Cops and Writers Podcast

Cops and Writers Podcast

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. 

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Most Recent Episode

Cops and Writers Podcast
San Francisco Police Chief & Author Brian Brady (Part One)

On today’s episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, I have with me retired Chief of Police and Author Brian Brady.

Brian was born and raised in the San Francisco area and became a police officer in Berkeley, California, in the late sixties. He moved around to four different police departments, eventually attaining the rank of Chief of Police. 

After decades of serving and protecting, he retired from police work and transitioned to becoming a corporate security executive. This path led him to holding executive positions at prestigious organizations such as NBC Universal and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Brian has published two crime novels and is working on his third.  

I really enjoyed talking to someone like Brian, who has seen the evolution of police work through the years and worked his way up from police officer to chief. Please enjoy this informative and wide-ranging conversation with Brian Brady.

 

In today’s episode, we discuss:

·      Growing up in San Francisco.

·      Brain’s law enforcement influences.

·      Brian starting his LE career in Berkeley in the late 60s. Lots going on in the world, and of course, Berkeley was the epicenter of turmoil.

·      The innovations that came from the Berkeley Police Department.

·      No formal FTO program when he started in Berkeley.

·      Brian’s first foot chase, apprehending a purse snatcher and getting scolded for not following protocol.

·      Typing police reports on a manual typewriter?

·      Why the rank of sergeant is the most influential and important in law enforcement.

·      Novato PD as Police Chief. What did he expect being chief, and what surprised you about the job? Are you the “Political Pinata”?

·      Being the incident commander at an officer-related shooting where an officer was forced to take a life.

·      The pros and cons of CompStat.

    All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

    Check out Brian's website to learn more about him and his books!

    

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!

Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!

Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.

Please visit the Cops and Writers website.

    

00:53:43
Oct 5, 2025 1:8 AM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
Cocaine Cowboys To Gangster Eating Alligators, Sgt. Bert 'Maverick' Gonzalez Of The Miami-Dade Police Dept. & The Real Greatest Show On Earth! (Part Two)

Welcome back for the conclusion of my interview with Sgt. Bert “Maverick” Gonzalez.

Sergeant Maverick served the South Florida community for 37 years with the Miami-Dade Police Department, retiring in 2020. His career included assignments in uniform patrol, narcotics, airport and port security, and crime scene investigations. Following 9/11, he became a national leader in port security operations. A highly respected police instructor, Gonzalez has trained over 25,000 officers in areas such as crisis intervention, active shooter response, major scene management, tactical driving, and crowd control. A recipient of the Bronze Medal of Valor and two Life-Saving Awards, he has earned over 60 commendations throughout his career. Gonzalez is the author of The Real Greatest Show on Earth and hosts Sgt. Maverick–The Podcast, where he discusses policing, politics, and life.

It was a pleasure talking to Maverick about being a cop in the Miami area back when it was literally the Wild West due to the surge in population and drug-related crimes to the present. Please enjoy the conclusion of my interview with Sgt. Maverick.

 

In today’s episode, we discuss:

·      The problems and challenges as a police officer dealing with sovereign citizens.

·      Training 25,000 police officers over 38 years.

·      How vital is training, and why is it the first thing to go when cities cut budgets?  

·      The price communities pay for poorly or untrained police officers.

·      Crowd control, crisis intervention, and active shooter training.

·      Maverick earning the Medal of Valor and two lifesaving awards.

·      Sgt. Maverick’s book, The Real Greatest Show on Earth.

·      Sgt. Maverick The Podcast.

·      The next chapter in Sgt. Maverick’s life after retirement.

 

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Visit Maverick's website to learn more about him and his books/podcast.

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!

Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!

Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.

Please visit the Cops and Writers website.

01:09:15
Sep 28, 2025 1:24 AM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
Cocaine Cowboys To Gangster Eating Alligators, Sgt. Bert 'Maverick' Gonzalez Of The Miami-Dade Police Dept. & The Real Greatest Show On Earth! (Part One)

On today’s episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, I have with me Bert “Maverick” Gonzalez for this special two-part interview that will conclude next Sunday.

Sergeant Bert “Maverick” Gonzalez served the South Florida community for 37 years with the Miami-Dade Police Department, retiring in 2020. His career included assignments in uniform patrol, narcotics, airport and port security, and crime scene investigations. Following 9/11, he became a national leader in port security operations. A highly respected police instructor, Gonzalez has trained over 25,000 officers in areas such as crisis intervention, active shooter response, major scene management, tactical driving, and crowd control. A recipient of the Bronze Medal of Valor and two Life-Saving Awards, he has earned over 60 commendations throughout his career. Gonzalez is the author of The Real Greatest Show on Earth and hosts Sgt. Maverick–The Podcast, where he discusses policing, politics, and life.

I loved talking to Maverick about being a cop in the Miami area back when it was literally the Wild West due to the surge in population and drug-related crimes to present. He continues to reinvent himself and is a genuinely entertaining guy. Please enjoy part one of my interview with Sgt. Maverick.

 

In today’s episode, we discuss:

·      How Bert got the nickname Maverick.

·      Working as a cop in the Miami area during a population boom. With that came a boom in crime. Cocaine Cowboys and the Mariel Boatlift (125,00 Cubans in one day). What was going through his mind as a new cop with all of this occurring?

·      His biggest drug bust and money seizure.

·      The difference between the Cuban, Colombian, Jamaican, Russian, and Mexican drug dealers?

·      The growing pains for the department during this surge in crime and population?

·      The Everglades. Dumping bodies and dope.

·      Working as a cop at the Port of Miami.

·      What’s most important to the mob?

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Visit Maverick's website to learn more about him and his books/podcast.

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!

Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!

Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.

Please visit the Cops and Writers website.

 

01:09:57
Sep 21, 2025 1:52 AM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
Sailing Into Danger! Cruise Line Safety Advocate And Victim Jamie Barnett Exposes Cruise Line Peril And Negligence!

So, you want to go on a cruise. What could go wrong? After listening or watching today’s episode, you might think twice, for good reasons.

When Jamie Barnett said goodbye to her daughter, Ashley, in 2005, who was going on a three-day cruise with her boyfriend and two other couples to Mexico, she never dreamt that it would be the last time she would see her daughter alive. What was supposed to be a birthday celebration resulted in the death of Ashley due to illegal activities on board the ship, gross negligence from the staff of the ship, and subpar medical attention aboard the cruise ship.

My guest on the show today, Jamie Barnett, has turned grief and frustration from dealing with the cruise industry, government officials, and the FBI, into advocacy and hope.

Jamie Barnett is the president of the International Cruise Victims (ICV) organization and became an advocate for cruise ship safety after her 24-year-old daughter, Ashley Barnett, died on a cruise in 2005 due to gross negligence by the cruise line. Her advocacy work was instrumental in the passage of the Cruise Vessel Safety and Security Act of 2010, and she continues to fight for stricter regulations of cruise vessels to ensure the safety of their passengers.

Jamie appeared in the Netflix docuseries "Amy Bradley is Missing," further highlighting the dangers on cruise ships by drawing parallels between her daughter's death and the disappearance of Amy Bradley in 1998

As a dad and grandpa, this episode hit home. I can’t imagine what Jamie went through and continues to go through! Bravo to Jamie and others who are attempting to keep cruise lines accountable and safer.

 

In today’s episode, we discuss:

·      Thank you, Vic Ferrari over at the NYPD Through The Looking Glass Podcast, for the intro.

·      The organization, International Cruise Victims, and her role, and how she became involved.  

·      How the United States Congress has become involved in attempting to make the cruise line industry safer for its guests.

·      In 2005, her daughter, Ashley, was murdered aboard a Carnival cruise to Mexico.

·      Her daughter’s body was taken to Mexico for a subpar autopsy against her wishes.

·      The FBI not charging her boyfriend with any crime after he smuggled illegal narcotics aboard that Ashley ingested and caused her death.

·      Sub-par medical attention and gross negligence aboard the ship that contributed to Ashley’s death.

·      Jamie’s connection to the recent Netflix special, Amy Bradley is Missing.

·      Jamie’s frustration with the severe lack of cooperation, sympathy, and compassion from the FBI.

·      The cruise lines that have the worst crime rates.

·      What you can do to stay safe aboard a cruise ship.

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Please visit the International Cruise Victims Association to learn more about this important topic and donate.

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!

Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!

Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.

Please visit the Cops and Writers website.

 

 

01:03:17
Sep 14, 2025 1:37 AM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
From Deep Undercover Missions To Rescue's On The High Seas Battling Somali Pirates. FBI Special Agent / HRT Operator, And Marine, Rob D'Amico. (Part Two)

Welcome back for the conclusion of my interview with Marine, FBI Special Agent, and HRT Operator Rob D’Amico.

Rob D’Amico has over thirty-six years of federal government service—ten years in the United States Marine Corps and nearly twenty-seven with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He is the founder and principal consultant for Sierra One Consulting. 

Rob began a life of service when he enlisted as a US Marine during college at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, and, after obtaining his bachelor's degree, was commissioned as an officer and served his first overseas tour in the first Gulf War. His work on reconnaissance missions with the Marine Corps paved the way for Rob’s long and successful career with the FBI. After four years based out of the Bureau’s Miami, Florida field office, apprehending the most violent felons of South Florida as a member of a multi-agency violent crime fugitive task force, Rob transitioned into deep undercover work against the most notorious U.S. and Italian-based organized crime families.

Rob was among the few selected to the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team, in which he served as a sniper and was first deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Rob’s career with and beyond the HRT team placed him at each pivotal step in the resolution of kidnapping and hostile detention matters. He has worked on every facet of operations—negotiating hostage releases and exchanges, operating under the highest pressure against pirates, negotiators, warlords, leaders of terrorist networks, as well as with ambassadors, generals, foreign ministers, and non-government organizations. 

From being deep undercover, going after the mob, to dealing with Somali pirates, Rob has had a career that movies are literally made of.

Today’s episode, we go deep into a hostage rescue operation on the high seas, dealing with Somali pirates!

 

In today’s episode, we discuss:

·      The difference between HRT and SWAT in the FBI? 

·      What attributes should HRT operators have?

·      What does HRT training look like?

·      The hijacking of the American SV Quest by Somali pirates and Rob's mission as an FBI HRT operator embedded with Navy SEALs regarding this mission.

·      Four United States citizens on board and 19 pirates.

·      The ultimate conclusion to the kidnapping?

·      Jurisdiction issues and maintaining and processing a floating crime scene that was in danger of sinking.

·      Going onto Somali soil to investigate and make arrests?

·      The strain on his family during this and other operations like this. How did Rob deal with it? What is his advice to someone about to do something similar to this work?

·      Retirement, how difficult was it to walk away from all of this? How did he cope/adjust?

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Visit Rob at his website!

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!

Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!

Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.

Please visit the Cops and Writers website.

 

01:13:55
Sep 7, 2025 12:28 AM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
Author Spotlight! Jodi Burnett, Kathleen Donnelly, & Margaret Mizushima Writing Bestselling Police Thrillers Featuring K9s! (Bonus Episode)

Welcome to a bonus episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast! This is something I will throw out there to you all once in a while. Today’s bonus episode will be a part of my author spotlight series, where I focus on the author side of the business to see what is working for them and what makes them tick as successful authors. So, as you can guess, today’s episode is for the authors out there who are looking to start, level up, or might need a tad bit of inspiration to keep going. Or, if you aren’t an author, maybe you are just curious to see how all of this book writing stuff actually works. Either way, I think the content is valuable, and we, of course, will have some fun as well.

For today’s show, I have brought on three very successful authors who write crime thrillers with K9s as an integral part of their stories. Let’s meet our authors.

Jodi Burnette is a bestselling self-published author who has published over 23 books. Before she was an author, she was busy raising four kids and pursuing other businesses. After the kids left the nest, she felt a void and began writing. She hit the ground running, pumping out bestselling thrillers, and has a loyal following that most authors would be envious of.

Margaret Mizushima writes the award-winning and internationally published Timber Creek K-9 Mysteries, which feature Deputy Mattie Cobb, her German shepherd partner Robo, and veterinarian Cole Walker. Together they fight crime in the fictional mountain community of Timber Creek, Colorado. There are nine books in Margaret's series, and the tenth, Dying Cry, will be published on October 14th this fall. In real life, Margaret and her veterinarian husband recently moved from a small ranch in Colorado, where they raised two daughters and a multitude of animals, to a home in the Pacific Northwest.

Award-winning author Kathleen Donnelly brings heart-pounding suspense and unforgettable K-9 heroes to life in her National Forest K-9 and Colorado K-9 series. A retired K-9 handler, she draws on her real-life experience and brings to life the powerful bond between humans and working dogs. Her upcoming release, Colorado K-9 Rescue, shines a light on crisis canines and their power to help victims recover.

I had a lot of fun doing this interview, and I believe you will get a lot of useful information out of today’s show, and maybe a couple of chuckles!

 

In today’s episode, we discuss:

·      Why and how they started writing books.

·      Best and worst writing advice.  

·      What lessons they learned from writing their first book? 

·      How they learned police procedure, more specifically K9 police procedure, being civilians.

·      Why are dogs so popular in movies and books?

·      Why did they choose to be traditional or self-published authors, and what are the pros and cons of both?

·      Best marketing advice to sell more books.

·      Artificial intelligence, how to use it, or not use it.

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Visit Jodi Burnett on her website to learn more about her and her books!

Visit Kathleen Donnelley at her website to learn more about her and her books!

Visit Margaret Mizushima at her website to learn more about her and her books!

 

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!

Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!

Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.

Please visit the Cops and Writers website.

 

01:08:01
Sep 3, 2025 1:0 PM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
From Deep Undercover Missions To Rescue's On The High Seas Battling Somali Pirates. FBI Special Agent / HRT Operator, And Marine, Rob D'Amico. (Part One)

On today’s episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, I have with me Rob D’Amico for this special two-part interview that will conclude next Sunday.

Rob D’Amico has over thirty-six years of federal government service—ten years in the United States Marine Corps and nearly twenty-seven with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He is the founder and principal consultant at Sierra One Consulting. 

Rob began a life of service when he enlisted as a US Marine during college at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, and, after obtaining his bachelor's degree, was commissioned as an officer and served his first overseas tour in the first Gulf War. His work on reconnaissance missions with the Marine Corps opened the door to Rob’s long and successful career with the FBI. After four years based out of the Bureau’s Miami, Florida field office, apprehending the most violent felons of South Florida as a member of a multi-agency violent crime fugitive task force, Rob transitioned into deep undercover work against the most notorious U.S. and Italian-based organized crime families.

Rob was among the few selected for the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team, in which he served as a sniper and was first deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Rob’s career with and beyond the HRT team placed him at each pivotal step in the resolution of kidnapping and hostile detention matters. He has worked on every facet of operations—negotiating hostage releases and exchanges, operating under the highest pressure against pirates, negotiators, warlords, leaders of terrorist networks, as well as with ambassadors, generals, foreign ministers, and non-government organizations. 

From being deep undercover, going after the mob, to dealing with Somali pirates, Rob has had a career that movies are literally made of. 

Today’s episode, we do a deep dive into his beginnings and Marine career. We also dive into what goes on in the head of an FBI SWAT and HRT team member and brush on his undercover work. Next Sunday, we go deep into a hostage rescue operation on the high seas, dealing with Somali pirates!

 

In today’s episode, we discuss:

·      Thank you, Jerri Williams, over at the FBI File Review Podcast, for the intro.

·      What were Rob’s influences that led to his life of service to his country?

·      Marine Recon, the best of the best. Not just FBI, but high-risk undercover operations and HRT, high-speed operators, again, the best of the best. What instilled that in him?

·      What drove him to be the best of the best? What continues to drive him today?.

·      How does Rob deal with rejection?

·      What are the biggest misconceptions people have of the Marines and or combat?

·      What steered him towards the FBI?

·      When did he start doing undercover work?

·      What’s most important to the mob?

·      How soon into his career was he doing undercover work?

·      The difference between HRT and SWAT in the FBI. Who should be doing this work? What attributes should they have?

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

 

01:13:55
Aug 31, 2025 12:50 AM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
238 Sisters in Crime & Behind The Badge W/ Milwaukee PD Sgt. Patrick O'Donnell, NYPD Det. Marique Bartoldus, Chicago PD Lt. Richard Rybicki, & Milwaukee Fire Dept. Cpt. Greg Renz

On today’s episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, we have something special for you all. I was approached by the Wisconsin Sisters in Crime author group to be the moderator for a group panel of cops and a firefighter. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity because of my experiences with the Sisters in Crime groups all over this country, which have been very positive.

I want to give a special thanks to Denise Jendusa and Nicole Prewitt for making this happen. This is the recorded version of this presentation that about 100 people attended over Zoom.

On the Behind the Badge presentation, I had retired NYPD Detective Marique Bartoldus, retired Chicago PD Detective Lieutenant Richard Rybicki, and retired Milwaukee Fire Department Captain Greg Renz. 

We shared a bunch of war stories I guarantee will make you laugh, and maybe shed a tear or two. We then opened the floor for questions and answers. This was one of my favorite appearances I have done in a long time. Please enjoy this entertaining and educational presentation with the Wisconsin Chapter of the Sisters in Crime.

Check out Marique Bartolus's book, Twenty and Out: A compilation of chaos experienced while serving 20 years in the New York City Police Department

Head on over to Richard Rybicki's website to learn more about him and his books! 

Check out Greg Renz's website to learn more about him and his books.

 

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!

Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!

Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.

Please visit the Cops and Writers website.

01:07:53
Aug 24, 2025 2:1 AM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
237 Latin Gangs Infiltrating America, Blood Routes, And Heroism, With Author & DEA Special Agent Wes Tabor (Part Three)

There was so much to unpack with Wes about his incredible career in law enforcement and his accomplishments off duty that this is my first three-part interview. Thanks for sticking around until the end! Honestly, I could have talked to Wes all day. I will definitely have him back on the show in the future.

Here's a quick bio of just some of Wes’s accomplishments. Wes became a Hernando County Sheriff’s Deputy in 1988. As a deputy, Wes served as a S.W.A.T. lead, having completed the FBI S.W.A.T. school in 1995. Wes was a Defensive Tactics Instructor, anti-crime and property Detective, and earned the Florida Medal of Valor in 1996 for his heroism by disregarding his own safety, running into an apartment fire, saving multiple lives, and Mittens the cat. 

In 1998, he was hired by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Wes had a 23-year career with the DEA and has been stationed in Field Divisions such as: St. Louis, Miami, Chicago, D.C., Los Angeles, and internationally in cities such as Guatemala City, Guatemala, Caracas, Venezuela, Cartagena, Colombia, and Bogota, Colombia. During this time, he was representing the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in positions such as: supervisory special agent, country attaché, assistant country attaché, Deputy Section Chief, Assistant to the Global Deputy Chief of Operations, and Assistant Special Agent in Charge.

Wes was paralyzed in an auto accident where a drunk driver and career criminal had been at fault. Fortunately, he recovered from his spinal cord injury (C5/6) fracture and went back to being a DEA agent. The suspect later absconded and was on the run for 23 years only to be captured in 2024.  He was given probation for 6 months by a local judge in Minnesota. 

From 2012 to 2015, Wes was assigned to the Central Intelligence Agency as an Assignee to various locations in the Western Hemisphere, conducting various classified activities on behalf of the DEA while embedded with the CIA.

He has worked with some of the most prestigious law enforcement and military agencies, conducting operations and training modules, with the FBI, Secret Service, Defense Intelligence Service, US Army Special Forces, and Navy Seals.

As a DEA agent, rising through the ranks to Assistant Special Agent in Charge in Los Angeles, he was the division's Strike Force Commander, where he oversaw global money-laundering investigations, High Value Mexican Cartel Investigation, and led his teams in pursuit of some of the largest cases on the globe.

Thanks again for sticking around for the conclusion of this amazing interview. I think we covered a lot of ground and went places that I didn’t foresee. But that’s the fun of running a podcast. Please enjoy the conclusion of my interview with Wes Tabor.

 In today’s episode, we discuss:

·      What was the motivation for informants working with the DEA in Venezuela?

·      Hezbollah and Hamas in Venezuela?

·      The TDA gang that started in Venezuela and them spreading. This gang and others are spreading into the United States, and the influence they have and how they gain traction in America. 

·      What are the most dangerous gangs we should be the most aware of, and what can be done to stop them?

·      The U.S./Mexican border has been a hot button for a while now and is in the news all the time. What are his thoughts, and how easy has it been and is it for these gangs to come into our country illegally?

·      Gangs communicating and recruiting through encrypted social media.

·      International gangs using cryptocurrencies.

·      I don’t think the average American understands these gangs and what they are capable of. I think about the murder rates you had in your book in Jamaica and Central America, 2000-2017: 2.5 million murders, 2/3 of the world’s murders. Should we be worried that this will spill over into our country?

·      In Milwaukee, we had the Latin (Spanish Cobras, Latin Kings, Brown Pride, Mexican Posse, and La Familia) and Black gangs (Gangster Disciples, Black Gangster Disciples, Kia Boys, and Vice Lords). The Latin gangs were much more organized, and the OGs didn’t give up much to the cops. They were busted with RICO cases, but all that did was bring in the black gangs where there was a void. It feels like a war that never ends. What can be done to stop it?

·      His book, Infiltrate America - Blood Routes and the Rise of Latin American Gangs. Why write it?

·      How painful was it for him to write this book? From personal experience, I know this can put PTSD into overdrive, reliving some ugly stuff.

·      Post-retirement from the DEA. What does he miss the most/least from LE?

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.


 

Check out Wes's newest book, Infiltrate America: Blood Routes and the Rise of Latin American Gangs

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!

Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!

Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.

Please visit the Cops and Writers website.

 

01:04:15
Aug 19, 2025 1:2 AM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
236 Latin Gangs Infiltrating America, Blood Routes, And Heroism, With Author & DEA Special Agent Wes Tabor (Part Two)

On today’s episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, I have with me Author and Retired DEA Agent Wes Tabor.

There was so much to unpack about his incredible career in law enforcement and his accomplishments off duty that this is my first three-part interview. Part three of the interview will go live tomorrow. Honestly, I could have talked to Wes all day. I will definitely have him back on the show in the future.

Here's a quick bio of just some of Wes’s accomplishments. Wes became a Hernando County Sheriff’s Deputy in 1988. As a deputy, Wes served as a S.W.A.T. lead, having completed the FBI S.W.A.T. school in 1995. Wes was a Defensive Tactics Instructor, anti-crime and property Detective, and earned the Florida Medal of Valor in 1996 for his heroism by disregarding his own safety, running into an apartment fire, saving multiple lives, and Mittens the cat. 

In 1998, he was hired by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Wes had a 23-year career with the DEA and has been stationed in Field Divisions such as: St. Louis, Miami, Chicago, D.C., Los Angeles, and internationally in cities such as Guatemala City, Guatemala, Caracas, Venezuela, Cartagena, Colombia, and Bogota, Colombia. During this time, he was representing the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in positions such as: supervisory special agent, country attaché, assistant country attaché, Deputy Section Chief, Assistant to the Global Deputy Chief of Operations, and Assistant Special Agent in Charge.

Wes was paralyzed in an auto accident where a drunk driver and career criminal had been at fault. Fortunately, he recovered from his spinal cord injury (C5/6) fracture and went back to being a DEA agent. The suspect later absconded and was on the run for 23 years, only to be captured in 2024. He was given probation for 6 months by a local judge in Minnesota. 

From 2012-2015, Wes was assigned to the Central Intelligence Agency as an Assignee to various locations in the Western Hemisphere, conducting various classified activities on behalf of the DEA while embedded with the CIA.

He has worked with some of the most prestigious law enforcement and military agencies, conducting operations and training modules, with the FBI, Secret Service, Defense Intelligence Service, US Army Special Forces, and Navy Seals.

As a DEA agent, rising through the ranks to Assistant Special Agent in Charge in Los Angeles, he was the division's Strike Force Commander, where he oversaw global money-laundering investigations, High Value Mexican Cartel Investigation, and led his teams in pursuit of some of the largest cases on the globe.

I told you there’s a lot to Wes’s story! Today and tomorrow’s episodes will deal with the meat and potatoes of Wes’s incredible story.

 

In today’s episode, we discuss:

·      Wes’s path to the DEA.

·      His first three years as a DEA agent were a blur, working day and night.

    The horrible things people would do while on methamphetamine.

·      Making big cases out of little cases.

·      Being struck by a drunk driver, breaking his neck, and being paralyzed. Doctors told him he may never walk again, to three years later back on the job being in Guatemala, doing helicopter operations.

·      Seizing over 30 million dollars in cash in an operation in Chicago involving the Sinaloa Cartel.

·      Latin gang operations in Chicago.

·      His time in South/Central America. In his book, Infiltrating America, he talks about his time there, especially in Venezuela.

·      What do you think the difference is between socialism and communism?

 

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Check out Wes's newest book, Infiltrate America: Blood Routes and the Rise of Latin American Gangs

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!

Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!

Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.

Please visit the Cops and Writers website.

 

 

01:04:18
Aug 17, 2025 12:16 AM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
235 Latin Gangs Infiltrating America, Blood Routes, And Heroism, With Author & DEA Special Agent Wes Tabor (Part One)

On today’s episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, I have with me Author and Retired DEA Agent Wes Tabor.

There was so much to unpack about his incredible career in law enforcement and his accomplishments off duty that this is my first three-part interview. Part two of the interview that will go live next Sunday, and part three with be released the next day on Monday. Honestly, I could have talked to Wes all day. I will definitely have him back on the show in the future.

Here's a quick bio of just some of Wes’s accomplishments. Wes became a Hernando County Sheriff’s Deputy in 1988. As a deputy, Wes served as a S.W.A.T. lead, having completed the FBI S.W.A.T. school in 1995. Wes was a Defensive Tactics Instructor, anti-crime and property Detective, and earned the Florida Medal of Valor in 1996 for his heroism by disregarding his own safety, running into an apartment fire, saving multiple lives, and Mittens the cat. 

In 1998, he was hired by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Wes had a 23-year career with the DEA and has been stationed in Field Divisions such as: St. Louis, Miami, Chicago, D.C., Los Angeles, and internationally in cities such as Guatemala City, Guatemala, Caracas, Venezuela, Cartagena, Colombia, and Bogota, Colombia. During this time, he was representing the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in positions such as: supervisory special agent, country attaché, assistant country attaché, Deputy Section Chief, Assistant to the Global Deputy Chief of Operations, and Assistant Special Agent in Charge.

Wes was paralyzed in an auto accident where a drunk driver and career criminal had been at fault. Fortunately, he recovered from his spinal cord injury (C5/6) fracture and went back to being a DEA agent. The suspect later absconded and was on the run for 23 years, only to be captured in 2024.  He was given probation for 6 months by a local judge in Minnesota. 

From 2012-2015, Wes was assigned to the Central Intelligence Agency as an Assignee to various locations in the Western Hemisphere, conducting various classified activities on behalf of the DEA while embedded with the CIA.

He has worked with some of the most prestigious law enforcement and military agencies, conducting operations and training modules, with the FBI, Secret Service, Defense Intelligence Service, US Army Special Forces, and Navy Seals.

As a DEA agent, rising through the ranks to Assistant Special Agent in Charge in Los Angeles, he was the division's Strike Force Commander, where he oversaw global money-laundering investigations, High Value Mexican Cartel Investigation, and led his teams in pursuit of some of the largest cases on the globe.

I told you there’s a lot to Wes’s story! Today’s episode is more focused on his beginnings and his heroism. We will get to more incredible stuff in the next two episodes. 

 

In today’s episode, we discuss:

·      Thank you to Chris Feistl for the intro.

·      An unlikely role model growing up.

·      The positive influence of the police explorer program on him as a youth.

·      His time in Florida as a Sheriff’s Deputy, working in SWAT, the detective bureau, and as a D.A.A.T. instructor.

·      Running into a fire and saving multiple people, and Mittens the cat.

·   Receiving the Florida Medal of Valor for his heroic actions.

·      Social media and law enforcement today.

·      What he sees as the weaknesses or strengths in law enforcement training today.

 

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

 

Check out Wes's newest book, Infiltrate America: Blood Routes and the Rise of Latin American Gangs

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!

Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!

Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.

Please visit the Cops and Writers website.

01:05:44
Aug 10, 2025 12:5 AM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
234 Clay, Skulls, Bones, and Don't Embarrass the Bureau With FBI Forensic Artist Lisa Bailey. (Part Two)

Welcome back to the conclusion of my interview with Author and retired FBI Forensic Artist Lisa Bailey.

Just a heads up, today's interview consists of two separate interviews. The first part is more about her exciting career as an FBI forensic Artist. The second half of our interview will expose the dark side of the FBI and how Lisa, a woman who devoted her life to service to this great country, was harassed, bullied, and discriminated against. The FBI failed to take proper action against Lisa’s bosses, who were responsible, or simply turned a blind eye. Their conduct and the cover-up were inexcusable and were done to make sure not to ‘embarrass the bureau.’

I want to make it very clear I’m not an FBI smear campaign. Every day, the men and women of the FBI go out and do the right thing, whether they are arresting criminals or helping other agencies put criminals behind bars. But, upper management has to change the culture of don’t embarrass the bureau, even if that means admitting you or one of your subordinates did the wrong thing and fixing it. It’s very simple, do the right thing, even if it’s painful or embarrasses you, because it is the right thing to do.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

· Would Lisa donate her body to the Body Farm?

· Lisa walks us through the Lester Eubanks age progression case she spearheaded.

· What she says to those who see her work as not an exact science.

· How A.I. will change her previous job as a forensic artist.

· How she dealt with being surrounded by death.

· Her advice for someone who wants to be a forensic artist?

· FBI culture. Agents, and ‘everyone else.’

· Her being the victim of a hostile work environment, bullying, and discrimination while working at the FBI. “Don’t embarrass the bureau,” even when they are clearly in the wrong.

· My interview with former FBI Special Agent Zach Schoffstall.

· Lisa’s book, Clay and Bones: My Life as an FBI Forensic Artist

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

01:19:26
Aug 3, 2025 5:0 AM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
233 Clay, Skulls, Bones, and Don't Embarrass the Bureau With FBI Forensic Artist Lisa Bailey. (Part One)

On today’s episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, I have with me Author and retired FBI Forensic Artist Lisa Bailey for this special two-part interview that will conclude next Sunday.

Lisa Bailey spent most of her adult life serving our country. She enlisted in the United States Navy after high school and served for six years as a linguist translating Russian during the Cold War. Armed with a top-secret security clearance, she later joined the FBI, working as a forensic artist helping solve complex felony and cold case crimes. Lisa’s casework included creating composite sketches of terror suspects, age progressions of wanted fugitives, and post-mortem images of unidentified victims.

Please enjoy this enlightening and entertaining conversation with forensic artist Lisa Bailey.

 

In today’s episode we discuss:

    Her mother being an artist and how that influenced her later in her professional life.

     Joining the navy, being in the intelligence field as a Russian linguist during the Cold War.

     What was the process to get a top-secret security clearance?

     How she leveraged her Navy experience into the civilian world.

     The FBI Special Agent Robert Hansen scandal.

     How her love of donuts led to joining the FBI.

     Her first impression of working for the FBI. Was it what she thought it would be?

     What is a forensic artist, and what did the training look like? What she was trying to accomplish in a case when an agent or other LE reached out to her with a case? How did she do that?

     Working at the FBI three months after the 9/11 terror attacks.

     Hollywood portrayals of what you did, especially “Bones.” Are there any movies or TV shows that are close to accurate?

     Lisa’s body farm study. What is the body farm, and what was she trying to accomplish?

 

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.


Visit Lisa's website to learn more about her and her book, Clay and Bones: My Life as an FBI Forensic Artist.

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!

Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!

Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.

Please visit the Cops and Writers website.

01:12:00
Jul 27, 2025 5:0 AM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
232 Author & DEA Special Agent Leo Silva (retired) Takes Us Into The Zeta & Gulf Drug Cartels Reign Of Terror! (Part Two)

Welcome back to the conclusion of my interview with Author and Retired DEA Special Agent Léo Silva.

Leo Silva spent over twenty-eight years on the frontlines of the global war on drugs as a special agent with the DEA. Leo’s journey took him from the alleyways of Fronton Street to some of the most dangerous corners of North America, leading high-impact investigations against the Zeta and Gulf Cartels.

He served as the Resident Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Monterrey office, overseeing complex, cross-border operations that resulted in hundreds of high-value arrests and multi-million-dollar asset seizures. Over the course of his decorated career, he also held leadership roles in McAllen, Texas, and Guadalajara, Mexico—pioneering collaborative missions with Mexican authorities and helping rewrite the playbook for modern narco enforcement.

Now, Leo has turned his attention to storytelling. His debut memoir, Reign of Terror, offers a powerful, unfiltered look at the reality behind the headlines—a world of corruption, courage, and the personal cost of justice. The book has gained traction internationally and has been translated into Spanish for a Latin American release.

Leo is truly the real deal. This is a guy who has worked undercover numerous times in America and went after some of the most dangerous Mexican drug cartels. Please enjoy my chat with Leo Silva.

 

In today’s episode we discuss:

·     Having no diplomatic immunity and not being allowed to have a firearm while working in Mexico hunting down drug cartels.

·     The different drug cartels in Mexico that were active while Silva was working there.

·     The Zeta drug cartel.

·     The horrifying Bengal Tiger incident.

·     How Silva navigated the corruption and the levels or tiers of Mexican police and how he worked with them?

·     Using shock and awe! Creative ways to get to the Cartel bosses.

·     The house of hell and torturing people.

·     The Casino Royale fire. What was the motive?

·     What was the endgame for the dismantling of the Zetas?

·     What happened to Acapulco?

·     What do you think is the future of Mexico? It seems like cartel violence is starting to hit tourist areas now.

·     How Mexican cartels started with bootlegging during Prohibition.

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.


Head on over to Leo's website to learn more about him and his work.


Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!

Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!

Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.

Please visit the Cops and Writers website.

00:54:50
Jul 20, 2025 5:0 AM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
231 Author & DEA Special Agent Leo Silva (retired) Takes Us Into The Zeta & Gulf Drug Cartels Reign Of Terror! (Part One)

On today’s episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, I have with me, Author and Retired DEA Special Agent Léo Silva, for this special two-part interview that will conclude next Sunday.

Leo Silva spent over twenty-eight years on the frontline of the global war on drugs as a special agent with the DEA. Leo’s journey took him from the alleyways of Fronton Street to some of the most dangerous corners of North America, leading high-impact investigations against the Zeta and Gulf Cartels.

He served as the Resident Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Monterrey office, overseeing complex, cross-border operations that resulted in hundreds of high-value arrests and multi-million-dollar asset seizures. Over the course of his decorated career, he also held leadership roles in McAllen, Texas, and Guadalajara, Mexico—pioneering collaborative missions with Mexican authorities and helping rewrite the playbook for modern narco enforcement.

Now, Leo has turned his attention to storytelling. His debut memoir, Reign of Terror, offers a powerful, unfiltered look at the reality behind the headlines—a world of corruption, courage, and the personal cost of justice. The book has gained traction internationally and has been translated into Spanish for a Latin American release.

Leo is the real deal. This is a guy who has worked undercover numerous times in America and went after some of the most dangerous Mexican drug cartels. Please enjoy my chat with Leo Silva.

 

In today’s episode we discuss:

·     I would like to thank Chris Feistl for setting up this intro. If you'd like to check out my interview with Chris, a retired DEA agent with a compelling story to share, head over to episodes 217 and 218.

·     How he got interested in a career with the DEA.

·     How playing golf in high school helped his future career in the DEA.

·     Serving mobsters in a restaurant where he worked as a kid.

·     Being a full-time musician before joining the DEA.

·     You were one of the only Spanish speakers when you were an agent in Texas?

·     Being a new DEA agent and going undercover buying heroin.

·     How he kept his sanity and your identity while doing UC work.

·     Some of the scariest moments as an undercover agent?

·     Going to work in Mexico as a DEA agent attempting to shut down ruthless drug cartels.

·     His relationship with the often corrupt Mexican police and how difficult it was to extradite criminals.

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.


Head on over to Leo's website to learn more about him and his work.


Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!

Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!

Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.

Please visit the Cops and Writers website.

00:53:58
Jul 13, 2025 5:0 AM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
230 Kerrie Droban Shows Us How to Survive a Psychopath in Court, In Life, and In “Love.” (Part Two)
00:51:13
Jul 6, 2025 5:0 AM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
229 Kerrie Droban Shows Us How to Survive a Psychopath in Court, In Life, and In “Love.”

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Have you ever known someone who is a bit off? It could be a boss, co-worker, or your significant other. It can start with someone too good to be true, filled with charm and fake empathy. Then, they begin to show their true colors by controlling, manipulating, and destroying your life, or worse, ending it. Well, today we are going to be talking about psychopaths and how we can hopefully identify the red flags and protect ourselves from these predators. My guest on the show, Kerrie Droban, is an expert in psychopathy, studying this phenomenon, being recognized as an expert consultant on criminal pathology, and writing her newest book, Surviving a Psychopath: In Court. In Life. In “Love.” 

Kerrie Droban is a bestselling author, lawyer, public speaker, true crime television host and journalist seen on Netflix, 20/20, and ID TV, and host of her own podcast, Crime Stands Still.

Kerrie draws on her personal experience being in relationships with partners who exhibited psychopathic traits and being a capitol defense attorney representing inmates on death row for years.

Please enjoy part one of my interview with Kerrie Droban that I guarantee will send chills up your spine and give you some diagnostic tools to help you recognize a psychopath before it’s too late.   

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      Kerrie Droban being the original ‘spy kid’ having both parents as CIA operatives and spending her youth living in Africa.

·      How she balances being a bestselling author, lawyer, public speaker, true crime television host seen on Netflix, 20/20, and ID TV, and host of her own podcast, Crime Stands Still.

·      How she suggests others break into show business.

·      What is the definition of a psychopath, and how many has she known? 

·      Are all psychopaths predators?

·      How do we spot the traits of a psychopath, and why do we sometimes choose to ignore them?

·      Why do humans choose to ignore their intuition?

·      Gavin de Becker’s book, The Gift of Fear.

 All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Please visit Kerrie's website to learn more about her and her newest book, Surviving a Psychopath: In Court. In Life. In “Love.”

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!
Check out my newest book,
The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!
Enjoy the
Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the
Cops and Writers website.


What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

00:48:21
Jun 29, 2025 5:0 AM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
228 Gang Wars, Contracts on His Life, and Exile From His Beloved Club, Former Hells Angels Ventura Chapter President George Christie (Part Two).

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Welcome back everyone for the conclusion of my interview with former Ventura Chapter President of the Hells Angels, George Christie. But first a disclaimer. I do not and never have condoned criminal behavior. I was a cop for 25 years and my heart is with the men and women who enforce the law and bring criminals to justice. 

That being said, I wanted to bring you the listener/viewer a different kind of perspective. One from an unapologetic outlaw living out the last chapters of his life (who knows, maybe he will live to a 100). I think it’s good to see both sides of the coin. I may not agree with everything he says or stands for, but we can sit down and have a civilized conversation, something that is desperately missing in today’s society, I think.  

So, my guest on today’s show George Christie, has spent some time in prison and was the president of the Ventura Chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club from 1978 to 2011. In 2011 he walked away from the Hells Angels and resigned his membership. A short time later the club turned their backs on him and considered him in ‘bad standing’ which is a kick in the gut for someone who dedicated his life to the outlaw club. It’s kind of like it never happened. 

George’s life is like something out of a movie. He has gone to war with rival bike gangs like the Outlaws and Mongols and has had at least two contracts out to kill him. He was in the hotseat on the news show 60 Minutes where he was grilled by Mike Wallace.  He spent a year in solitary confinement and also carried the Olympic torch for the 1984 games in Los Angeles and even had a blowup with the Kennedy’s. 

One thing is for sure, George is not boring. Please enjoy the conclusion of my interview with George Christie.

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      His 60 Minutes interview with Mike Wallace and Mike flirting with his wife.

·      FBI informant Anthony Tate. 

·      His time in jail / prison and the effects of being in solitary confinement for a year. 

·      The difference between the Hells Angels now and when he was leading a charter? 

·      The hit television show Sons of Anarchy. What he and other Angles thought of David Labrava (Happy Lowman), Rusty Coones (Rane Quinn), Sonny Barger (Lenny Janowitz), and Chuck Zito (Frankie Diamonds) being on the show?

·      His stormy relationship with Sonny Barger.

·      Everything, including your patch, motorcycle, and even jewelry is club property?

·      Is it still a straight, white male club? What are females’ roles in the club? Old Ladies?

·      What about fake Angels? If I get a counterfeit patch and decide to ride my bike in Hells Angels territory, what should I expect?

·      How he wound up quitting the Hells Angles. 

·      Being the spokesman for the Hells Angels.

·      Riding a motorcycle is moving Zen.

·      The book, Exile From Front Street.

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Ride over to George's website to learn more about him and his books!

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!
Check out my newest book,
The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

00:42:56
Jun 22, 2025 5:0 AM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
227 Gang Wars, Contracts on His Life, and Exile From His Beloved Club, Former Hells Angels Ventura Chapter President George Christie (Part One).

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I wanted to start the show today with a disclaimer. I do not and never have condoned criminal behavior. I was a cop for 25 years, and my heart is with the men and women who enforce the law and bring criminals to justice. 

That being said, I wanted to bring you, the listener/viewer, a different perspective. One from an unapologetic outlaw living out the last chapters of his life (who knows, maybe he will live to a 100). I think it’s good to see both sides of the coin. I may not agree with everything he says or stands for, but we can sit down and have a civilized conversation, something that is desperately missing in today’s society, I think.  

So, my guest on today’s show George Christie, has spent some time in prison and was the president of the Ventura Chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club from 1978 to 2011. In 2011 he walked away from the Hells Angels and resigned his membership. A short time later, the club turned their backs on him and considered him in ‘bad standing,’ which is a kick in the gut for someone who dedicated his life to the outlaw club. It’s kind of like it never happened. 

George’s life is like something out of a movie. He has gone to war with rival bike gangs like the Outlaws and Mongols and has had at least two contracts out to kill him. He was in the hot seat on the news show 60 Minutes, where he was grilled by Mike Wallace.  He spent a year in solitary confinement and also carried the Olympic torch for the 1984 games in Los Angeles and had a blowup with the Kennedys. 

One thing is for sure: George is not boring! Please enjoy part one of my interview with George Christie.

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      Lessons learned from coming from an immigrant family.

·      Joining the Marines and later working for the Department of Defense. 

·      Deciding to devote his life to the Hells Angels. 

·      The process and initiation for becoming a Hells Angel.

·      How George was elected club president in a short amount of time. 

·      Being the spokesman for the Hells Angels.

·      There is nothing more important to a member of the Hells Angels than the club. Everything else takes a back seat. How did he function like that? There is work, spirituality, marriage, kids, and friends. They all play second fiddle if you’re an Angel.

·      Carrying the Olympic torch. Feuding with the Kennedys/Shriver’s and winning!

 All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Ride over to George's website to learn more about him and his books!

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!
Check out my newest book,
The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!
Enjoy the
Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the
Cops and Writers website.


What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

00:46:13
Jun 15, 2025 5:0 AM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
226 Deep Undercover With ATF Special Agent Jay Dobyns And Becoming a Full Patched Hells Angel (Part Two).

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Welcome back for the conclusion of my interview with Professor, bestselling Author, and Retired ATF Special Agent Jay Dobyns. If you're enjoying this episode, you'll love my interview with ATF Special Agent Ken Croke from episode 120, where he chats about his deep undercover mission taking down the outlaw motorcycle gang, The Pagans. I thought it would be interesting to get a different perspective on these clubs by interviewing the former president of the Ventura Hells Angels, George Christie. That interview will go live next Sunday!

Jay Dobyns spent over two decades as a federal agent embedded in the dark heart of America’s violent crime, participating in more than five hundred undercover missions targeting gun runners, narcotics traffickers, explosives manufacturers, murder-for-hire schemes, and vicious gangs.

Jay’s most infamous case—a landmark infiltration of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang—changed the face of undercover work forever, earning him international recognition.

Jay’s story is more than headlines and danger. It’s about the cost of service to others, the toll on identity, family, and mental health, and how to rise from it stronger. 

 

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      Attempting to be a good dad and father, while you were undercover. How did you and your family deal with all of that?  

·      Sunny Barger, who he was and Jay’s relationship with him.

·      What kind of bike the ATF gave Jay. Why only Harleys or maybe Indians?

·      Mafia on two wheels?. 

·      What is the filthy few?

·      What happened at Laughlin?

·      His informant, Pops, and Black Biscuit.

·      Deep undercover, the effects on him and his family. ATF help? Debrief after the case?.

·      How did you leave UC work??

·      A surfing Hells Angel?

·      How close he came to losing his own identity.

·      His advice for someone who wants to do deep UC work.

·      The book, No Angel: My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels. Why write it and how did the process of writing the book affect him?

Learn more about Jay Dobyns and his books on his website!

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!
Check out my newest book,
The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!
Enjoy the
Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the
Cops and Writers website.

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

01:11:05
Jun 8, 2025 2:0 AM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
225 Deep Undercover With ATF Special Agent Jay Dobyns And Becoming a Full Patched Hells Angel (Part One).

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Do I have a treat for all of you! On today’s episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, I have with me Professor, Bestselling Author, and Retired ATF Special Agent Jay Dobyns for this special two-part interview that will conclude next Sunday.

Jay Dobyns spent over two decades as a federal agent embedded in the dark heart of America’s violent crime, participating in more than five hundred undercover missions targeting gun runners, narcotics traffickers, explosives manufacturers, murder-for-hire schemes, and vicious gangs.

Jay’s most infamous case—a landmark infiltration of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang—changed the face of undercover work forever, earning him international recognition.

Jay’s story is more than headlines and danger. It’s about the cost of service to others, the toll on identity, family, and mental health, and how to rise from it stronger. 

 In today’s episode we discuss:

·      Thank you Steve Gould over at the Things Police See Podcast for the intro.

·      Acknowledgement of Jay’s wife and kids, who are the heroes of this story. 

·      Almost playing in the NFL. 

·      Jay’s intense desire to work undercover.

·      The role and value of undercover work in law enforcement.

·      His first foot chase and how it ended.

·      Taken hostage as a rookie ATF agent?

·      Getting shot point blank and surviving a sucking chest wound.

·      The aftermath of almost being killed.

·      When he started to feel invincible.

·      Fifteen years of being an undercover ATF agent specializing in illegal narcotics, explosives, and guns before going after the Hells Angels.

·      The murder of Cynthia Garcia at the hands of Hells Angels members.

·      Path to the Hells Angels. Hang around, prospect, and full patch. The rules, bylaws, and procedures of the Hells Angels.

 All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Learn more about Jay Dobyns and his books on his website!

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!
Check out my newest book,
The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!
Enjoy the
Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the
Cops and Writers website.

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

01:03:08
Jun 1, 2025 5:0 AM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
Bonus Episode! My Interview On The Ireland Crimes and Mysteries Podcast With Nules Ní Chleirigh!

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Welcome, everyone, to a special bonus edition of the Cops and Writers Podcast. A few weeks back, it was my pleasure to be a guest on the Ireland Crimes and Mysteries Podcast hosted by the wonderful Nules Ní Chleirigh. Being a child of two Irish immigrants, I jumped at the opportunity to be on her show. Her podcast is recorded over in the Emerald Isle in County Tipperary. I had so much fun talking to her about American policing and the differences between how we do things here in the US and how it is done over in Ireland. Please enjoy my conversation with the most wonderful Nules on the Ireland Crimes and Mysteries Podcast. 

Check out the Ireland Crimes and Mysteries Podcast website! 


Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!
Check out my newest book,
The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!
Enjoy the
Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the
Cops and Writers website.


What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

00:52:01
May 31, 2025 2:0 AM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
224 Being a DEA Agent in Miami During the 80s and 90s & Later Battling Drug Cartels in Mexico, W/ Author & DEA Special Agent Jaime Forza (Ret) (Part Two)

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Welcome everyone to the conclusion of my special two-episode conversation with Author and Retired DEA Special Agent Jaime Forza! Here are just some of Jaime’s career highlights. 

After serving eight years in the U.S. Navy, Jaime joined the U.S. Department of Defense, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) as a Special Agent serving for two years. In 1989, he became a Special Agent with the DEA, first in Charleston, South Carolina, then transferred to the Miami Field Division. He took part in numerous undercover and covert operations and was deployed on assignment to Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1990.

In 1996, the DEA transferred Jaime to Merida, Mexico, Resident Office, where he later promoted to Resident Agent in Charge. In this role, he played a crucial part in the dismantling of the Juarez Cartel drug enterprise. 

In 2009, he was promoted and reassigned to the Office of Global Enforcement, Special Projects Branch. In this role, he served as the Senior Military Advisor for Narco-Terrorism at the U.S. Southern Command Headquarters.

In 2013, DEA selected Jaime as Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Miami Field Division. In this role, he managed domestic enforcement and oversaw the daily operations of the division's foreign-based component in the Bahamas and its forward air operating bases. Jaime was subsequently appointed to Senior Executive.

On December 5, 2024, Jaime released his book, THE RULES OF KONGO : A Psychological Crime Thriller Inspired by Actual Events. This book can be described as a dark, psychological crime thriller with supernatural elements.

 In today’s episode we discuss:

·      Cocaine coming from Colombia to Mexico and then the United States. How did they smuggle it, and how much?

·      Drug submarines that were assembled in the jungle? 

·      The Juarez cartel.

·      Operation Panama Express.

·      Working UC in America and overseas. Scariest moments and most fulfilling.

·      Santeria priests and priestesses or other “black magic/voodoo”. Putting spells on witnesses attempting to tie their tongue in knots in court, making drug dealers invisible to LE. 

·      Palo Mayabme dark magic / Voodoo dolls.

·      What is your advice for someone who wants to become a DEA agent? How should they prepare?

·      Jaimie’s book, THE RULES OF KONGO : A Psychological Crime Thriller Inspired by Actual Events. 

·      Jaimie’s answer to the illegal drug problem in America.

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

To learn more about Jaime's book, The Rules of Kongo, head over to this website!

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!
Check out my newest book,
The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!
Enjoy the
Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the
Cops and Writers website.


What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

01:04:20
May 25, 2025 5:0 AM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
223 Voodoo & Black Magic. Being a DEA Agent in Miami During the 80s and 90s & Later Battling Drug Cartels in Mexico, W/ Author & DEA Special Agent Jaime Forza (Ret) (Part One).

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Welcome to part one of my special two-episode conversation with Author and retired DEA Special Agent Jaime Forza! Here are just some of Jaime’s career highlights. 

After serving eight years in the U.S. Navy, Jaime joined the U.S. Department of Defense, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) as a Special Agent serving for two years. In 1989, he became a Special Agent with the DEA, first in Charleston, South Carolina, then transferred to the Miami Field Division. He took part in numerous undercover and covert operations and was deployed on assignment to Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1990.

In 1996, the DEA transferred Jaime to Merida, Mexico, Resident Office, where he later promoted to Resident Agent in Charge. In this role, he played a crucial part in the dismantling of the Juarez Cartel drug enterprise. 

In 2009, he was promoted and reassigned to the Office of Global Enforcement, Special Projects Branch. In this role, he served as the Senior Military Advisor for Narco-Terrorism at the U.S. Southern Command Headquarters.

In 2013, DEA selected Jaime as Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Miami Field Division. In this role, he managed domestic enforcement and oversaw the daily operations of the division's foreign-based component in the Bahamas and its forward air operating bases. Jaime was subsequently appointed to Senior Executive.

On December 5, 2024, Jaime released his book, THE RULES OF KONGO : A Psychological Crime Thriller Inspired by Actual Events. This book can be described as a dark, psychological crime thriller with supernatural elements.

I really enjoyed my time with Jaime and we have a lot in common. 

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      Growing up in Brooklyn, New York.

·      What are mafia fires? 

·      The neighborhood Bruha.

·      Moving to Puerto Rico when he was in high school.

·      His biggest influences as a young child and teen?

·      Why he joined the Navy at 16 years of age and later became a N.C.I.S. agent?

·      His path to joining the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

·      Being a DEA Agent in the 1980s/90s in Miami.

·      Travelling to Panama and taking part in Operation Just Cause, arresting General Manuel Antonio Noriega.

·      The pros and cons of working as a DEA agent in Mexico.

 All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

To learn more about Jaime's book, The Rules of Kongo, head over to this website!Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!
Check out my newest book,
The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!
Enjoy the
Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the
Cops and Writers website.


What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

01:05:00
May 18, 2025 5:0 AM
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Cops and Writers Podcast
222 LAPD Lieutenant Jeff Wenninger (Ret.) Rodney King Riots, Rebuilding The Gang Unit After The Rampart Scandal, & Reenvisioning Police Work (Part Two)

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Hey everyone, thanks for joining us as we’re going the back to west coast today for the conclusion of our interview with Author and Retired Los Angeles Police Department Lieutenant Jeff Wenninger!   

Jeff is a retired LAPD lieutenant with more than 33 years in law enforcement. He started with L.A. County Sheriff in 1991 and worked the Rodney King riots on the street and jail, where he and his coworkers were not allowed to go home for two weeks straight.

He later lateralled to LAPD in 1993 and went on to work with some of the most highly-trained units, including the Metropolitan Division which encompasses SWAT, K9, high risk warrants, and more. As a sergeant, he was handpicked as the officer in charge of the Rampart Gang Enforcement detail following the Rampart Scandal in the late 90s. As a sergeant and later as a lieutenant, Jeff was the officer in charge of the Use of Force Investigation Division and oversaw investigations of lethal force and other significant applications of force. Jeff's work earned him prestigious awards including the LAPD Medal of Valor, Police Star, and Meritorious Unit Citation.

Jeff is the founder and CEO of Law Enforcement Consultants, LLC. He is releasing a book called “On Thin Ice” that will be published on May 6.

Please enjoy this candid interview witch we talk about what’s good and bad with law enforcement today, and how we can fix it.

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      The trends in law enforcement today regarding uniforms. 

·      How the O.J. Simpson trial changed the LAPD.

·      Jeff’s career trajectory with the LAPD?

·      The special units Jeff served on and supervised.

·      At the apex of a promising career, why Jeff decided to retire from law enforcement.

·      How difficult was it to transition to civilian life?

·      Being the founder and CEO of Law Enforcement Consultants. What is this and why do it?.

·      Your upcoming book, On Thin Ice: An LAPD Veteran’s Journey to Reimagine Policing, is due out soon. Why write it, and what, if any, message do you want to give the reader?

·      What Jeff misses the most about the job.

Go check out Jeff's website to learn more about him and his newest book, On Thin Ice. 

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!
Check out my newest book,
The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!
Enjoy the
Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the
Cops and Writers website.

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

01:04:24
May 11, 2025 5:0 AM
Clean