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Do you ever wonder why people go into law enforcement? Does being in law enforcement change your views of the public over time and how does being an officer affect...
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Do you ever wonder why people go into law enforcement? Does being in law enforcement change your views of the public over time and how does being an officer affect your family? This podcast explores these questions as well as discusses different careers and the functions of various law enforcement agencies including local, state and federal agencies. The episodes include interviews with retired and active-duty law enforcement officers.
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Transcribed
8 DEC 2024 · Interview with Dan Flores, retired United States Army, Customs and Border Protection and EMS pilot.
Years of Service: 1985-2022
Daniel Flores is a lifelong Texan. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1985, attending Infantry training at Ft. Benning Ga. He then served in the 4th Infantry Division in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
After his active-duty time, he then served in the Texas Army National Guard’s special operations unit; Company G. 143rd Infantry LRRP (Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol). In 1990 Mr. Flores went to Army flight school to become an Apache helicopter pilot with 7th Squadron 6th Cavalry Regiment, based in Conroe Texas.
In 2006 he was deployed as the attack asset for the 10th Mountain Division. He was in the infamous Korengal Valley and numerous outposts in the Hindu Kush mountains and along the Pakistani border.
He wrote a #1 bestselling book telling of his experience flying the Apache helicopter in combat and was instrumental in the success of the movie "Apache Warrior" as a Co-Executive producer.
The title of his book is “South of Heaven, My Year in Afghanistan”. From his book the film “Above the Best” was made. The film uses actual footage taken from his Apache helicopter in combat.
He received the “The Air Medal” and “Bronze Star” and retired after 26+ years in the Army. He also flew airplanes and helicopters for 21 years, for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as an Air Interdiction Agent before retiring in July 2020. He has been deployed to the U.S./Mexico border and South America on numerous occasions for operations against the Drug Trafficking Cartels and the illegal immigrant surge.
He currently flies Helicopters as an EMS pilot, in the Houston area.
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Transcribed
1 DEC 2024 · Interview with retired DEA Special Agent in Charge Steven Whipple
Years of Service: 1985-2021
Steve grew up in Texas but spent some of his formative years living in Iran while his stepfather worked in the oil industry.
In 1985, Steve was hired by the DEA in the Dallas Field Division and arrived in Quantico, VA, for training at the DEA Academy by December 1985. Being a native Texan, Steve was very unhappy to hear the news that he was being assigned to the New York Field Division and thought about quitting several times on his drive from Texas to New York. Once in New York, the work was so interesting that he decided he would make it work.
While in New York, Steve got his first chance to work undercover and was part of a group targeting Colombian importers and distributors.
During this same time, Steve learned about Operation Snowcap, which was a new program formed by the DEA to target South American drug traffickers in their home countries. The premise behind Snowcap was to take the fight to the traffickers by locating and destroying cocaine laboratories as well as clandestine airstrips used to smuggle drugs from South America to the United States. Steve served two tours in Ecuador before his wife gave him the ultimatum of his job or family. He said it was one of the only smart decisions he made, and he chose his family.
Steve was transferred to El Paso, Texas, where he continued to work undercover but also began working on an investigation targeting the Amado Carillo-Fuentes organization. Because of this investigation, a contract was put out on his life, and he was forced to move.
Throughout his career, Steve has worked in New York, Atlanta, DEA Headquarters, and offices throughout Texas, including El Paso, San Antonio, and Houston.
During this interview, Steve discusses some of his investigations and his rise through the ranks of the DEA to finally retire as the Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Field Division.
Transcribed
24 NOV 2024 · Interview with retired Special Agent Federal Bureau of Investigation Ann Kirkland.
Years of Service: 1996-2022
Growing up in Pennsylvania, Annie knew from an early age that she wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement. With encouragement from her father, she sought a goal to become a Special Agent with the FBI.
After college, she received her law degree and became an Assistant District Attorney for Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, handling minor and major criminal cases. In 1996, she achieved her goal of becoming a Special Agent with the FBI and was assigned to the New York Division.
During her career, Annie served different assignments, including the surveillance operations group, behavioral analysis coordinator, and adjunct faculty instructor for violent crime and crime scene management processing. Annie was assigned to the New York Division, Los Angeles Division, FBI Headquarters, Anchorage Division, and the Philadelphia Division.
She was part of the evidence response team throughout her career, which took her throughout the country and world, investigating bombings, murders, and plane crashes.
Annie had an affinity for investigating violent crime but developed a deep desire to pursue cases involving children who were the victims of crime. During her career, Annie worked on investigations including bank robbery, wire fraud, kidnapping, organized crime, narcotics, human trafficking, terrorism, homicide, and January 6th protesters for a brief time.
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Transcribed
17 NOV 2024 · Interview with CIA Officer Jerry O'Shea
Years of Service: 1984-2017
Jerry was recruited into the CIA in 1984. During that time, he worked undercover as an operations officer for over three decades. He served in Europe, Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East, as well as numerous war zones. He was a four-time Chief of Station running some of CIA’s largest and most critical missions abroad.
During this interview, Jerry discusses why and how he began working for the CIA and discusses some interesting stories he was a part of while trying to recruit human assets. Jerry provides a fascinating look into the gray and blurred lines of being a CIA Officer and tells an interesting story about how he broke the news to his children that not only was he a CIA Officer, but their mother also worked for the CIA. He gives his personal opinion about Julian Assange and Edward Snowden, as well as his take on other intelligence agencies worldwide.
Jerry is the co-host of the podcast Mission Implausible which can be found on platforms such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify and is the co-founder of Spycraft Entertainment.
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10 NOV 2024 · Life on the Front Lines: Chris Hastings' Journey Through Drug Wars and Personal Battles
Years of Service: 1980-2013
In this compelling episode, we sit down with Chris Hastings, a former customs patrol officer turned USCS Special Agent who shares his gripping experiences from the cocaine wars in South Florida, his role in high-stakes undercover operations, and the personal challenges that shaped his career. From surviving near-fatal encounters to navigating deep-rooted corruption, Chris opens up about the realities of law enforcement and his journey of rediscovery.
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Transcribed
3 NOV 2024 · Interview with the most decorated NYPD Detective Ralph Friedman
Years of Service: 1968-1984
Detective Friedman began his law enforcement career with the NYPD in 1968 as a fingerprint technician. He was later assigned to the 41st Precinct, also known as “Fort Apache,” as an officer on foot patrol.
Right from the start, Detective Friedman was a proactive police officer who sought out criminals both on and off duty, quickly earning a reputation as someone who got things done. He was eventually promoted to the Anti-Crime Unit, where he worked alongside some of his heroes, and through his hard work, he achieved the rank of Detective 3rd grade.
While serving as an officer and detective for the NYPD, Friedman made 2,000 arrests, including 100 off-duty arrests, and provided assistance in 6,000 cases. He was involved in 15 shootings, resulting in the deaths of 4 suspects. Unfortunately, Detective Friedman's career was cut short after just 14 years due to a severe on-duty car accident, which led to his medical retirement as a second-grade detective.
Detective Friedman has been the subject of numerous articles and interviews. He is the co-author of the book "Street Warrior: NYPD's Most Decorated Detective and the Era that Created Him" based on his career.
A 2017 television series, which is currently available on Amazon Prime and is called "Street Justice the Bronx," was also based on his career. Friedman was featured in the movie "Tattoo" with Bruce Dern, and he was the technical advisor to the Prequel Movie for the Sopranos called "The Many Saints of Newark."
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Transcribed
27 OCT 2024 · Interview with the most decorated NYPD Detective Ralph Friedman
Years of Service: 1968-1984
Detective Friedman began his law enforcement career with the NYPD in 1968 as a fingerprint technician. He was later assigned to the 41st Precinct, also known as “Fort Apache,” as an officer on foot patrol.
Right from the start, Detective Friedman was a proactive police officer who sought out criminals both on and off duty, quickly earning a reputation as someone who got things done. He was eventually promoted to the Anti-Crime Unit, where he worked alongside some of his heroes, and through his hard work, he achieved the rank of Detective 3rd grade.
While serving as an officer and detective for the NYPD, Friedman made 2,000 arrests, including 100 off-duty arrests, and provided assistance in 6,000 cases. He was involved in 15 shootings, resulting in the deaths of 4 suspects. Unfortunately, Detective Friedman's career was cut short after just 14 years due to a severe on-duty car accident, which led to his medical retirement as a second-grade detective.
Detective Friedman has been the subject of numerous articles and interviews. He is the co-author of the book "Street Warrior: NYPD's Most Decorated Detective and the Era that Created Him" based on his career. A 2017 television series, which is currently available on Amazon Prime and is called "Street Justice the Bronx," was also based on his career.
Friedman was featured in the movie "Tattoo" with Bruce Dern, and he was the technical advisor to the Prequal Movie for the Sopranos called "The Many Saints of Newark."
Explicit
Transcribed
20 OCT 2024 · Interview with the most decorated NYPD Detective Ralph Friedman
Years of Service: 1968-1984
Detective Friedman began his law enforcement career with the NYPD in 1968 as a fingerprint technician. He was later assigned to the 41st Precinct, also known as “Fort Apache,” as an officer on foot patrol. Right from the start, Detective Friedman was a proactive police officer who sought out criminals both on and off duty, quickly earning a reputation as someone who got things done. He was eventually promoted to the Anti-Crime Unit, where he worked alongside some of his heroes, and through his hard work, he achieved the rank of Detective 3rd grade.
While serving as an officer and detective for the NYPD, Friedman made 2,000 arrests, including 100 off-duty arrests, and provided assistance in 6,000 cases. He was involved in 15 shootings, resulting in the deaths of 4 suspects.
Unfortunately, Detective Friedman's career was cut short after just 14 years due to a severe on-duty car accident, which led to his medical retirement as a second-grade detective.
Detective Friedman has been the subject of numerous articles and interviews. He is the co-author of the book "Street Warrior: NYPD's Most Decorated Detective and the Era that Created Him" based on his career. A 2017 television series, which is currently available on Amazon Prime and is called "Street Justice the Bronx," was also based on his career. Friedman was featured in the movie "Tattoo" with Bruce Dern, and he was the technical advisor to the Prequal Movie for the Sopranos called "The Many Saints of Newark."
Explicit
Transcribed
13 OCT 2024 · Years of Service: 1985-2002
John began his career with NYPD in 1985 on foot patrol in Midtown. When John started working he was told that he would have a grandstand seat to the greatest show on earth which turned out to be true. Every day John interacted with the public and met people from all over the world and all walks of life. John talks about his interaction with David Letterman which is included in the interview.
John discusses working in downtown New York during the 1980s when Times Square was a mess and there was a police officer almost on every block dealing with every imaginable type of crime.
During this interview, John discusses what it was like to grow up in New York and why he became a police officer for NYPD. He discusses his time on patrol and his promotion to detective in the Auto Crime Unit where he dealt with every possible crime including, theft, drugs, and gun trafficking.
John gives a personal and emotional account of what happened to him on 9/11 and the injury that forced him to retire from the job that he loved and as he puts it "I can't believe they paid me to do".
Transcribed
6 OCT 2024 · Years of Service: 1977-2009
Bill began his career as an educational release specialist in Nebraska and eventually worked as a prison guard.
In 1980, Bill moved to Colorado and began a long career with the Colorado Department of Corrections where he finished his career as the Director of Offender Services.
After he retired, he was then hired by the Department of State where he served in the role of Senior Corrections Advisor. In his capacity, he traveled all over the world evaluating and providing recommendations to prison facilities in other countries so that they could bring their inmate housing to first-world standards.
In this episode, Bill discusses topics surrounding prisons such as transgenderism, race relations, gang relations, smuggling of contraband, and the difference between the levels of prisons to include Super Max.
Bill also talks about the things he saw in prisons all over the world and some countries that house their criminals well as well as some who
Do you ever wonder why people go into law enforcement? Does being in law enforcement change your views of the public over time and how does being an officer affect...
show more
Do you ever wonder why people go into law enforcement? Does being in law enforcement change your views of the public over time and how does being an officer affect your family? This podcast explores these questions as well as discusses different careers and the functions of various law enforcement agencies including local, state and federal agencies. The episodes include interviews with retired and active-duty law enforcement officers.
show less
Information
| Author | Reasons We Serve |
| Organization | Reasons We Serve |
| Categories | Documentary , True Crime , Government |
| Website | - |
| reasonsweserve@gmail.com |
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