr and her supporters, the D.O.J. pursued her case with unusual intensity. After an initial trial, prosecutors sought a retrial and even brought a witness, an illegal immigrant, back into the United States from another country to testify against her. Police Officer Arrested and Convicted, Sent to Prison, Was It Fair? Look for The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
“Who does that?” Mohr asks. “It felt like they were determined to secure a conviction at any cost.”
During the second trial, federal prosecutors introduced testimony portraying Mohr as a problematic officer with a pattern of targeting minorities, claims she has consistently denied.
“That narrative was devastating,” she says. “It wasn’t true, but it stuck.”
The result was a 10-year federal prison sentence, which Mohr served before being released in 2011.
A 19-Year Fight for Justice
Mohr’s case eventually caught the attention of the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund (LELDF). After reviewing the facts, the organization committed to what would become a 19-year battle to clear her name. Police Officer Arrested and Convicted, Sent to Prison, Was It Fair? Special Episode. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms.
“Stephanie wasn’t guilty of anything,” the LELDF later stated. “Her case represented a dangerous precedent for law enforcement officers nationwide.”
Mohr became the first police officer supported by the LELDF to ultimately receive a presidential pardon.
In December 2020, President Donald J. Trump granted Mohr a full and unconditional pardon, bringing long-awaited closure to a case that had followed her for 25 years.
“For me, the pardon wasn’t about politics,” Mohr says. “It was about finally being able to say: I was telling the truth.” The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
Life After Prison and After the Pardon
Following her release, Mohr rebuilt her life quietly. She worked as a Property Standards Inspector and later a Construction Standards Inspector for Prince George’s County before moving on to a similar role with St. Mary’s County government. Police Officer Arrested and Convicted, Sent to Prison, Was It Fair?
“My dogs saved me as much as I saved them,” she says with a smile.
You Be the Judge
The story of Stephanie Mohr raises difficult questions about accountability, prosecutorial power, and whether justice was truly served. The special episode can be found on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and across most podcast platforms where listeners will find authentic law enforcement stories.
Was this a fair conviction, or did the D.O.J. go out of its way to make an example of a police officer?
“That’s not for me to decide anymore,” Mohr says. “I’ve lived with the consequences. Now I just want people to hear the full story.”
Supporting First Responders
This Special Episode is also part of a broader mission focused on saving and rebuilding the lives of First Responders.
Stephanie Mohr’s story is more than a headline, it’s a cautionary tale, a fight for redemption, and a reminder that justice is not always as simple as a verdict.
Be sure to check out our website .
Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news.
Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer.
You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website .
Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms.
Interested in being a guest, sponsorship or advertising opportunities send an email to the host and producer of the show jay@letradio.com.
Listen to this special episode on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and most major podcast platforms.
Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo.
Police Officer Arrested and Convicted, Sent to Prison, Was It Fair?
Attributions
Police Defense
USA Today Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Did Fentanyl Almost Kill a Cop? One Deputy’s Story of Trauma, Survival, and a Mission to Help Others. Special Episode. For years, fentanyl has dominated headlines as a driving force behind America’s overdose crisis. What’s discussed far less often is how this drug impacts the first responders who encounter it in the line of duty. For Deputy Jeff Brown, a long-serving law enforcement officer, accidental fentanyl exposure didn’t just spark a frightening moment, it caused permanent injuries, ongoing trauma, and a new mission focused on helping others. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
By any measure, Jeff Brown is a law enforcement hero. But one accidental fentanyl exposure nearly ended his life, and forever changed it. This special episode is streaming for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform
This is not just a story for the news-cycle. It’s a story meant to be shared on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and across platforms like the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, Apple Podcasts and Spotify, because it speaks to the hidden cost of service, the reality of trauma, stress, PTSD, and the lasting injuries many heroes carry long after the call ends. Supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .
Accidental Fentanyl Exposure Almost Claimed His Life
Jeff Brown had built a distinguished law enforcement career when one routine encounter with drug abusers turned into a life-threatening emergency. During the incident, Jeff and his backup deputies were accidentally exposed to fentanyl.
The effects were immediate and terrifying.
Had it not been for department-issued Narcan and the training the deputies received, Jeff believes he and others would not have survived. In a matter of minutes, deputies were forced to save each other’s lives. Did Fentanyl Almost Kill a Cop? One Deputy’s Story of Trauma, Survival, and a Mission to Help Others. Special Episode. Look for The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
They lived, but not without consequence.
For Jeff, the exposure caused permanent damage to his heart, altering his health and his future. What should have been just another shift became the defining moment of his life.
The Aftermath: Injuries, Recovery, and a Broken System
Surviving the incident was only the beginning.
Jeff openly talks about:
The physical recovery and lingering medical issues
The emotional toll and ongoing stress
Battles with Worker’s Compensation
The lack of understanding surrounding first responder injuries
The rarely discussed crime problem in a tourist-driven resort area
Like many first responders, Jeff learned that surviving the job does not guarantee support afterward. The system often struggles to recognize invisible injuries, especially when fear, misinformation, and stigma surround incidents involving fentanyl. Did Fentanyl Almost Kill a Cop? One Deputy’s Story of Trauma, Survival, and a Mission to Help Others. Special Episode. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms.
Fentanyl Misinformation and First Responder Trauma
In 2016, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released advisories warning that simply touching or inhaling fentanyl could be fatal within minutes. Images of tiny, allegedly lethal doses circulated widely, reinforcing fear among first responders.
At the time, the narrative felt plausible. Illicit fentanyl was flooding the streets, and officers had limited information.
Later, medical experts, including the American College of Medical Toxicology and the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology clarified that incidental exposure leading to overdose is extremely unlikely. Other countries adjusted their guidance accordingly. Special Episode. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
But misinformation lingers, and it carries consequences.
Officers who believe they’ve been exposed can experience panic attacks, hyperventilation, vertigo, and racing heart rates. These symptoms are real and distressing, yet often misinterpreted as fentanyl toxicity. In a culture where fear is seen as weakness, these events can go under-reported or misdiagnosed, potentially leading to delayed or inappropriate medical care.
We stand by this critical point:
Accidental fentanyl exposure can have drastic effects when combined with preexisting health conditions, particularly involving the heart. These incidents deserve serious, compassionate, and accurate medical evaluation. Did Fentanyl Almost Kill a Cop? One Deputy’s Story of Trauma, Survival, and a Mission to Help Others. Special Episode. The special episode can be found on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and across most podcast platforms where listeners will find authentic law enforcement stories.
The FDA Warning: When Fentanyl Exposure Is Truly Deadly
While incidental exposure myths persist among adults, there is one area where the danger is undisputed.
The FDA warns that accidental exposure to fentanyl patches continues to be deadly to children.
Fentanyl patches are prescribed for opioid-tolerant patients and release fentanyl through the skin over several days. Tragically, children have died after:
Putting used or unused patches in their mouths
Sticking patches onto their skin
Even used patches can contain enough fentanyl to be fatal.
The FDA urges caregivers to:
Store patches securely
Dispose of them properly
Keep naloxone readily available
If a child is suspected of exposure, call 911 immediately.
Trauma, PTSD, and the Cost of Service
Jeff’s story highlights a truth many don’t want to face: trauma doesn’t end when the sirens stop.
First responders routinely carry:
Cumulative stress
Psychological trauma
PTSD
Chronic health problems
These issues affect not only their careers but their families, hobbies, and identities. For many even the simple joys of fishing and hunting, once outlets for peace, were impacted by his injuries and recovery. Did Fentanyl Almost Kill a Cop? One Deputy’s Story of Trauma, Survival, and a Mission to Help Others. Special Episode. The full podcast episode is streaming now on their website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Turning Pain Into Purpose: Hometown Heroes Alliance
Instead of walking away, Jeff chose to give back.
He now dedicates his time to Hometown Heroes Alliance, a nonprofit organization that supports wounded, injured, and disabled first responders, those who are often left financially and emotionally vulnerable after serving their communities.
Hometown Heroes Alliance focuses on:
Raising awareness for injured first responders
Providing financial, physical, and emotional support
Hosting benefit events, including concerts
Producing brand-funded television and digital media to amplify impact
From hurricane-stricken areas in Florida and Texas to less-publicized tragedies across the country, the organization helps heroes who lost homes, suffered disabling injuries, or sacrificed everything while protecting others. Did Fentanyl Almost Kill a Cop? One Deputy’s Story of Trauma, Survival, and a Mission to Help Others. Special Episode. On the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and most major podcast platforms.
As long as there are heroes answering the call, there will be a need for compassion—and action.
A Story That Needs to Be Heard
Jeff Brown’s journey is more than a headline. It’s a reminder that behind every badge is a human being who absorbs trauma so others don’t have to.
This story belongs on every platform, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and Podcast networks, because awareness saves lives, corrects misinformation, and honors those who continue to serve, even after the job nearly takes everything from them.
He survived fentanyl exposure.
He lives with the injuries.
And he refuses to stop fighting for his fellow heroes.
Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo.
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Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news.
Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer.
You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website .
Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms.
Interested in being a guest, sponsorship or advertising opportunities send an email to the host and producer of the show jay@letradio.com.
Listen to this special episode on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and most major podcast platforms.
Did Fentanyl Almost Kill a Cop? One Deputy’s Story o
Police in a Riot: An Officer Speaks. Special Episode. Riots are something most people only see through the lens of a television screen or a viral clip on social media. Flames in the background. Police lines in riot gear. Shouting crowds. What rarely makes it into the headlines is what it feels like to stand in the middle of that chaos, especially when you’re a young police officer with only weeks of experience on the street. This special episode is streaming for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform
In this special episode, former Charlotte, North Carolina police officer Bill Broadway takes listeners inside the harsh realities of policing during violent riots. His account is raw, detailed, and deeply unsettling, not because it’s political, but because it’s personal. Look for The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
Thrown Into the Fire
Bill Broadway was just weeks out of field training when he was suddenly called into action to help control violent riots in Charlotte. Like many young officers, he expected to learn policing step by step, traffic stops, calls for service, building rapport with the community. Instead, he found himself facing crowds that were no longer protesting, but actively engaging in violence. Police in a Riot: An Officer Speaks. Special Episode. Supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .
“These weren’t peaceful demonstrations,” Bill explains. “This was chaos.”
From the moment he arrived, it was clear this was something different. Police vehicles were targeted and removed. Officers were surrounded. Projectiles were thrown. Every decision carried the risk of serious injury, or worse. Police in a Riot: An Officer Speaks. Special Episode.
Protest vs. Riot: A Critical Distinction
Much of the public conversation blurs the line between protest and riot, but legally and practically, the difference matters.
Generally speaking, a protest is an organized public demonstration of disapproval, often protected under the First Amendment. A riot, by contrast, is defined as a violent disturbance of the peace involving multiple people acting together in a way that threatens public safety. Police in a Riot: An Officer Speaks. Special Episode. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms.
Federal law, under the Anti-Riot Act of 1968, defines a riot as a public disturbance involving acts of violence by an assemblage of three or more people that create a clear and present danger to people or property. Many states, including North Carolina, enforce similar statutes through laws addressing arson, looting, assault, unlawful assembly, and destruction of property.
As Bill describes it, the moment objects started flying and officers became targets, the situation crossed that line.
“When violence starts, it’s no longer a protest,” he says. “It’s something else entirely.”
Injuries, Fear, and Constant Threats
Bill walks listeners through every phase of the riot, from his initial arrival, to the loss of police vehicles, to the injuries sustained by officers on the line. What stands out most is the constant psychological pressure. Police in a Riot: An Officer Speaks. Special Episode. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
“You don’t just worry about what’s in front of you,” Bill explains. “You’re watching rooftops, alleys, shadows. You’re wondering if the next hit is coming from behind.”
The stress didn’t end when the shift was over. Officers went home bruised, exhausted, and emotionally drained, knowing they could be called back at any moment. For many, sleep was elusive. The adrenaline lingered. The fear stayed close.
Optics vs. Officer Safety
One of the most controversial topics addressed is the allegation that department leadership and city officials were more concerned with optics and public opinion than with the truth, or the safety of their officers.
This is not a new accusation in American policing, and it remains a deeply divisive issue.
Critics argue that police departments often prioritize public relations to manage perception, reduce backlash, and limit legal exposure. The use of Public Information Officers and carefully worded statements can sometimes feel, to officers on the ground, like a disconnect from reality. Police in a Riot: An Officer Speaks. Special Episode. The special episode can be found on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and across most podcast platforms where listeners will find authentic law enforcement stories.
On the other hand, law enforcement leaders emphasize the importance of public trust. Studies consistently show that effective policing depends on community cooperation. Transparency, communication, and accountability are essential, but difficult to balance during fast-moving, volatile events.
“The people making decisions weren’t the ones standing there,” Bill says. “That’s what made it hard.”
A Divided Public
Public opinion on policing during riots is sharply divided, often along political, racial, and ideological lines. Some see restraint as weakness. Others see enforcement as oppression. Officers in the middle are left navigating not just physical danger, but a cultural battlefield.
Bill doesn’t claim to have all the answers. What he offers instead is perspective, what it’s like to be young, inexperienced, and suddenly responsible for holding a line while the world watches.
You Decide
Today, Bill Broadway works for a different agency, carrying with him the lessons and scars of those nights in Charlotte. His story raises difficult questions about leadership, accountability, public safety, and the human cost of civil unrest. Police in a Riot: An Officer Speaks. Special Episode. The full podcast episode is streaming now on their website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Were the riots handled correctly by department leadership and city officials?
Was the balance between optics and officer safety struck appropriately?
Bill shares his experience from the front lines.
You decide.
Listen to this special episode on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and most major podcast platforms.
Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo.
Be sure to check out our website .
Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news.
Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer.
You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website .
Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms.
Interested in being a guest, sponsorship or advertising opportunities send an email to the host and producer of the show jay@letradio.com.
Police in a Riot: An Officer Speaks. Special Episode.
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Police Shot by a Mass Murderer: She Survived and the City’s Response Shocked Her. Special Episode. The phrase line of duty often feels abstract, until a single moment changes everything. For former Richmond, Virginia police officer Cheryl Ann Nici-O’Connell, that moment came in October of 1984, when a routine off-duty assignment turned into a life-altering ambush by a fugitive mass murderer. Look for The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
Now, decades later, her story is being shared in a special episode of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, available across Facebook, Instagram, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube, and most major podcast platforms.
It's not just as a story of survival, but as a powerful account of resilience, recovery, and a troubling response from the very city she served. Supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .
An Ordinary Shift That Became a Nightmare
At just 24 years old, Officer Cheryl Nici-O’Connell was working an off-duty uniformed job at the Richmond Marriott Hotel on a Friday night, hoping to earn some extra income. At the same time, law enforcement across the Richmond area was urgently searching for a suspect wanted in a triple murder and the attempted murder of a sheriff’s deputy. Police Shot by a Mass Murderer: She Survived and the City’s Response Shocked Her. Special Episode. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms.
Unknowingly, Nici-O’Connell came face-to-face with that very fugitive.
“I was ambush attacked and shot in the head from three-to-five feet away by a total stranger,” she recalled.
The gunman aimed directly at her temple, firing a .357 Magnum loaded with a .38-caliber round. The bullet entered her face, tore through her mouth, and lodged just an eighth of an inch from her carotid artery.
Doctors did not expect her to survive the night.
“It Looked Like Red Paint Was Being Poured Over Everything”
The moments after the shooting are forever etched into her memory.
“The next thing I know, I heard a loud explosion,” she said. “I looked toward Broad Street, and everything was blurry. It looked like someone was pouring red paint over a picture of Broad Street.” Police Shot by a Mass Murderer: She Survived and the City’s Response Shocked Her. Special Episode. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
Against all odds, she lived.
Her survival, she says, was not hers alone.
“I’m here to tell you if it was not for the support of the police officers I worked with, and also the Richmond community, I would not be here today.”
That support, from fellow officers and everyday citizens, stood in stark contrast to what followed.
The Aftermath: Survival Was Only the Beginning
While Cheryl Nici-O’Connell fought through a long and painful recovery, she also faced what she describes as shocking treatment by city government after the shooting. In the podcast interview, she speaks candidly about the challenges that came not from the gunshot wound, but from navigating a system that failed to fully support a wounded officer. Police Shot by a Mass Murderer: She Survived and the City’s Response Shocked Her. Special Episode. The special episode can be found on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and across most podcast platforms where listeners will find authentic law enforcement stories.
Her attacker was eventually arrested, tried, and sentenced to multiple life terms. Yet the trauma never truly ended.
In 2002, and nearly every year since, Nici-O’Connell has been required to relive the attack during parole hearings.
“I wish I could forget,” she said quietly.
Turning Pain Into Purpose
Today, Cheryl Nici-O’Connell is retired from law enforcement but far from finished serving. She is actively involved with Richmond United for Law Enforcement, an organization founded on January 2, 2015, dedicated to bringing together law enforcement and the Metro Richmond and Tri-Cities communities of Virginia. Police Shot by a Mass Murderer: She Survived and the City’s Response Shocked Her. Special Episode. The full podcast episode is streaming now on their website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Her story, shared through interviews, public speaking, and now this special podcast episode, stands as a reminder of the real human cost behind the badge, and the responsibility cities have to care for those who put their lives on the line.
“I still work to help others,” she says, a testament to a resilience forged in unimaginable circumstances.
A Story That Still Matters
Cheryl Nici-O’Connell’s journey is not just about surviving a bullet fired by a mass murderer. It is about accountability, compassion, and the long road officers walk after the headlines fade. Police Shot by a Mass Murderer: She Survived and the City’s Response Shocked Her. Special Episode.
Her full story can be heard on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, streaming now on Facebook, Instagram, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube and most major podcast platforms. It's a special episode that confronts the realities of service, sacrifice, and survival head-on.
You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news.
Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo.
Be sure to check out our website .
Police Shot by a Mass Murderer: She Survived and the City’s Response Shocked Her. Special Episode.
Attributions
WRIC
WWBT
WFXR TV
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Police Husband was Killed in a Helicopter Crash. Special Episode. The life of a police family is built on service, sacrifice, and an unspoken understanding that every shift carries risk.For Keira Knox, that reality became devastatingly real on May 2, 2020, when her police officer husband, Jason Knox, was killed in a police helicopter crash in Texas. What followed was not just the loss of a husband, but the beginning of a journey that would redefine her life and ultimately inspire her to help countless other first responder families. This special episode is streaming for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform
Jason Knox served with the Houston Police Department as a helicopter tactical flight officer. Aviation units are often called into the most complex and dangerous situations, providing eyes in the sky during critical incidents. On that day, the helicopter unit was requested to assist in a search for two bodies believed to be located in the area. It was a mission that, like so many others, seemed routine to those trained to respond. Look for The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
During the operation, the helicopter developed a mechanical issue. Despite the experience and professionalism of the crew, the aircraft went down. The crash claimed Jason Knox’s life in the line of duty, instantly altering the lives of his family, colleagues, and the entire law enforcement community. Supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .
For Keira Knox, the moments after the crash are etched into her memory. The notification, that no police spouse ever wants to experience, marked the dividing line between life before and life after. “You don’t realize how final everything becomes in that moment,” she has shared. “Nothing prepares you for being told the person you love isn’t coming home.” Police Husband was Killed in a Helicopter Crash. Special Episode
In the days that followed, Keira found herself navigating shock, grief, and a flood of questions, all while trying to process the magnitude of her loss. The funeral brought its own weight, honor guards, uniforms, bagpipes, and a sea of blue that represented respect, tradition, and sacrifice. While the ceremony honored Jason’s service, it also underscored the permanence of his absence.
Like many families of fallen officers, Keira quickly discovered that while departments are trained for emergencies, families are often left to navigate unfamiliar territory alone once the initial support fades. Paperwork, benefits, decisions, emotional trauma, and the expectations of “being strong” arrive all at once. “There is no handbook handed to you when your police husband is killed,” Keira has said. “You’re expected to figure it out while you’re barely able to breathe.” Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms.
As time passed, grief evolved. The raw pain softened into a deeper realization: the system was not designed with families in mind. Keira began to see gaps, not just emotionally, but practically, in how first responder families are supported after a line-of-duty death. That awareness became the catalyst for her next chapter.
Rather than allowing loss to define her solely as a widow, Keira chose to transform her pain into purpose. Drawing directly from her own experience, she became involved in writing The Guide for first responder families and departments. The resource was created to provide clarity during chaos, offering guidance on what families may face immediately after a tragedy and in the months and years that follow. Police Husband was Killed in a Helicopter Crash. Special Episode. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
The guide addresses topics many families don’t even know to ask about: notification procedures, funeral planning, navigating benefits, managing media attention, coping with trauma, and preparing departments to better support surviving spouses and children. “If I had something like this when Jason died, it would have made an impossible situation slightly more manageable,” Keira explained.
Her advocacy did not stop there. Keira also became deeply involved with the Blue Bow Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting first responder families. The foundation’s mission aligns closely with her own, ensuring that families are not forgotten once the headlines fade and the uniforms are put away.
Through her work with the Blue Bow Foundation, Keira has connected with families across Texas and beyond who share similar stories of sudden loss. Each conversation reinforces why this work matters. “Every family’s story is different,” she says, “but the pain, confusion, and isolation are often the same.” The special episode can be found on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and across most podcast platforms where listeners will find authentic law enforcement stories.
Keira Knox has also chosen to share her journey publicly, using Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms to raise awareness and build community. Her openness has resonated with people far beyond the law enforcement world, offering insight into the realities faced by first responder families.
Her story has been featured in the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast available on their website, also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and other podcast platforms. By speaking openly, Keira helps humanize the statistics and remind audiences that behind every line-of-duty death is a family left to rebuild their life. Police Husband was Killed in a Helicopter Crash. Special Episode. The full podcast episode is streaming now on their website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Throughout her journey, Keira continues to honor Jason Knox’s legacy. She speaks not only as a widow, but as a wife who loved deeply, a mother navigating life after loss, and an advocate determined to make sure other families are better supported than she was.
“Jason believed in service and protecting others,” Keira has shared. “The work I do now is my way of continuing that mission.”
Her journey is a powerful reminder that while a police helicopter crash ended Jason Knox’s life, it did not end the impact he would have on others. Through Keira’s strength, vulnerability, and commitment to change, his legacy lives on, offering guidance, hope, and support to first responder families who never expected to need it, but now desperately do. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
In sharing her story, Keira Knox ensures that the conversation does not stop at tragedy. Instead, it becomes a call to action, to prepare, to support, and to stand by the families who stand behind those who serve.
Be sure to check out our website .
Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news.
Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo.
Police Husband was Killed in a Helicopter Crash. Special Episode.
Attributions
ODMP
City of Houston
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Podcasts That Are Different: How The Law Enforcement Talk Podcast Reaches Millions for Free. Podcasting has officially entered the mainstream. What was once a niche medium for early adopters is now a dominant force across news, entertainment, and social media, reaching audiences on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and beyond. Look for The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
Today, 85% of people in the United States are familiar with the term “podcast,” a figure that represents a 10% increase since 2020. Familiarity does not necessarily mean regular listening, but it does signal cultural awareness. As podcasts are referenced more frequently on radio, television, and online platforms, they continue to move out of the “podcaster bubble” and into everyday conversation. This special episode is streaming for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform.
By 2025, well over four in five Americans recognize the term podcast, a clear indicator that the medium has become part of the national media landscape. Supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .
Awareness Is One Thing, Listening Is Another
Listening habits reveal just how powerful podcasting has become.
In mid-2023, Edison Research reported a major shift in media consumption: on-demand audio, including podcasts and streaming music, surpassed traditional AM/FM radio in total listening time across the United States. Podcasts That Are Different: How The Law Enforcement Talk Podcast Reaches Millions for Free. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms.
That trend has only accelerated. According to Infinite Dial data released in early 2025, 70% of Americans have listened to a podcast at least once, up from 55% in 2020. While listening dipped briefly in 2022 as pandemic routines normalized, both monthly and weekly consumption rebounded strongly in 2023 and has continued to grow.
Podcasting, it is now clear, is no longer an experiment. It is a mainstream medium.
A Podcast That Breaks the Mold
Among the thousands of shows competing for attention, some podcasts stand out by doing things differently. One of those is the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, a program built around police, crime, trauma, and real-life stories, delivered without cost and without filters. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
“It’s 100 percent free,” the show’s creator often emphasizes. “No subscriptions, no credit cards, and no paywalls. It never has been paid content, and it never will be.”
That commitment to free access has helped the show grow into a nationally syndicated weekly talk radio program, now airing on 148 AM and FM commercial radio stations. Each week, the show is broadcast to an estimated 48 million people across the United States, in addition to its global podcast audience. Podcasts That Are Different: How The Law Enforcement Talk Podcast Reaches Millions for Free.
Equally important is the show’s tone.
“This isn’t a lecture, and it’s never a sales pitch,” the host explains. “It’s about personal experience. People telling their own stories, in their own words.”
There are no scripted questions, no product promotions, and no partisan politics... ever, by design. The special episode can be found on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and across most podcast platforms where listeners will find authentic law enforcement stories.
More Than a Police Podcast
Despite its title, the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast is not created solely for police officers. In fact, the audience is far broader.
With more than 780 free episodes available, and new episodes released every Wednesday and Sunday, the show offers an expansive library of stories that resonate well beyond one profession.
Each episode is a conversation, not an interview. Guests are encouraged to speak openly, allowing their experiences to unfold naturally. Podcasts That Are Different: How The Law Enforcement Talk Podcast Reaches Millions for Free.
Approximately 75% of the episodes focus on trauma-related stories, often connected to crime. Guests include law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, military members, victims of violent crime, survivors, and family members. These conversations explore the impact of trauma, not only on the individual, but on families, relationships, and long-term purpose. The full podcast episode is streaming now on their website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
“The trauma doesn’t end when the incident does,” one guest explains during an episode. “It follows you home, into your family, into your future.”
The remaining 25% of episodes focus on crime investigations, presenting the realities of police work as they truly are, far removed from Hollywood dramatizations.
A Familiar Format With a Broad Audience
The show’s structure mirrors popular television programs, in an audio format, such as The Homicide Hunter and Murder Chose Me. Those shows are not designed exclusively for detectives; they are meant for the general public, offering real stories told by those who lived them. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
The same philosophy applies here.
“Many of the guests are current or former police officers,” the host notes, “but the stories aren’t just for police. They’re for everyone.”
Proven Reach and Industry Recognition
The show’s impact is supported by industry rankings and listener feedback. Podcasts That Are Different: How The Law Enforcement Talk Podcast Reaches Millions for Free.
The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast is:
Ranked #1 Law Enforcement Podcast in the United States by Million Podcasts
Ranked Top 45 Law Enforcement Podcasts by Feedspot, currently at #3
Ranked #19 on the Top 100 Indie News Commentary (All-Time) chart by Goodpods
Ranked #2 Top Law Enforcement Podcast by Goodpods
Ranked #2 Indie Law Enforcement Podcast by Goodpods.
What began as a podcast-only project eventually attracted the attention of traditional radio, leading to full national syndication. Today, the show is available via radio, radio satellite, radio internet feeds, and most all major podcast platforms. This Special Episode of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast available for free on their website, also on Platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and most major podcast platforms. His story is also being shared across their Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other Social Media and News outlets.
Beyond Audio: Social Media and Digital Reach
The show’s presence extends well beyond audio. Supporting articles and features appear on Medium, Blogspot, LinkedIn, IMDb, and Google Business Profiles, alongside daily engagement across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and other social media platforms.
The official Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show Facebook page alone has more than 139,000 followers, growing by approximately 2,000 new followers each week. Page insights consistently show a social media reach that continues to expand at a remarkable pace.
Why It Matters
As podcasting continues to grow, listeners are increasingly drawn to content that is authentic, unscripted, and meaningful. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast fills that space by offering real stories about police, crime, trauma, and resilience, without agendas and without barriers. Podcasts That Are Different: How The Law Enforcement Talk Podcast Reaches Millions for Free.
For those looking for podcasts that are different, stories that entertain, inform, educate, challenge, and connect, the show offers one of the largest free libraries of its kind. The full podcast episode is streaming now on their website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Listeners can follow and listen for free at LETRadio.com, and connect through the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show on Facebook and other social media platforms.
In an increasingly crowded podcast landscape, this show continues to stand out by doing something simple, and rare: telling the truth.
Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer.
You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website .
Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms.
Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo.
Be sure to check out our website .
Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news.
Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
Podcasts That Are Different: How The Law Enforcement Talk Podcast Reaches Millions for Free.
Attributions:
Edison Research
Edison Research The Infinite Dial
Million Podcasts
F
Police Addicted to Drugs And His Amazing Recovery, Special Episode. Police Officer Attacked, Multiple Surgeries, Forced Retirement, Addiction, and an Inspiring Recovery. This special episode is streaming for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform
Brock Bevell never imagined that a single violent moment would change the entire trajectory of his life. A retired Mesa, Arizona police officer, Brock dedicated his career to public service, until a targeted act of violence ended his time on the job and set him on a painful, unexpected journey through addiction and recovery. Look for The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
“She threw the truck into reverse and hit me,” Brock recalls. “In an instant, everything changed.” Supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .
A Career Cut Short by Violence
While serving with the Mesa Police Department, Brock was seriously injured during a violent incident involving a vehicle. The attack caused devastating, career-ending injuries and required multiple surgeries. What followed was a long and grueling rehabilitation process, one familiar to many injured officers across the country. Police Addicted to Drugs And His Amazing Recovery, Special Episode. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms.
To manage the intense pain, Brock was prescribed opioid pain medication. Like countless patients recovering from serious injuries, he trusted the prescriptions meant to help him heal.
Instead, they quietly became the beginning of a much deeper struggle.
From Recovery to Addiction
During months of surgeries and physical therapy, Brock developed a severe dependence on opioid painkillers. What started as medically prescribed relief slowly evolved into addiction.
“I didn’t recognize myself anymore,” Brock says. “My world became smaller and darker. I was surviving, not living.”
Brock openly shares how addiction affected every part of his life, his relationships, his identity, and his sense of purpose after forced retirement from policing. His story reflects a reality many first responders face but few openly discuss. Police Addicted to Drugs And His Amazing Recovery, Special Episode. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
The Science Behind the Crisis
Research underscores just how common Brock’s experience is. A major study published in JAMA Internal Medicine by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine found that patients undergoing 11 common surgeries faced an increased risk of becoming chronic opioid users.
Lead author Eric Sun, MD, PhD, explained:
“For a lot of surgeries, there is a higher chance of getting hooked on painkillers.”
The study defined chronic opioid use as filling 10 or more prescriptions or receiving more than a 120-day supply within a year after surgery. Patients undergoing knee surgery faced the highest risk, nearly five times that of nonsurgical patients, followed by gallbladder surgery.
Importantly, the study did not suggest avoiding surgery, but emphasized the need for careful monitoring and alternative pain management strategies. Police Addicted to Drugs And His Amazing Recovery, Special Episode. The interview can be found on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and across most podcast platforms where listeners will find authentic law enforcement stories.
Trauma, Policing, and Substance Use
Law enforcement officers face unique occupational hazards, including repeated exposure to trauma. Studies show that substance use disorders, including alcohol and drug dependence, occur at higher rates among officers, particularly those experiencing psychological distress.
In nationally representative data, more than half of men with lifetime PTSD also had a history of alcohol abuse or dependence. For police officers, these risks are compounded by work stress, injuries, and the cultural stigma surrounding mental health and asking for help.
“We wear the uniform, but we’re human,” Brock says. “And sometimes the damage doesn’t show until it’s almost too late.” The full podcast episode is streaming now on their website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Hitting Bottom and Choosing Recovery
Brock’s turning point came when he realized addiction had taken everything it could from him. With professional help, support, and unwavering determination, he entered recovery and committed to sobriety.
“Recovery didn’t give me my old life back,” he says. “It gave me a new one, one with purpose.” Police Addicted to Drugs And His Amazing Recovery, Special Episode.
Today, Brock uses his experience to help others struggling with addiction, trauma, and life after law enforcement. His message is clear: recovery is possible, even after profound loss.
Healing Beyond the Badge
In the aftermath of violence and trauma, communities often look to police officers as symbols of strength. Yet officers themselves must also heal. Proactive wellness programs, mental health resources, and open conversations about addiction are critical, not just for officers, but for the communities they serve. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
Mesa, located just east of Phoenix, is known for its deep history, from the ancient Hohokam culture to the modern city Brock once patrolled. It is also where his story originated, one of resilience, accountability, and hope.
Listen to Brock’s Story
Brock Bevell’s journey is featured in this Special Episode of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast available for free on their website, also on Platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and most major podcast platforms. His story is also being shared across their Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other Social Media and News outlets.
Listen to Brock’s inspiring account of what happened, how prescribed opioids led to addiction, and how recovery helped him rebuild his life, and helps others do the same. Police Addicted to Drugs And His Amazing Recovery, Special Episode.
Because sometimes, the most powerful stories of policing aren’t about arrests or badges, but about survival, healing, and redemption.
Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer.
You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website .
Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms.
Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo.
Be sure to check out our website .
Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news.
Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
Police Addicted to Drugs And His Amazing Recovery, Special Episode.
Attributions
Stanford Medical
IACP
NIH Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Working Undercover for the ATF: His Journey, Special Episode. Working undercover for the ATF is not just a job, it is a life lived in shadows, deception, and constant danger. For Lou Valoze, a retired federal agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, that life became his reality for nearly a decade as he infiltrated some of the most violent criminal organizations in the United States. Look for The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
His journey through police work at the federal level reveals the true cost of confronting violent crime head-on, while quietly removing thousands of illegal guns from the streets. This special episode is streaming for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform
A Life Lived Undercover
Lou Valoze’s career stands apart even within federal law enforcement circles. As a long-term undercover ATF agent, he specialized in “storefront stings”, covert operations where agents create fake businesses to attract criminals involved in gun trafficking, drugs, and organized crime. Supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .
“These criminals believed I was one of them,” Valoze explains. “That was the only way to get close enough to stop them.”
By posing as a gun runner, Valoze gained the trust of violent offenders, gang members, and organized crime groups. Over time, those relationships led to the seizure of more than a thousand illegal firearms and the arrest of countless dangerous individuals. Working Undercover for the ATF: His Journey, Special Episode. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms.
From Business to Federal Law Enforcement
Valoze’s path to undercover work was far from typical. With a background in economics and business, he initially pursued a career in banking. Everything changed after a chance conversation with an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agent.
“That single conversation flipped my entire future,” Valoze recalls. “I realized I wanted to serve, to make a real difference.”
That decision led him to the Department of Justice and eventually to a 25-year career with the ATF, where his expertise reshaped undercover operations nationwide.
Storefront Stings and Violent Crime
Storefront stings became Valoze’s signature. These operations allowed ATF agents to dismantle criminal networks from the inside, identifying gun traffickers who fueled violent crime by supplying weapons to prohibited persons, gangs, and drug dealers. Working Undercover for the ATF: His Journey, Special Episode. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
“Storefronts gave us something traditional policing couldn’t,” Valoze says. “Time, access, and insight into how these groups really operated.”
From 2006 to 2014, Valoze’s fictitious businesses served as magnets for criminal activity, resulting in thousands of guns seized and millions of dollars’ worth of drugs removed from circulation.
The Toll of a Double Life
While the successes were significant, the personal toll was heavy. Living undercover meant maintaining a constant dual identity, blurring the line between law enforcement and criminal persona. The interview can be found on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and across most podcast platforms where listeners will find authentic law enforcement stories.
“There were moments when it became hard to tell where the undercover role ended and where I began,” Valoze admits.
That psychological strain, combined with the ever-present threat of exposure, became one of the most challenging aspects of his career. These experiences are documented in his book, Storefront Sting: An ATF Agent’s Life Undercover, co-authored with Brian Whitney. Working Undercover for the ATF: His Journey, Special Episode.
Telling the Story: Book, Podcast, and Documentary
Published in 2022, Storefront Sting offers an insider’s look at one of the most dangerous and successful undercover operations in ATF history. The book chronicles how small-time fencing schemes evolved into deep infiltrations of major criminal organizations.
“This story needed to be told,” Valoze says. “Not for me, but so people understand what it takes to take violent criminals off the streets.”
His work has since expanded beyond the book. Valoze now shares his journey through speaking engagements, podcast appearances on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast available for free on their website, plus Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and most major podcast platforms. It is also featured across their Facebook, Instagram, and major news platforms like their Medium and Blogspot pages. The full podcast episode is streaming now on their website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
His operations are also highlighted in the Discovery Channel series Operation Undercover: Guns & Drugs in Carolina, streaming on Discovery, HBO Max, and Investigation Discovery. The documentary provides a rare, in-depth look at the risks, strategy, and human cost of federal undercover work.
Protecting Communities Through Federal Policing
The ATF’s mission is central to Valoze’s story. As a federal agency under the Department of Justice, the ATF confronts violent crime involving firearms, explosives, arson, and illegal trafficking. Through advanced crime gun intelligence and partnerships with state and local police, the agency works to dismantle the networks that fuel violence. Working Undercover for the ATF: His Journey, Special Episode.
“Every gun we took off the street meant fewer chances for someone to get hurt,” Valoze reflects.
A Legacy of Service
Today, Lou Valoze is recognized not only as a retired ATF agent, but as an author, speaker, and voice for those who have worked in silence to protect American communities. His journey offers a rare glimpse into the realities of working undercover for the ATF, and the sacrifices required to confront violent crime at its source.
“This wasn’t about glory,” Valoze says. “It was about doing the job, even when no one could know who you really were.”
This Special Episode explores the unseen world of federal undercover policing, where trust is weaponized, danger is constant, and the fight against violent crime happens far from the spotlight.
Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer.
You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website .
Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms.
Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo.
Be sure to check out our website .
Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news.
Working Undercover for the ATF: His Journey, Special Episode.
Attributions
Amazon.com
Lou Valoze
ATF.Gov
Wikipedia Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Is 19 Too Young To Be a Police Officer? A Florida, USA Perspective on Trauma Impact and PTSD. Special Episode. At just 19 years old, Michael A. Laidler was already wearing a badge and responding to some of the most intense calls a police officer can face. Sworn in as a police officer in Tallahassee, Florida, USA, his early entry into law enforcement placed him on the front lines at an age when most of his peers were still navigating college life or their first civilian jobs. The question at the heart of this Special Episode is simple, yet deeply complex: Is 19 too young to be a police officer? Look for The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
Michael’s story, shared through the Podcast available for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and most major podcast platforms, offers a rare firsthand look at how early exposure to trauma can shape both a career and a life.
“At 19, I thought I was ready,” Michael reflects. “I passed the tests, I met the requirements, but nothing truly prepares you for repeated exposure to trauma at that age.” Supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .
Trauma at the Start of a Career
Early in his career, Michael encountered extreme stress and traumatic incidents that would leave lasting impressions. He recounts two particularly disturbing events that occurred while he was still a teenager in uniform, experiences that many officers don’t face until years into the job. Is 19 Too Young To Be a Police Officer? A Florida, USA Perspective on Trauma Impact and PTSD. Special Episode. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms.
“You don’t just see trauma,” he explains. “You absorb it. And when you’re that young, it hits differently.”
These experiences didn’t just affect his work performance; they influenced his personal life, emotional regulation, and long-term career decisions. Like many officers of his generation, Michael says there was little discussion about mental health, PTSD, or the long-term Trauma Impact on young officers.
“Back then, the mindset was to tough it out,” he says. “You handled it the best you could, often without the tools or language to understand what was happening inside.”
The Science Behind Age and Trauma
In the United States, the minimum age to become a police officer typically ranges from 18 to 21, depending on the state and department. Florida is unique in that it sets the minimum age for sworn law enforcement officers at 19 years old, while corrections officers may be hired at 18. However some agencies have higher minimum ages.
Research suggests that while 18 and 19-year-olds possess adult-level reasoning abilities, the brain, particularly the prefrontal cortex responsible for impulse control, emotional regulation, and decision-making, continues to develop well into the early 20s. This ongoing development may make younger officers more vulnerable to the effects of repeated traumatic exposure. Is 19 Too Young To Be a Police Officer? A Florida, USA Perspective on Trauma Impact and PTSD. Special Episode. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
Studies cited by the National Institutes of Health indicate that trauma exposure can double the risk of major depressive disorder and is a key criterion for developing PTSD. Adolescents and young adults may be especially susceptible, as trauma can intersect with critical stages of identity formation and emotional development.
“You’re still becoming who you are,” Michael notes. “When trauma gets layered onto that process, it can redirect your entire path.”
Florida Standards and the Bigger Debate
Under Florida Statute 943.13, individuals seeking certification as law enforcement officers must meet strict criteria, including U.S. citizenship, a high school diploma or GED, good moral character, and a clean criminal history. In cities like Miami, applicants must be at least 19 years old to apply. The interview can be found on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and across most podcast platforms where listeners will find authentic law enforcement stories.
While these standards ensure legal and ethical readiness, they don’t fully address developmental readiness or long-term mental health outcomes. Critics argue that agencies should more seriously consider age, maturity, and access to trauma-informed support systems when hiring young officers.
According to broader research, trauma experienced during sensitive developmental periods may carry a higher risk for long-term psychological effects, including PTSD, substance abuse, and relationship difficulties, especially if left untreated. Is 19 Too Young To Be a Police Officer? A Florida, USA Perspective on Trauma Impact and PTSD. Special Episode.
Turning Pain Into Purpose
Today, Michael A. Laidler uses his experiences to help others. His career path ultimately shifted toward leadership development and training, driven by a desire to support officers before trauma defines them.
“If sharing my story helps even one young officer recognize the signs of PTSD or seek help earlier, then it’s worth it,” he says. The full podcast episode is streaming now on their website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
This Special Episode isn’t just about age requirements or policy, it’s about people, development, and the hidden costs of early exposure to trauma in law enforcement. As the conversation continues across News, Podcast, and social media platforms, Michael’s story adds an essential human perspective to the ongoing debate.
“Nineteen isn’t too young to care,” Michael concludes. “But it might be too young to carry trauma alone.”
Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer.
You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website .
Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms.
Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo.
Be sure to check out our website .
Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news.
Is 19 Too Young To Be a Police Officer? A Florida, USA Perspective on Trauma Impact and PTSD. Special Episode.
Attributions
FDLE
Miami Government
Wikipedia
N.I.H.
Michael Laidler Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Truth Being a Baltimore, Maryland Police Officer: Crime, Violence, and Survival. A Special Episode. In a media landscape dominated by headlines, hashtags, and heated debates, few stories cut through the noise with honesty. A special episode of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast does exactly that, by telling the truth about what it really means to be a Police Officer, Cop in Baltimore, Maryland. This special episode is streaming for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform.
In this compelling special episode, John Jay Wiley, a Retired Baltimore Police Sergeant and the host of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, appears as a guest on the On Being A Police Officer Podcast with host Abby Ellsworth. The conversation pulls back the curtain on crime, violence, officer-involved shootings, and the often-misreported realities of police use of force. Look for The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
“This episode isn’t about headlines,” Wiley explains. “It’s about what actually happens on the street, when the cameras aren’t there and lives are on the line.” The Truth Being a Baltimore, Maryland Police Officer: Crime, Violence, and Survival. A Special Episode. Supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .
Four Officer-Involved Shootings, and the Reality Behind Them
During his career with the Baltimore Police Department, Wiley was involved in four officer-involved shootings, or as they were called back then shootings, a fact that often shocks listeners unfamiliar with the daily dangers faced by officers in high-crime cities.
Contrary to popular narratives repeated across news, Facebook, and Instagram, Wiley reveals that in the first two incidents, he never fired his weapon. He, like most Police Officers, did not shoot back.
“The idea that police are always quick to shoot is simply false,” Wiley says during the podcast. “In my first two shootings, I didn’t return fire at all.” Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms.
The final two incidents, however, were prolonged, life-and-death gun battles. The last shooting left Wiley with injuries severe enough to end his police career.
“That last gunfight changed everything,” he reflects. “It didn’t just end my career, it reshaped my life.” The Truth Being a Baltimore, Maryland Police Officer: Crime, Violence, and Survival. A Special Episode.
Shattering Myths About Police and Use of Force
A central theme of the podcast special episode is the disconnect between public perception and on-the-ground reality. Wiley and Ellsworth address the myths frequently spread about policing in American cities, especially Baltimore. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
“So much of what people believe about police use of force comes from misreporting or outright misinformation,” Wiley notes. “The truth is far more complex, and far more human.”
The episode offers listeners an unfiltered look at how decisions are made in seconds, under extreme stress, amid rampant crime and violence.
Baltimore: A City With a Complicated History
Baltimore, Maryland has long struggled with violent crime rates above the national average. In 2019, Baltimore recorded 348 homicides, second only to its 1993 peak, when the population was significantly higher.
Yet the story doesn’t end there.
By 2024, the city recorded 201 homicides, the lowest number since 2011, evidence that progress, while uneven, is possible. City leaders have credited focused efforts on repeat violent offenders and increased community engagement. The Truth Being a Baltimore, Maryland Police Officer: Crime, Violence, and Survival. A Special Episode. The interview can be found on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and across most podcast platforms where listeners will find authentic law enforcement stories.
“Baltimore isn’t just statistics,” Wiley says. “It’s people, good people, trying to survive in some very hard neighborhoods.”
“It’s Baltimore, Gentlemen…”
A haunting quote from The Wire:
“It’s Baltimore, gentlemen. The gods will not save you.”
For Wiley, that line resonates deeply.
“There were moments when I needed God to save my life, during and especially after Policing in Baltimore” he says quietly. “And I believe He did.”
A Podcast You Don’t Want to Miss
On Being A Police Officer is known for offering a civilian-led, inside look at law enforcement through deeply personal interviews. Drawing on over 15 years of ride-alongs, filming, and conversations with officers, Abby Ellsworth gives listeners access to stories rarely told so candidly. The Truth Being a Baltimore, Maryland Police Officer: Crime, Violence, and Survival. A Special Episode. The full podcast episode is streaming now on their website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
This special episode featuring John Jay Wiley is available for free on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and other major podcast platforms. Posts about it are also being shared across Facebook, Instagram, and digital news outlets.
“People deserve to hear these stories directly from those who lived them,” Ellsworth says. “That’s how understanding begins.”
Are You Ready to Hear the Truth?
Baltimore has been called many things, dangerous, broken, violent. But is it only that? Or is it a city shaped by history, policy, and people doing their best under extraordinary pressure? The Truth Being a Baltimore, Maryland Police Officer: Crime, Violence, and Survival. A Special Episode.
This episode doesn’t offer easy answers, but it does offer the truth.
And sometimes, the truth is exactly what’s been missing.
Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news.
Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer.
You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website .
Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms.
Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo.
Be sure to check out our website .
The Truth Being a Baltimore, Maryland Police Officer: Crime, Violence, and Survival. A Special Episode.
Attributions
Medium.com
Wikipedia
On Being A Police Officer
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Are the Claims of Racism True, or a Distraction? Special Episode. From Chicago to West Virginia, a Law Enforcement Perspective. Few accusations are repeated as often, or with as much certainty, as the claim that American policing and the criminal justice system are inherently racist. It’s a powerful narrative, amplified daily across social media, headlines, and political talking points. But is it true? Or has it become a dangerous distraction from facts, context, and real solutions? Look for The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
That question is at the center of a special episode of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, available on their website, also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and many major streaming platforms, and discussed across Facebook, Instagram, and the news. The episode features Maurice “Maury” Richards, a former Police Chief in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and a retired Chicago Police Lieutenant with decades of frontline experience.
Experience From Two Very Different Cities
Richards’ career spans two vastly different policing environments, urban Chicago and small-city West Virginia. His perspective is not theoretical or academic; it’s built on years of responding to violent crime, managing officers, and confronting the realities that don’t always make headlines. Supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .
During the conversation, Richards challenges the popular claim that police shootings in America are driven by racial bias. Instead, he argues that crime patterns, suspect behavior, and officer encounters with violence, not race, largely explain police use-of-force outcomes. Are the Claims of Racism True, or a Distraction? Special Episode.
What the Data Shows
National data consistently reveals that police shootings closely track rates of violent crime and armed encounters, not racial animus. In 2019, police officers fatally shot just over 1,000 individuals nationwide. The majority were armed or posed an immediate threat.
While African Americans represented roughly a quarter of those killed, that proportion has remained stable for years and is lower than what crime and suspect data would predict, given the frequency with which officers encounter armed violent offenders. That context is often missing from public debate. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms.
Equally overlooked: in 2019, police fatally shot more unarmed white suspects than unarmed Black suspects, and those numbers have declined significantly since 2015. When placed alongside broader homicide data, unarmed Black suspects killed by police represent a tiny fraction of overall violent deaths involving African Americans.
What Research Actually Concludes
Multiple large-scale studies, spanning economics, criminology, and peer-reviewed science, have examined police use of force. Their findings repeatedly undermine the claim of systemic racial bias in police shootings. Are the Claims of Racism True, or a Distraction? Special Episode. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
Researchers have found that:
The likelihood of a fatal police encounter increases with exposure to violent suspects, regardless of race.
There is no statistically significant evidence of anti-Black bias in fatal police shootings when crime rates and behavior during encounters are considered.
White officers, in some departments, have been found less likely than minority officers to shoot unarmed Black suspects.
These conclusions don’t deny that misconduct occurs or that bad officers exist. Rather, they challenge the idea that racism is baked into the system itself.
The Cost of a False Narrative
Richards and the show’s hosts argue that the real danger lies in what happens when an unproven narrative is treated as fact. The portrayal of policing as systemically racist has had consequences, some deadly.
In past years, false assumptions fueled targeted attacks on officers and led to pullbacks in proactive policing, especially in high-crime neighborhoods. When officers disengage, it is often law-abiding residents in minority communities who pay the price through increased violence, drug activity, and gang control. Are the Claims of Racism True, or a Distraction? Special Episode. Check out The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and across most podcast platforms where listeners will find authentic law enforcement stories.
As Richards explains, fewer arrests and less enforcement don’t eliminate crime, they simply shift power to those who exploit the absence of law and order.
Politics, Policy, and the Bigger Picture
Claims of systemic racism have become foundational to movements such as “Defund the Police,” opposition to Broken Windows policing, and calls to dismantle traditional drug enforcement. Even national leaders have echoed these allegations, often without defining what “systemic racism” actually means.
When examined closely, the arguments fall apart:
Claims of widespread racial animus ignore how aggressively modern institutions punish and correct discriminatory behavior.
Assertions that past racism explains all present disparities assume causal links unsupported by evidence.
Psychological theories of subconscious bias have been widely challenged and debunked.
Disparity-based arguments focus solely on offenders while ignoring victims, who are disproportionately minority themselves.
Perhaps most troubling, many proposed “solutions” would harm the very communities they claim to protect by reducing safety, enforcement, and accountability.
The Bottom Line
The conversation reaches a clear conclusion: the claim of systemic racism in American policing and the criminal justice system does not stand up to scrutiny. That doesn’t mean reform isn’t needed or that every police action is justified, but it does mean debates should be grounded in facts, not fear or political convenience. Are the Claims of Racism True, or a Distraction? Special Episode. A Special Episode of the podcast episode is streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
To hear the full discussion, listen to this special episode of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, available now on their website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other major platforms, and join the conversation across social media and news outlets nationwide.
Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer.
You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website .
Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms.
Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo.
Be sure to check out our website .
Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news.
Are the Claims of Racism True, or a Distraction? Special Episode.
Attributions
Manhattan Insitute
Liberty University Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Is the Word Cop an Insult or Offensive? In Defense of a Title Earned. Few words tied to law enforcement spark online arguments as quickly, or as emotionally, as the word cop. For some, it’s an instant trigger. For others, it’s harmless shorthand. But for many who have worn the badge, worked the streets, and answered the calls, cop is neither an insult nor a slur. It’s a title of respect, earned through action, accountability, sacrifice, and service. This special episode is streaming for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform
That’s why this conversation matters, and why a special episode of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast was dedicated to defending the word “Cop.” Look for The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
Why One Word Creates Such Big Reactions.
Ask ten people what comes to mind when they hear “cop,” and you’ll likely get ten different answers. Online, the word ignites debate at lightning speed, often led by people with little to no firsthand connection to the profession itself. The disconnect is striking. Opinions about the word rarely come from the street, the squad car, or the midnight shift. They come from the outside looking in. Is the Word Cop an Insult or Offensive? In Defense of a Title Earned. Supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .
As a retired Baltimore Police Sergeant, I use the word intentionally and unapologetically. Growing up in the job, cop was always a compliment. It was what fellow cops called you when they knew you were reliable, when they trusted you to show up, back them up, and do the work. It was never whispered as an insult or tossed around in a derogatory way. It was a term of respect shared among people who understood exactly what the job demanded.
A Word Big Enough for the Whole Profession
One of the greatest misconceptions about law enforcement is the idea that it’s a single job with a single title. In reality, it’s a massive profession made up of countless roles:
Police Officers, Deputy Sheriffs, State Troopers, Highway Patrol, Game Wardens, Wildlife Officers, Park Rangers, Corrections Officers, Probation and Parole Officers, Federal Agents, and many more. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms.
Each agency has its own mission, culture, and rank structure: Officer, Agent, Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Chief. Titles and ranks matter in this profession because they’re earned. Technically, the most accurate way to address someone is by their full title.
That’s exactly where the word cop fits. It’s universal. It cuts across agencies, uniforms, patches, and ranks without erasing them. Whether someone works urban streets, rural highways, a jail tier, or a federal task force, “cop” recognizes the shared commitment to a job most people wouldn’t last a week doing. It acknowledges the brotherhood and sisterhood beneath the badges. Is the Word Cop an Insult or Offensive?
What “Cop” Really Means on the Inside
Among those who lived the job, being called a cop meant something very specific: you actually did the work. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
The uncomfortable truth is that not everyone who wears a badge lives up to that standard. Every agency has individuals who technically show up but avoid the real work whenever possible. They dodge hot calls, arrive late to dangerous scenes by choice, and stay “clean” by doing the bare minimum. Ironically, those are often the people who climb the promotional ladder the fastest, because staying invisible protects them from scrutiny.
In the Baltimore Police Department, there was a word for officers like that: humps. They mastered the art of stretching simple calls into hour-long events, lingering in the station, and letting other officers absorb the risk. That behavior didn’t just burden coworkers, it hurt the community by reducing real response and proactive policing.
A cop, what our old-timers called “real police”, was different. A cop showed up. A cop backed their partners without hesitation. A cop stepped into chaos, took responsibility, and handled business when it mattered. The job wasn’t about comfort, popularity, or fast promotions. It was about service and accountability. That’s the standard behind the word. Is the Word Cop an Insult or Offensive? In Defense of a Title Earned. Check out The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and across most podcast platforms where listeners will find authentic law enforcement stories.
The Fake Outrage Over Language
Every so often, usually on social media, someone erupts in outrage when I use the word cop. What’s telling isn’t just the anger, but where it’s aimed.
It’s not about the crime.
Not about the victim.
Not about the officer injured or killed.
It’s about the word.
That says everything.
When a headline reads A COP WAS SHOT and someone ignores the violence to lecture about terminology, priorities are clearly misplaced. Fixating on language while glossing over criminal violence raises serious questions about motive and intent. Outrage over vocabulary is easy. Standing up for truth, accountability, and human life is much harder. Is the Word Cop an Insult or Offensive? A Special Episode of the podcast episode is streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
So let me be clear: when I call someone a cop, it is a compliment. If someone chooses to be offended, that’s their issue, not mine.
Proud of the Title
I don’t casually refer to myself as a cop, out of respect for what the word represents. If others call me that, I accept it with gratitude. I’m honored to have served. Honored to have stood alongside men and women who ran toward danger while others ran away. Honored to be part of a profession that demands courage, resilience, sacrifice, and integrity.
And I’m proud to defend a word that represents the best of that profession.
So yes, I’ll keep using the word cop.
Because it’s not just a name.
It’s a standard.
It’s a legacy.
It’s a badge of honor.
To those who lived the job and did it the right way, “cop” is a quiet salute, one that carries respect, not disrespect. Is the Word Cop an Insult or Offensive? In Defense of a Title Earned. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
So I’ll leave you with this question:
When you hear the word cop, what do you hear?
If you believe it’s an insult, that belief belongs to you alone. It does not reflect the mindset of those who earned the title, lived the work, and still stand proudly behind the word.
️ This discussion is featured in a special episode of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, available on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, LinkedIn, X, and major news and podcast platforms. Is the Word Cop an Insult or Offensive?
Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news.
Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer.
You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website .
Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms.
Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo.
Be sure to check out our website .
Is the Word Cop an Insult or Offensive? In Defense of a Title Earned. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
A Stranger Saved a Retired NYPD Officer’s Life on Christmas Eve, A Special Episode Worth Hearing. This is more than a headline. It is a true story of survival, loss, depression, and an unexpected moment of human connection that changed everything. Look for The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
Dean Simpson is a retired police officer from the New York City Police Department. Years before this Christmas Eve, he was shot in the line of duty during a violent, life-and-death encounter. He survived the attack, but the shooting left him permanently disabled. What followed was a slow, painful unraveling that many first responders know too well. The inpsiring episode is streaming for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform
Purpose disappeared. Pain remained. Alcohol filled the silence.
By December of 2001, Dean’s life had narrowed to drinking, isolation, and attending one police funeral after another. Just three months earlier, the Twin Towers had fallen. While his fellow officers ran toward the chaos on September 11, Dean woke up late, hungover, and drowning in guilt. He still put on his uniform and reported to Ground Zero, working at “The Pile” for weeks, until he realized he wasn’t helping anymore. A Stranger Saved a Retired NYPD Officer’s Life on Christmas Eve, A Special Episode Worth Hearing. Supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .
Then came Christmas Eve.
That morning, Dean put his father’s revolver in one pocket and his father’s worn Bible in the other. He boarded a train at Penn Station with a one-way ticket upstate. He had already decided that once he reached his destination, his life would end. He chose a secluded place so no one would have to clean up the mess, a thought that haunted him even then.
While the train rolled north through snow-covered landscapes, a stranger sat down next to him.
Her name was Erin.
She was a chatty grandmother with a red scarf and a warm smile, exactly the kind of person Dean did not want to talk to. She spoke about the beauty of the city, the holidays, life, and love. Dean sat in silence, angry at her optimism, angry at everything. When she finally asked what he loved about New York City, his response was cold and sharp. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms.
“I love being left alone.”
Instead of snapping back or moving seats, Erin stayed. When Dean apologized, she accepted. Slowly, gently, she drew him into conversation. She shared her own story, her late husband, her children, her grandchildren. And for the first time in a long while, Dean talked about his life. About being shot. About losing his father. About feeling useless and invisible. A Stranger Saved a Retired NYPD Officer’s Life on Christmas Eve, A Special Episode
When the train reached Albany, Erin handed him a small pink note.
“I don’t know where you’re headed,” she told him, “but when you get there, read this.”
They hugged, and she was gone.
Dean continued on to Black Mountain, climbing toward Lake George with ice-capped water below. At the summit, he opened his father’s Bible. A scrap of paper fell out, marking a verse: Corinthians 10:13. To a cop, that number meant something else entirely, police code for officer needs assistance. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
Then he read Erin’s note:
“Dean, life is a gift meant to be shared. Don’t ever give up hope. Merry Christmas. Erin.”
In that moment, something lifted. The weight inside him eased. Dean emptied the revolver and threw it into the abyss. Then he turned around and walked back down the mountain. A Stranger Saved a Retired NYPD Officer’s Life on Christmas Eve.
That was the day a stranger saved his life.
In this special episode of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, Dean Simpson tells his story openly, not for attention, but to reach others who may be standing on the same edge. He speaks about trauma, addiction, purpose, and recovery. He shares how the badge shaped him, how it nearly broke him, and how one unexpected act of kindness redirected his life. His interview can be found on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and across most podcast platforms where listeners will find authentic law enforcement stories.
Dean is also the author of two books:
The Blue Pawn: A Memoir of an NYPD Foot Soldier, a raw and unfiltered account of life in law enforcement, and Godless v. Trust: The Radical Left’s Quest to Destroy Western Civilization, reflecting the worldview forged through experience and service.
His story has been shared across Facebook, Instagram, and various news outlets, and is now featured in a special episode of a powerful podcast conversation. Listeners can hear Dean tell this story in his own words on Apple, Spotify, and other major podcast platforms. A Stranger Saved a Retired NYPD Officer’s Life on Christmas Eve, A Special Episode Worth Hearing. The full podcast episode is streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
This is not just a story about a retired NYPD officer. It’s a reminder that you never know when a simple conversation, a shared moment, or a stranger’s kindness might save a life.
And sometimes, angels don’t have wings, they just won’t stop talking.
Be sure to check out our website .
Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news.
Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer.
You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website .
Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms.
Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo.
A Stranger Saved a Retired NYPD Officer’s Life on Christmas Eve, A Special Episode Worth Hearing.
Attributions
Amazon
NY Post
Amazon Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Worst Mass Shooting in U.S. History: A Retired Las Vegas Police Officer Shares His Story. On October 1, 2017, the world witnessed the deadliest mass shooting by a lone gunman in American history. More than 22,000 people were gathered for the Route 91 Harvest music festival on the Las Vegas Strip when gunfire erupted from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel. In just ten minutes, a 64-year-old attacker fired over 1,000 rounds into the crowd, killing 60 people and wounding hundreds more. The total number of injured would eventually rise to approximately 867 as panic swept through the venue. The powerful episode is streaming for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform.
For many, the details of that night came through breaking news on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms. But for the officers responding to the scene, including Retired Las Vegas Metro Police Captain Josh Bitsko, the horror unfolded in real time inside the hotel. Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
A Night That Changed Las Vegas Forever
The shooter had meticulously prepared his vantage point: two adjoining suites, 24 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and high-capacity magazines. Fourteen of the rifles were .223-caliber semi-automatic weapons; others included .308-caliber rifles and a revolver. Investigators would later confirm that the gunman fired 1,058 rounds, 1,049 of them aimed toward the festival grounds from nearly 500 yards away. The Worst Mass Shooting in U.S. History: A Retired Las Vegas Police Officer Shares His Story. Look for supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .
Shortly before the attack began at 10:05 p.m., a Mandalay Bay security guard discovered a barricaded door on the 32nd floor. Moments later, he was struck by gunfire through the shooter’s door and was able to radio the hotel for help even while wounded. A maintenance worker also encountered the danger and helped relay the message: this was no routine call, someone was firing rapidly and indiscriminately.
Meanwhile, concertgoers below initially mistook the gunfire for fireworks. But as bursts of 80 to 100 rounds echoed across the Las Vegas Village fairgrounds, panic set in. The crowd struggled to escape the fenced-in venue as bullets rained from above. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms.
The shooter paused only briefly during reloads and while confronting the security guard. By 10:15 p.m., the gunfire had stopped. The suspect then turned his revolver on himself.
Inside the 32nd Floor: Captain Josh Bitsko’s Experience
Amidst early confusion, reports of shots from multiple hotels, uncertainty about the shooter’s position, police officers made their way to the Mandalay Bay. At 10:17 p.m., officers reached the 32nd floor. Guided by the wounded security guard, they began clearing rooms one by one while evacuating terrified guests. The Worst Mass Shooting in U.S. History: A Retired Las Vegas Police Officer Shares His Story.
Retired Captain Josh Bitsko, then a sergeant, was one of the officers who ultimately breached the shooter’s room. Between 10:26 and 10:30 p.m. Using explosives, Bitsko and his team entered Room 32–135, where they found the shooter deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
Bitsko would later supervise another officer-involved shooting just weeks afterward, a separate critical incident involving a double-homicide suspect. Both events left lasting emotional impacts and deepened his understanding of trauma within law enforcement.
Beyond the Headlines: Leadership, Trauma & Resilience
Today, Josh Bitsko shares his experience through his book, The Courage to Live, an exploration of leadership under pressure, surviving trauma, and finding clarity in moments of chaos. In it, he opens up about the realities of critical incidents and the therapy journey that helped him process the weight of his police career.
He also founded Bitsko Consulting, where he leads high-impact tabletop training designed to prepare agencies for real-world emergencies. His programs focus on communication, decision-making under stress, leadership development, and understanding operational gaps before the next crisis hits.
Grounded in decades of frontline experience, his instruction combines personal stories with practical tools, giving students immediately usable insights and a deeper sense of mission. The Worst Mass Shooting in U.S. History: A Retired Las Vegas Police Officer Shares His Story. His interview can be found on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and across most podcast platforms where listeners crave authentic law enforcement stories.
A Story Shared Across Platforms
Josh’s story and the deeper lessons from One October continue to be shared through interviews, social media, and podcast platforms. Listeners can find conversations about his experiences on major outlets including:
The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube
Facebook and Instagram
LinkedIn
The Route 91 Harvest tragedy remains one of the most defining moments in modern U.S. history, a night that reshaped national conversations about public safety, policing, mental health, and resilience. Through voices like retired Captain Josh Bitsko, the public continues to gain critical insight into what happened on the 32nd floor and what it takes to lead with courage during the unthinkable. The Worst Mass Shooting in U.S. History: A Retired Las Vegas Police Officer Shares His Story. The full podcast episode is streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo.
Be sure to check out our website .
Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news.
Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer.
You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website .
Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms.
The Worst Mass Shooting in U.S. History: A Retired Las Vegas Police Officer Shares His Story.
Attributions
Bitsko Consulting
Wikipedia
Amazon
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Do Blue Wives Matter, What Are They? A Look Inside Police Support in a Special Episode of the Law Enforcement Talk Podcast now streaming on their website, also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most major podcast platforms, listeners are introduced to a perspective rarely heard in mainstream news or social media: the voice of a police spouse. The episode features retired Police Captain Rob Sweaza and his wife Kristen Sweaza, two people whose shared experiences ultimately led to the creation of their nonprofit support group, Blue Wives Matter. Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
A Rare Two-Person Perspective
“He saw the things most people never have to witness,” Kristen says during the interview. “But families see it too, just from a different angle.” Look for supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .
Rob adds, “Police spouses carry a weight that many don’t see. I couldn’t have made it through my career without Kristen.”
The Sweazas appear together in this unusually intimate two-person interview to shed light on one of the most overlooked segments of the law enforcement family: the spouses who stand behind the badge. Do Blue Wives Matter, What Are They? Special Episode.
Why They Founded Blue Wives Matter
After enduring multiple traumatic line-of-duty deaths throughout Rob’s police career, the couple repeatedly found themselves helping grieving families in the immediate aftermath. Again and again, they saw the same emotional and practical needs, needs that weren’t consistently being met. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms.
“We looked at each other one night and just said, ‘Something has to change,’” Rob recalls.
That moment became the spark for Blue Wives Matter.
So what is Blue Wives Matter? And what are they all about?
According to Kristen, “It’s not political. It’s about people. It’s about support. It’s about making sure no spouse or family goes through this alone.” Do Blue Wives Matter, What Are They? Special Episode. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
Rob adds, “The mission is simple: stand by the families who stand by law enforcement.”
Their organization focuses on emotional support, community connection, and helping spouses and families navigate the overwhelming days and months that follow a tragedy.
The Reality Behind the Statistics
The episode also highlightsa topic with sobering data from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and the FBI:
107 officers died in the line of duty in 2024.
52 officers were killed in firearms-related incidents, a 13% increase from 2023.
43 officers died in traffic-related incidents, including 29 vehicle crashes.
Many deaths occurred during investigative activities, unprovoked attacks, ambushes, disturbance calls, and traffic stops.
Since 1776, America has seen more than 27,000 known line-of-duty deaths. The names of over 24,000 officers are currently inscribed at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. Do Blue Wives Matter, What Are They? Special Episode. The full podcast episode is streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Honoring the Fallen and Their Families
Each year, as part of National Police Week, the nation comes together to honor fallen officers and support the families left behind. Events include:
The May 13 Candlelight Vigil
Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 15
The C.O.P.S. National Survivors Conference
The FOP National Peace Officers Memorial Service at the U.S. Capitol
These events serve as a reminder that behind every badge is a story of service, sacrifice, and family, something Blue Wives Matter aims to uphold year-round. Do Blue Wives Matter, What Are They? Special Episode. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
A Story Worth Hearing
The Sweazas’ story is emotional, genuine, and grounded in lived experience. Their message resonates across Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms, but it is the depth of their conversation in this special podcast episode that stands out.
“Families serve too,” Kristen says quietly near the end of the interview. “They always have.”
Rob nods. “And it’s time people recognize that.” Do Blue Wives Matter, What Are They? Special Episode.
The host of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show strongly encourages everyone to listen to this special episode featuring Kristen and Rob Sweaza and learn more about the mission of Blue Wives Matter, a mission born from pain, strengthened by purpose, and powered by love. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
Get the latest news articles, without all the bias and spin, from the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on Medium , which is free.
“If you enjoy the show,” John Jay Wiley adds, “please share it with a friend or two, or three. And if you’re able to leave an honest rating or review, it would be deeply appreciated.” The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast is available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and LETRadio.com, among many other platforms.
Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms.
Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo.
Be sure to check out our website .
Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news.
Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer.
You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website .
Do Blue Wives Matter, What Are They? Special Episode.
Attributions
Facebook
ODMP.org
NLEOMF.com
National Police Week Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
From Rookie To Chief of Police: His Journey in Ohio. In a special episode available for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and most major podcast platforms, listeners are taken deep inside the world of American law enforcement through the story of Rodney Muterspaw, the retired Chief of Police from Middletown, Ohio. His journey, from a young rookie officer to one of the most respected police leaders in the United States, is chronicled in his brutally honest book, The Blue View, and shared across Facebook, Instagram, and other major news platforms.
A Three-Decade Rise Through the Ranks
Muterspaw’s career is the embodiment of the theme “From Rookie to Chief of Police.” Born and raised in the Middletown area, he began as a patrol officer and steadily moved through the ranks: Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Deputy Chief, and ultimately Chief of Police in January 2015. Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
Colleagues often describe him as a leader who treated Community Policing not as an assignment but as a “philosophy.” Under his leadership, the department shifted toward change, community, and transparency, transforming both culture and morale. From Rookie To Chief of Police: His Journey in Ohio. Look for supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .
His assignments over the years included Patrol Officer, School Resource Officer, Narcotics Detective, Bike Patrol Officer, Community Policing Supervisor, Field Training Officer, and leadership roles in Investigations and Narcotics. It was a full spectrum career, one that exposed him to every triumph and hardship policing can offer.
The Book That Was Never Meant to Be Released
What makes Rodney Muterspaw’s journey stand out isn’t only his service, it’s the book that came out of it. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms.
The Blue View began as a private, personal journal he kept for thirty years. As he explains in the interview:
“The hardest thing about being a police officer is you have to solve everyone else’s problems when you can’t even solve your own.” From Rookie To Chief of Police: His Journey in Ohio.
Originally never intended for public eyes, these raw entries follow him from his first day in the police academy to his final day as Chief. Readers experience the emotions and pressure of the job, from riding in a cruiser to sitting in the Chief’s office, up close and without filters.
The book has been praised for its authenticity and for revealing the “behind-the-scenes” reality that most officers never talk about. Politicians, community leaders, and everyday citizens have all commented on its impact. Regardless of one’s views on policing, The Blue View provides an essential perspective. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
JD Vance’s Connection: Middletown, Hillbilly Elegy and National Recognition
Muterspaw’s story intersects with another well-known Middletown narrative: Hillbilly Elegy, the bestselling memoir by JD Vance, now the Vice President of the United States. The book, film, and cultural conversation put Middletown, a city of nearly 51,000 residents, into national focus.
Vance himself praised Muterspaw’s book and work, recommending The Blue View and recognizing the Chief’s deep commitment to the community.
Middletown’s history, struggles, and resilience are woven throughout Muterspaw’s writings, giving readers an intimate look at a city that has become emblematic of America’s Rust Belt challenges. From Rookie To Chief of Police: His Journey in Ohio. The full podcast episode is streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Awards, Leadership, and National Appearances
Throughout his career, Muterspaw earned numerous awards and honors, including:
The Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Award
The History Maker Award for his impact on Middletown
The NAACP Award for Leadership
Multiple City Manager Pro Awards
Outstanding Attainment Recognition by the Ohio Senate
Selection as a guest of the United States Congress at the Presidential State of the Union
He appeared frequently on television, radio, and national media outlets to advocate for stronger community-police relations. From Rookie To Chief of Police: His Journey in Ohio. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
Life After the Badge
Though retired from policing, Muterspaw remains deeply active in the community through speaking engagements, volunteer work, and leadership in local initiatives. A graduate of Middletown Christian High School, the Police Executive Leadership College, and the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville, he now dedicates much of his time to helping others learn from the lessons he documented in his journals.
Married with three children and two grandchildren, he continues to speak openly about the pressures of policing, the cost of leadership, and the love he has for the city that shaped him. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
Why The Blue View Matters
The Blue View isn’t just a book, it’s a record of a man’s life lived in service. It is a transparent and emotional account of what it means to protect a community while confronting personal challenges and professional obstacles. It offers insight into law enforcement, politics, family, and the complexities of public service. From Rookie To Chief of Police: His Journey in Ohio.
Readers come away changed.
As the podcast host notes in the special episode:
“This is more than a police story. It’s an American story, one that everyone should hear.”
You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website .
Get the latest news articles, without all the bias and spin, from the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on Medium , which is free.
“If you enjoy the show,” John Jay Wiley adds, “please share it with a friend or two, or three. And if you’re able to leave an honest rating or review, it would be deeply appreciated.” The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast is available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and LETRadio.com, among many other platforms.
Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms.
Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo.
Be sure to check out our website .
Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news.
Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer.
From Rookie To Chief of Police: His Journey in Ohio.
Attributions
Wikipedia
Amazon.com
Wikipedia Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Kensington Philadelphia Drug Market, Real Story. If there is any place that captures the raw, unfiltered reality of America’s drug crisis, it is The Kensington Philadelphia Drug Market. For decades, this neighborhood has been the epicenter of open-air dealing, addiction, and human suffering, an area where people lie on sidewalks, stumble through streets, and inject or smoke drugs in plain view. Sidewalks, parks, and alleys are littered with used needles. Crowds of people slump over, “nodded out,” as if frozen in time. Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
“It’s something you have to see to believe,” one writer observed. “Whatever you’ve seen on Twitter (X), Facebook, Instagram, or the evening news doesn’t even come close.” The intense episode now streaming on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform.
A Marketplace of Desperation
Kensington offers something few other places in America do, product variety. Fentanyl, now responsible for most overdose deaths, saturates the scene. Meth and crack mix in for users looking to combine “uppers and downers.” Even retro drugs like PCP have made a return. One user told investigators his typical order was “three down, one hard”, fentanyl for the down, crack for the hard. The Kensington Philadelphia Drug Market, Real Story. Look for supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .
This is the reality former Philadelphia warrant investigator Tristin Kilgallon witnessed firsthand.
From the Streets to the Classroom
Kilgallon, who grew up near Kensington, spent years navigating these streets as part of the First Judicial District’s Warrant Unit. Once a frontline investigator tasked with tracking fugitives, he later left the unit to attend law school. He became a lawyer, then a criminal justice professor, teaching the next generation of justice professionals.
“I loved the job, but the danger, the low pay, and the burnout, it wears you down,” Kilgallon explains. “Kensington changes you. You see things you can’t unsee.” The Kensington Philadelphia Drug Market, Real Story. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms.
He now speaks openly about the realities he observed, not just in policing but also in higher education. “There’s a lot of myth versus reality in the classroom,” he says. “And too often, the focus is on political indoctrination, not actual education.”
The Book: A Real Story of Crime, Chaos, and Brotherhood
Kilgallon co-authored the book Philly Warrant Unit with lifelong friend and fellow investigator Mark Fusetti. The two grew up on the same block, reunited professionally years later, and began working side by side in one of America’s toughest fugitive-tracking units.
“This book isn’t a traditional cover-to-cover read,” Kilgallon says. “It’s a collection of true stories, intense, funny, tragic, and real.”
The authors share behind-the-scenes experiences: tense arrests, tragic overdoses, unpredictable street encounters, and the kind of dark humor only law enforcement veterans understand. Their stories paint an unfiltered portrait of policing Philadelphia during a period when Kensington’s drug market became a billion-dollar enterprise and a global symbol of urban decay. The Kensington Philadelphia Drug Market, Real Story. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
His interview can be found on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and across most podcast platforms where listeners crave authentic law enforcement stories.
Kensington: A Neighborhood Consumed
Kensington was once a thriving industrial hub. When factories shut down during the 1960s and deindustrialization hollowed out the area, poverty, abandonment, and neglect took root. Vacant factories became havens for dealing and drug use. The Market-Frankford Line offered easy access. By the late 1990s, Kensington had become the place to buy heroin on the East Coast.
As Kilgallon puts it: “The drug market didn’t just appear, it grew like a parasite. And it’s been feeding off the neighborhood for generations.” The full podcast episode is streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Today, fentanyl, xylazine, meth, and crack dominate. Doctors and treatment centers struggle to help people addicted to substances that often leave them disfigured or near death. Residents face homelessness, encampments, violence, and crushing economic inequality.
“Kensington has become the Las Vegas of Drugs,” Kilgallon says. “It’s shocking, but it’s the truth.” The Kensington Philadelphia Drug Market, Real Story.
A Real Story Worth Hearing
Kilgallon’s firsthand insights, on policing, addiction, community collapse, and the failures of both policy and academia, make him a powerful voice in conversations about Kensington’s future. His Real Story matters because it cuts through the political noise and media sensationalism. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
Whether you’ve seen snippets on X, listened to interviews on Apple Podcasts, streamed discussions on Spotify, or followed the dialogue on LinkedIn, one thing is clear:
Kensington’s crisis is not just a headline.
It is a human story.
A community story.
A story with no easy answers.
And as Kilgallon’s book, career, and commentary show, the only way forward is through honesty, accountability, and a willingness to face the streets as they truly are. The Kensington Philadelphia Drug Market, Real Story. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer.
You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website .
Get the latest news articles, without all the bias and spin, from the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on Medium , which is free.
“If you enjoy the show,” John Jay Wiley adds, “please share it with a friend or two, or three. And if you’re able to leave an honest rating or review, it would be deeply appreciated.” The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast is available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and LETRadio.com, among many other platforms.
Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms.
Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo.
Be sure to check out our website .
Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news.
Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
You can help contribute money to make the Gunrunner Movie . The film that Hollywood won’t touch. It is about a now Retired Police Officer that was shot 6 times while investigating Gunrunning. He died 3 times during Medical treatment and was resuscitated. You can join the fight by giving a monetary “gift” to help ensure the making of his film at agunrunnerfilm.com .
The Kensington Philadelphia Drug Market, Real Story.
Attributions
Facebook
Wikipedia
Villanovan
Philadelphia City Council
City Journal Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
























Dude .. it's YOUR show. YOU control the timing. Go to ad breaks at the end of whatever YOU'RE saying instead of CONSTANTLY cutting people off mid sentence/mid story. Completely disengages the listener EVERY time.
Confidently assuming the man arrested was black 🤔
First time listener. Should work on not cutting off your guests....in conversation and for ads.
Really enjoyed this. What an amazing resume this lady has!