On a hot summer day in Dallas Texas, in an upscale Dallas restaurant and bar, a failure of a man would commit the largest mass murder in the City’s history by shooting seven people, killing six. Just after midnight on June 29th, 1984, Abdelkrim Belachheb took six lives at the Iannis Restaurant and Bar as he had an argument with one patron, Marcell Ford, as she turned away his advances. He then would leave the bar and return with a gun and committed an act that would rock Dallas, alter the victim’s families lives forever, and expose a legal loophole in the State of Texas.

This breakdown of these murders will detail the suspect’s life prior to entering the United States on a false Visa and show his lifetime of aggression and violence that would lead him from Morocco to a Dallas Texas nightclub.

In 1984 it was not a capital death penalty crime to murder one of more persons, a huge oversight in Texas State law.

Retired Dallas Police Officer Tom Hall was the first in the door at the club after the shooting and in this episode he gives us a firsthand account.

Fugitive Unit Sgt, Marcell Ford, was the niece of the suspects first victim and she bears her name in her aunt’s honor. Sgt. Ford sat with us to talk about this events impact on her family that would have a ripple effect through generations.

We want to dedicate this episode to the victims that lost their lives in Dallas Texas, 1984.

Sources used:

DPD case file

The novel, Worse than Death, by Gary M. Lavergne

Incident:

June 29th, 1984, 12801 Midway Rd, Dallas Texas

Suspect would enter Ianni’s Restaurant and Club and shot seven patrons, six of that would die.

Welcome back to ATO story time with our Treasurer, Detective Justin Bowen #8522.

Special guest cohost, NLLEO President, Juan Hernandez Jr. #8447 sits in to help tell this story. Juan and Justin rode together for years in the Southeast Division and continue their friendship to this day. This story will detail Detective Bowens career, their partnership and will highlight an awful night in March of 2009 at 700 Cliffview Dallas, Texas.

The very detailed, chilling facts of this case are laid out by both as they responded to a strong-arm takeover over a family in a trailer park in Pleasant Grove. What happened after they arrived on scene has been lost in history but both men still carry these awful memories of what was seen.

We also discuss the very complex financial crime investigations that can take years to solve and do involve true victims, especially the elderly.

Sit back and listen to a very deep behind the scenes look at a very quite and private servant.

Critical Incident:

March 17th, 2009, at Cliffview Dallas Texas when two gunmen took a family hostage during a home invasion robbery that ended in cold blooded murder of two victims.

Dallas Police Sgt. Bronc Mccoy EOW: 11/16/2020

Dallas Police Officer Matt Bacon: EOW: 8/8/2023

Dallas Police Officer Horacio Quiroz: EOW: 4/22/2019

Welcome back for another message from the hosts as we sit down with a BTD alum in Garland ICAC Detective Tony Godwin. Tony is here to talk about an organization that is near and dear to his heart, the National Law Enforcement Officer Hall of Fame. Detective Godwin was inducted himself and now his mission is to give back to this great organization.

This message details this foundations origins and highlights the mission of Megan Stockburger and Adam Davenport to create this platform to honor the many men and women who have dedicated their body, minds, and souls to serving others.

Mark your calendars!

The next Hall of Fame induction is taking place right here in the DFW area on April 11th at the Omni Hotel in Fort Worth Texas.

Fore more information go to the link below. Donations to keep this mission going is greatly welcomed and appreciated.

https://www.nationalleohalloffame.com/

Today we do a podcast collaboration with our great friends at the TMPA, Clint McNear and Tyler Owen.

This is a long overdue episode as we sit with two men that represent a great organization, the TMPA, to talk about our mutual mission in being there for our law enforcement brothers and sisters.

We go behind the scenes in the Blue Grit podcast origins and also get to know the hosts and understand their “why” in their journey.

Special guest cohost, Plano PD Sgt. James Babb sit in to help tell this story.

They are the voice of Texas law enforcement….They are the Blue Grit Podcast.

Critical Incident:

April 29th, 2008

The murder of Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Scott Burns

Today’s episode will highlight one of this shows founding missions in truly connecting to people from all over.

This guest has traveled over 1,800 miles to join us for this show to tell his story.

Barnstable PD Officer Brandon Sanders has a unique story in his journey to policing as his childhood could have very well created a different path but it was a chance meeting of a young police officer that became a big brother and showed him what the brotherhood was about.

Brandon grew up in Hull Massachusetts and learned, at a young age, what domestic disturbances looked like, and he also had to “police” his home as child.

This upbringing created a divide in the family and set the tone for the next several years as Brandon has not had contact with a part of his family, and a grandmother he has never met.

Traveling to Dallas Texas wasn’t just about sitting to record a podcast but also to go on a journey of forgiveness and openness as he wanted to seek out the grandmother that he never met. At the time of this recording Brandon only told us his mission to finally met his estranged relatives but had not taken that trip south of Dallas to find his grandmother.

We are very happy to report that, after this recording, Brandon and his fiancé Chanelle went to the small town of Gun Barrell City and finally met his grandmother.

This shows platform to bridge divides and have connectivity is something that we will always strive to achieve….. This story is more than just a cop war story.

Enjoy!

This episode will feature twin brothers that have dedicated their lives to the city of Dallas and to the police profession. However, their family name started here in Dallas in 1988 when their brother, Israel, joined the Dallas Police Department and immediately become a recruiter for his family.

Next would be their cousin, Miguel, to join the PD and then these twin brothers. Saul and Sammy grew up in Progresso Texas in a family of fifteen siblings and learned the definition of work ethic early on.

As the family traveled the country to work the agriculture fields they learned to survive on hard work and family closeness that most do not get to experience.

Today we sit down with the twins, Sam and Saul, to talk about their lives, their blood family, and their blue family as we take the listener from Progresso Texas to Dallas Texas in telling their story.

ATO please welcome on the Sarmiento twins, Deputy Chief Samuel Sarmiento, and Lieutenant Saul Sarmiento of the Dallas Police Department.

Critical Incidents Discussed:

Saturday April 14th, 2001:

Dallas SWAT member, Israel Sarmiento #5803 was killed in a motorcycle accident in Dallas Texas.  His death greatly impacted the Dallas Police Department as he was a greatly respected leader and friend. More so it left a void in the Sarmiento family that can never be filled.

October 23, 2002:

Officer Patrick Metzler was killed when his patrol car was struck from behind by a drunk driver while he provided traffic control at a construction site.

March 23rd, 2007:

Sr. Cpl. Mark Nix was shot and killed as he attempted to apprehend a murder suspect in Northwest Dallas.

October 12, 2022:

Dallas Police Officer Jacob Arellano was killed in a vehicle accident while on his was to work. A drunk driver caused this tragedy. He was survived by his fiancé Alyssa, his son Nolan, twin brother Joshua, Father Frank, Mother Rebecca, and sister Mia.

October 22, 2022:

Methodist Dallas Medical shooting occurred when a suspect opened fire on Katie Flowers and Jacqueline Pokuaa, resulting in both of their deaths. The suspect was later arrested after a brief standoff inside the hospital.

August 29th, 2024:

Dallas Officer Darron Burks was murdered in the line of duty in Southwest Dallas.

Officer Burks was ambushed by a suspect as he pulled into an Oak Cliff Community Center. The suspect then waited to ambush responding Officers David and Farmer as they approached Burks vehicle, shooting Officer David in the face and Officer Farmer in the leg with a shotgun.

Welcome back ATO Family

Today we bring you a story from a retired servant that served over three decades in Los Angeles County.

Jeff Wenninger grew up in Kent Ohio and was raised in a unique blended family during a time in this country that family diversity was rare. Jeff realized that his natural physical prowess led him to dominate hockey and set him on a path to learning a new type of resiliency and leadership style.

He hired on with the LA County Sheriffs office and worked there until he joined the historic Los Angeles Police Department where he served thirty years and retired as a Lt.

This will tell his story of how he grew into a natural leader and developed a style that garnered the attention of the command staff to trust him in leading high profile units.

Jeff took over the RAMPART CRASH Unit after the scandal that rocked the Department and the police profession from the late 90s to the early 2000s.

This event has been glamorized in tv and film and spurred movies like Training Day and the hit show, the Shield.

Today Jeff is the founder and CEO of Law Enforcement Consultants LLC and has a mission to assist department and assist agencies to be the best organization they can be to serve.

The release of this episode is timely due to the upcoming inauguration of President Donald Trump as Jeff shares his insight on the intricacies of dignitary protection in today’s world with constant threats in the United States and afar.

https://lawenforcementconsultants.com/

Critical Incidents:

November 22nd, 1963: The assassination of President John F Kennedy in Dallas Texas.

Rampart scandal, official inquiry (1998–2000) into corruption among officers of the Rampart Division of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). More than 70 officers were implicated in misconduct, including unprovoked beatings and shootings, planting and covering up evidence, stealing and dealing drugs, and perjury.

July 13th, 2024, in Butler Pennsylvania:

Attempt assassination of President Donald Trump during a campaign rally.

Today we get to hear from a guy that joined the Dallas Police Department but also served as a soldier in the United States Army.

This story begins with this guests journey from growing up as an Army brat to enlisting himself and joining the 10th Mountain Infantry Division and on a path to fighting terrorist in Afghanistan.

Tyler fit in as soldier, and a leader and on July 5th, 2006 all of his skills, resiliency, and faith were put to the test as his unit was ambushed in Afghanistan, and this day would change his life forever.

His path to DPD will be told in this episode as well as his passion to help and serve fellow first responders in buying their new homes.

Tyler and Frontline Realty started a program called Heroes Helping Heroes and this group has helped many military and first responders in making their life’s biggest purchase, their home.

Lt. Wade Dews sits in as a cohost to help tell this story.

www.frontlinerealestateteam.com

Critical Incident:

July 5th 2006

Tyler’s unit was ambushed by Taliban fighters in Afghanistan that resulted in Tyler receiving life threatening injuries.

Welcome back ATO Family

We finally get to discuss an integral function in law enforcement and the criminal justice system, the Crime Scene Response Unit.

Today’s guest has a Master’s degree in Forensic Science, currently working on Doctorate, and is a dedicated member of the Dallas Police Department’s Crime Scene Unit.

It is up to the trained crime scene investigator to take advantage of every scientific and technological development in forensic investigation in order to correctly analyze, retrieve and collect evidence from the scene of any crime.

Crime scene analysis combines the human factor with scientific procedures and methods to interpret what has occurred. While the scientific evidence may speak for itself, it requires human understanding and voices to translate that evidence into a court of law in order to ensure that justice is always served.

Today we are sitting down with one of Dallas Pd’s Forensic specialists and someone who supervises our great Crime Scene Response Unit. She will walk us through their functions and shed some light on some of the facts vs myths of the job……..and we will also show how vital this unit is to investigations and prosecutions…

Courtney Lozano welcome to the ATO stage…..

Critical Incident Discussed:

September 6th, 2024

The tragic death of Dallas Crime Analyst Carmen Michelle Fletcher.

Michelle was killed in a horrific car crash in Fort Worth on 9/6/2024 at approximately 6:30 pm.

2024 marks the 40th anniversary of its Santa Cops program, which has provided toys and food to over 10,000 families since 1984. The initiative supports families who have been victims of crime and those in need during the Christmas season.

Today we sat down with some of the elves behind the scenes that make this incredible program run so that so many families in need can have a merry Christmas.

Former Dallas PD legend Chuck Young, now Victoria Texas PD Chief, in 1984 and grew this program into the holiday event it is today.

the Santa Cop program that started back in 1984 basically out of the trunk of a squad car. Mounted unit Larry Abney, Jerry Rhodes, and Captain Walker , Lynn Albright, Deanna Stratman, Lori Tittle, Jason Kennedy, Angela Arrendondo, Chuck and so many others made this program evolve for 4 decades.

Crime Against Children Sgt. Kristin Alvarado, Detectives Stephen Prince, and Meagan Mulvihill join the podcast crew to document this history and provide the listener with a final message to warm your hearts and wrap up 2024.

Please follow or support this program at the links below.

Merry Christmas ATO Family!

Special thanks to Chrys Hawkins for this message idea.

Facebook:  @SantaCops

Twitter:  @SantaCops

GiveButter.com

https://givebutter.com/BqHyH5

Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1ZMROZDNUNBOM?ref_=wl_share

Email

[email protected]