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Cops and Writers is a podcast hosted by retired police sergeant and author, Patrick O'Donnell. The podcast provides valuable insights and humor for crime writers who want to create accurate and believable police stories. O'Donnell conducts in-depth interviews with members of law enforcement and civilian experts, discussing police procedures and culture. He also interviews crime fiction writers and writers from different genres, discussing what works in the ever-changing landscape of book sales and publishing. The podcast offers candid stories told with cop humor and technical details about the world of law enforcement.
283 Episodes
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Send us a text Welcome, everyone to part one of my interview with retired Central Florida Sheriff's Deputy Michael Dilks. The conclusion of this interview will air next Sunday! Mike is a retired Deputy Sheriff and Police Officer with 23 years of experience in patrol, investigations, and undercover narcotics. Mike was a member of SWAT, the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, the DEA Narcotics Task Force and supervised a Street Crimes Unit. Prior to his law enforcement caree...
Send us a text In this episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, retired Milwaukee Police Sergeant Patrick O'Donnell reads Chapter 18, Cannibal Dad, from his upcoming book: Police Stories: The Rookie Years - True Crime, Chaos, & Life as a Big City Cop Fresh off probation and officially a "real cop," Patrick rides for the first time without a senior officer alongside his academy classmate, Tommie. What starts as an exciting milestone—two rookies on top of the world—turns into one of the mos...
Send us a text What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas? Not today. Welcome back, everyone, to the conclusion of my interview with retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sergeant Jenn Benjamins. Jenn Benjamins is a retired sergeant from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department with nearly 22 years of real-world experience in patrol, case investigations, and covert/undercover operations. Her interest in undercover work led her to the Vice Section, where she refused to be limite...
Send us a text In this episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, retired Milwaukee Police Sergeant Patrick O’Donnell reads Chapter 12, Pistol Packing Grandma Moses, from his upcoming book: Police Stories: The Rookie Years - True Crime, Chaos, & My Life as a Big City Cop While still a rookie cop "warhorsing" (filling in for other officers), Patrick partners with DJ, a 6'5", 300-pound gentle giant and former Chicago Bears. What starts as a routine 911 hang-up call and a tree branch banging o...
Send us a text What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas? Not today. Welcome, everyone, to part one of my interview with retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sergeant Jenn Benjamins. The conclusion of this interview will be next Sunday! Jenn Benjamins is a retired sergeant from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department with nearly 22 years of real-world experience in patrol, case investigations, and covert/undercover operations. She began her career in patrol before moving into Comm...
Send us a text In this episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, retired Milwaukee Police Sergeant Patrick O’Donnell reads the Introduction and Chapter 1, Baptism By Fire! from his upcoming book: Police Stories: The Rookie Years — True Crime, Chaos, & My Life as a Big City Cop These are true stories from Patrick’s first years working the streets of Milwaukee during the height of the crack wars—stories of chaos, dark humor, tragedy, and survival that don’t make it onto TV shows. All stories...
Send us a text Hey everyone! Today, we are going north, way north, to the last frontier, Anchorage, Alaska, with Author and retired Anchorage Police Officer Doug Fifer. And we are getting kinky. Doug Fifer is a retired Alaskan police officer who specialized in crime scene analysis, deviant sexual crimes, hostage negotiations, and various special assignments throughout his twenty-five-year career. As a highly decorated investigator, Doug has negotiated with serial killers, solved homicid...
Send us a text Welcome, everyone, to a special Cops and Writers Podcast. Due to the nature and timing of our topic today, I released this episode early. Back in late October, retired DEA Agents (legends) Steve Murphy, Wes Tabor, and Chris Feistl predicted on the Cops and Writers Podcast episodes 250 and 251, that the U.S. would take the fight to Maduro and attack on land. On January 3, 2026, the U.S. captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, ...
Send us a text Welcome back, everyone, for the conclusion of my interview with Author and retired FBI Special Agent Seamus McElearney. Séamus McElearney began his distinguished career with the FBI in 1998, joining Squad C-10 of the New York Organized Crime Branch. Tasked with investigating the Bonanno and DeCavalcante crime families—infamously known as “the real Sopranos.” In December 1999, he was assigned to arrest Anthony Capo, a violent soldier in the DeCavalcante fami...
Send us a text Welcome, everyone, to part one of my interview with Author and retired FBI Special Agent Seamus McElearney. Come back next Sunday for the conclusion of my interview with Seamus. Séamus McElearney began his distinguished career with the FBI in 1998, joining Squad C-10 of the New York Organized Crime Branch. Tasked with investigating the Bonanno and DeCavalcante crime families—infamously known as “the real Sopranos.” In December 1999, he was assigned to arres...
Send us a text Welcome everyone to a very special Cops and Writers with my friend Ian Bick. Back in November, I visited Ian at his studio in Connecticut, where Ian interviewed me (That episode went live on 12-16-25 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/locked-in-with-ian-bick/id1662286355?i=1000741596571, https://open.spotify.com/episode/7EWrquIqAYL4z0FbW3xDE0?si=39oDYHc3SEGiwBT8udhxhw, https://youtu.be/aU5xLdhR_5s?si=Tdarr4_9xdd3p0mK) and he was gracious enough to l...
Send us a text Hey cops and writers, thanks for being here with us today for another episode of the Cops and Writers podcast! I’m Patrick O’Donnell, and I will be your host for today’s show. Before I start, can I ask you all a favor? If you are enjoying this podcast, could you please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify? It is so important, thank you. This show is listener supported, so thanks to all of you who keep this show going! I would especially like...
Send us a text Hey cops and writers, thanks for being here with us today for another episode of the Cops and Writers podcast! I’m Patrick O’Donnell, and I will be your host for today’s show. Before I start, can I ask you all a favor? If you are enjoying this podcast, could you please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify? It is so important, thank you. This show is listener-supported, so thanks to all of you who keep this show going! I would especially like...
Send us a text Welcome back, everyone, to the conclusion of my interview with former Assistant District Attorney, Police Superintendent, Professor, Podcaster, and Author Patrick Welsh. Pat Welsh was an ADA turned cop. During his distinguished career, he rose through the ranks to become superintendent of the Dayton Police Department. He worked and supervised in patrol, investigations, including narcotics and homicide. He received numerous commendations, department citation...
Send us a text Welcome everyone to part one of my interview with former Assistant District Attorney, Police Superintendent, Professor, Podcaster, and Author Patrick Welsh. Pat Welsh was an ADA turned cop. During his distinguished career, he rose through the ranks to become superintendent of the Dayton Police Department. He worked and supervised in patrol, investigations, including narcotics and homicide. He received numerous commendations, department citations, and awards...
Send us a text Welcome back, everyone, for the conclusion of my interview with Army Veteran, retired Sheriff Deputy, and host of the popular Antihero podcast, Tyler Hoover. Tyler Hoover is a United States Army Airborne Infantry Iraq War Veteran, having served with the esteemed 82nd Airborne Division. After serving his country in the army, he continued serving as a sheriff's deputy in two different counties in Florida, working in different roles, including SWAT and other s...
Send us a text Welcome everyone to part one of my interview with Army Veteran, retired Sheriff Deputy, and host of the popular Antihero podcast, Tyler Hoover. Tyler Hoover is a United States Army Airborne Infantry Iraq War Veteran, having served with the esteemed 82nd Airborne Division. After serving his country in the army, he continued serving as a sheriff's deputy in two different counties in Florida, working in different roles, including SWAT. Tyler walked away from ...
Send us a text Welcome back, everyone, for the conclusion of my interview with retired DEA Special Agents Steve Murphy, Chris Feistl, and Wes Tabor as we talk about recent maritime operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific involving the U.S. Navy eliminating drug running vessels. Here’s a little bit about these legends in the DEA. DEA Special Agent Wes Tabor was embedded in Venezuela, battling the drug cartel and gangs for three years. He had a front-row seat to the ...
Send us a text Welcome, everyone, to a special Cops and Writers Podcast. Since September, the US Navy has destroyed at least 10 vessels that were suspected of carrying illegal drugs headed for the United States, mostly in the Caribbean near Venezuela. I have heard so many opinions on this from ‘experts’, I'm using air quotes, and I wanted to get the true story. My mind went immediately to my interviews with retired DEA Special Agent Wes Tabor (episodes 235,236, & 237)...
Send us a text Welcome back, everyone, for the conclusion of my interview with Army Veteran, former Wichita Police Officer, Stuntman, Actor, DJ, Standup Comic, and Author Duane Michaels. Duane is focusing his energy these days on making it as an actor in Hollywood, along with writing his most recent book, Cop Ink: Donuts, Decapitation & Dumpster Sex. Real Calls That Will Make You Laugh, Cry & Gasp! I’m so glad I got the chance to chat with Duane and learn about h...
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