Episode 62 Ret. Dallas Officer Gretchen Rocha 

" Live Simple, Live Brave, and Live Kindly"

 Welcome back ATO Family today’s episode has a lot of moving parts and includes a lot of heartache, inspiration, healing and the survival.

Gretchen Rocha tells her unique story of growing up in Wisconsin as she was raised in the fundamental independent Baptist culture and learned resiliency at an early age. She chose to take a different path in her life as she experienced early trauma in family and in her religious upbringing that continues to stay with her.

 She hired on with the Dallas Police Department in 2016 and just three weeks into training the unthinkable happened as the City of Dallas was rocked by the most loss of police lives since the 9-11 attacks in NYC.  Gretchen found herself in the line of fire as she could hear the bullets whizzing by her ear and passing through her hair she had to take cover behind a car that was absorbing rounds from the sniper. After being struck, in two different places, she had to drive another downed officer to the hospital and seek medical attention herself.  July 7th 2016 saw five officers murdered and several others wounded, including this guest.

Sit back and listen to the story of an interesting woman, officer, mother, wife and bad ass entrepreneur.

The ATO stage is given to  the domestic Goddess Gretchen Rocha.

Follow her on Facebook at Dolce Beauty Bar 

Critical Incidents discussed:

July 7th 2016 in downtown Dallas at Lamar and Main St. that resulted in 5 Officers murdered and several others wounded.

November 16th 2018, Arts Apartments on Ross Ave. Off Duty Incident that Gretchen encountered burglary suspects in her apartment parking garage.

Welcome back ATO family as we bring you the ninth Message from the Host.

This will be our Kevin James Clayshoot Edition as we sit down with one of the organizers of this great event in Dallas SWAT Lt. Kevin Campbell.

Lt. Campbell currently commands the SWAT Unit and has been instrumental in planning and organizing the annual KJ Clay Shoot that benefits the Assist the Officer Foundation.

To register for this event go to WWW.KEVINJAMESCLAYSHOOT.COM if you want to sponsor a team or come out and shoot.

The Event will be April 7th at Elm Fork Shooting Range in Dallas. Registration begins at 8am and with a 9am shoot start.

Breakfast and lunch will be served and several kick ass items will be up for raffle.

We also always need volunteers to help run these events so please reach out at[email protected] OF YOU WANT TO COME SUPPORT US.

We are also raffling off a unique Peacock Bass fishing trip in the amazon that is all inclusive. The trip will be onboard Rio Negro Queen for two spots.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE PRESENT AT THE CLAYSHOOT TO WIN THIS FISHING TRIP.

Value of the trip is around 10K.

Big thank you to Wade Dews and Tyler Remediz at Frontline Real Estate Team for starting the Heroes Serving Heroes Program and will donate percentage of commissions to the ATO.

As always thank you for supporting us and be safe, keep listening and lets take care of each other.

Joe

Episode 61 Dallas SWAT Matthew Smith #7765

“Don’t get left in Virginia”

ATO friends, you are in for a treat.  We sat down with the not so ordinary man with an ordinary name.  Senior Corporal Matt Smith talks about how his East Texas upbringing helped forge the discipline that has defined him throughout his police career. 

Matt joined the Dallas Police Department in 1999.  He was assigned to the Northeast Patrol division after completing the Police Academy.  In 2005 he competed in a tryout for the Dallas SWAT Team and has not looked back.

Senior Corporal Smith was originally assigned to a sniper role but since that time, he has been trained in almost every discipline the SWAT team offers. Matt attacked each role with a determination that is difficult to match.  He has been an Assistant Squad Leader in the prestigious Dallas SWAT Team for 8 years and running. In that role he demands a lot from the officers in the unit and more of himself.  For almost 18 years he has crafted different ways to be even more prepared for any incident. 

Whether it is a hostage rescue, barricaded person, natural disaster, or a presidential dignitary protection assignment, you can count on Matt Smith to be ready in a pressed uniform with his equipment prepared and his ride clean.

Join us as we discuss preparation, operations, mindset, and training with a true professional.

Critical incidents:

Oak Park search warrant/shooting multiple officers hit by gunfire

July 7th 2016

October 2007 search warrant in which Lieutenant Carlton Marshall was shot

 #SWATTRAINING

 #TTPOA

 #SWAT

#firstresponders

#mentalhealth

#policestories

#firefighters

#firstresponderpodcast

#wellness

#police

#policepodcasts

#coplife

#policecriticalincidents

#truecrime

#policedetectives

#SWAT

#DallasSWAT

#truecrimejunkie

#truecrimeobsessed

#crime

#murder

#truecrimefan

#truepolicestories

#podcasts

Bob’s World Segment 

In his episode we discuss some police ride alongs he did with us back in 1999 and 2007 and we may have been too candid with these stories but hey everything turned out great.

They aired this segment right after we released Bob’s episode and, being a longtime Ticket fan, it was entertaining to hear.

I want The Ticket and Bob to know how grateful we are to have joined us for an episode and go even further to give us some additional love with an entire segment.

You are about to hear a segment of Bob’s World from The Ticket.

Thank You Bob and Thank You Hardline for the support.

ATO friends……Enjoy this bonus clip and have an amazing and safe weekend.

Joe

Episode 60

Dallas Police Department’s Bryan Candelaria #9294 and Gabriel Candelaria #9326

The Dallas Island Boys

The Assist the Officer Foundation welcomes on the Dallas Police Department’s identical twin brothers in Bryan and Gabriel Candelaria.

Hailing from the 305, Miami Florida, they do embody the flavor of South Florida as they grew up in the fast- paced post cocaine cowboy era of Miami.

They both gravitated to law enforcement as they grew up in a first responder family under the tutelage of the great Miami-Dade PD Legend Omar Carrillo.  (The ATO family will hear Omar’s story on a later episode)

In the true spirit of Greek mythology twin archers, Apollo and Artemis, they are identical yet very different in their approach to life and career.

They moved to North Texas to begin their law enforcement career and joined the Dallas Police Department and started the academy in the same academy class.

They hit the streets in different part of Dallas as Gabe went North and Bryan went South and both then truly began forming their own style of police work. Bryan chose “Chasing Dope” and Gabe gravitated to Intelligence led policing and finding his niche in undercover deployment.

Like Artemis and Apollo both had a passion for the “hunt” of policing as they quickly became effective in just taking bad guys off the street to make the neighborhoods safer.

After leaving the Southeast Division CRT Bryan joined the prestigious Dallas SWAT to fulfill a life-long dream, following in Omar’s footsteps and Gabe joined a team on the ground floor that would revolutionize the Dallas PD in ushering in the video age in the body worn camera program.

This story is about two brothers, different in many ways, but equally genuine as human beings that pursued a calling and both succeeding in every stop they’ve had with Dallas PD.  

Both are finally in leadership roles to be mentors and role models to help mold the future of the Dallas Police Department as Gabriel serves as the Lieutenant for the Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia and Bryan a Sergeant for the Violent Crime Task Force.

Sit back and enjoy laughter, inspiration, heartbreak and growth as we introduce the Candy Twins to the ATO stage.

Critical Incidents:

Officer involved shooting in the Dixon Circle Community 7/24/2012

Hostage rescue with children on 2/9/2020 at 6000 Abrams

Hostage Rescue Homicide/Suicide on 511 Highcrest 5/18/2020

George Floyd riots in downtown Dallas in 2020

Instagram: ato_bridging_divide

ATODALLAS.org

Contact us at [email protected]

#firstresponders

#mentalhealth

#policestories

#firefighters

#firstresponderpodcast

#dallaspolice

#police

#dallaspolice

#SWAT

#305tillidie

#miami

Episode 59

Dallas Police Department Major Mark Harris #7877

”The craziest rage I’ve ever felt in my life”

Today the ATO crew is sitting with a genuine individual and true professional to discuss the “Charlie Brown Effect”.

Dallas Major Mark Harris grew up in St Louis and found the love of his life Yvonne before joining the United States Marine Corp as he started his life of service.  From 1986-1989 he began his life in law enforcement as an MP for the USMC before he traveled to South Texas to work for the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office until 2000. 

In 2000 he joined the Dallas Police Department and has risen through the ranks up to Police Major and now commands the North Central Patrol Division. 

Mark has had several events in his life and career that have defined him and also strengthen him as he endured the “Charlie Brown Effect”. 

Every year at Thanksgiving Charlie would trust Lucy to hold the ball while he kicks it, and every year she would yank the ball away and Charlie would fall flat on his back. Yet Charlie still tries, every year, to kick that ball that Lucy holds. 

Life can be that way for all of us…..Falling flat on our backs. However getting back up and being persistent is what can define a person and establish growth.  Throughout his career Mark never stopped trying to kick that ball and he is now a Major in one of the largest Police Departments in the country. 

Even as a Commander he never lost his genuine kindness he has possessed his entire life as he always treats his troops with fairness, compassion, and support. 

You can travel the halls of Dallas PD headquarters and you will be hard pressed to find anyone to say something negative towards Major Mark Harris.

Special guest cohost Narcotics Detective Todd “T-Bone” Conway joins us as he is a longtime friend of Major Harris as well having a unique perspective as he was present when Mark was shot while running a Narcotics search warrant in the Pleasant Grove area of Dallas.

Critical Incident:

On 9/28/2006 at 9711 Pinehurst, Dallas Texas, Dallas Police Narcotics Division were involved in a shooting while they executed a search warrant. During this officer involved shooting Major Harris was hit with gunfire as his teammates returned fire at the barricaded suspect. 

Episode 58

Dallas Police Homicide Unit Detective Andrea Isom # 9272

The Dallas Police Department’s Homicide Unit is incredibly rich in history.

The Homicide and Robbery Unit, under Captain J.W. Fritz, was considered the elite unit of the Dallas Police Department as it investigated high profile crimes like the Texas Eyeball Killer, the pastor Walker Railey, and the murder of President John F. Kennedy in 1963.

Capt. Fritz created traditions and a standard in excellency that lives on today as they investigate the most egregious of crimes……taking another humans life.

Penal Code Chapter 19:

A person commits criminal homicide if he intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence causes the death of an individual.

Today’s guest continues the great tradition of putting together puzzle pieces and solving crimes that a victim does not get a chance to tell their side of the story.  She does this with her meticulous style and grace that has formed her reputation as being one of the best Detectives that works for the City of Dallas.

Hailing from the great city of Kansas City Missouri Andrea Isom hired on with Dallas PD in 2007 and began working the streets in North East Patrol Division as a rookie street cop.

After working as an Assaults Detective she fulfilled her dream of becoming a Homicide Detective. She hit the ground running as the City of Dallas has no shortage of violent crimes as she cut her teeth on training as she assisted on the high-profile Zoe Hastings and the murder of a local dentist.

This episode Andrea details cases she worked on as well as the victimology aspect of putting together pieces of the puzzle to bring these suspects to justice to give the families and friends some form of peace.

Detective Isom recently was awarded the Dallas Police Association Cop’s Cop Runner-Up Award for the 2022 Officer of the Year. This award is voted on and given by her peers on the Dallas Police Department.

She also is co-founder of the TAB7 non-profit organization that was designed to raise funds for the Homicide Unit for equipment and training that can be used for solving crimes.

ATO family sit back and soak in the story of a true professional that sees and investigates some of this City’s most horrific scenes and still makes time to bake her coworkers homemade cookies.

Episode 57

Bob Gorsky of Lyon, Gorsky, & Gilbert LLP.

Texas Super Lawyer 

When Police are put into a position to use deadly force or they have incurred an injustice they may have to make a phone call for help. 

For over 45 years attorney Bob Gorsky has picked up the phone when first responders call in need of help.

Members of the Dallas Police Association, Dallas PD’s largest association,  and many other Texas Officer and Firefighter groups have had to make that call to Bob.

Mr. Gorsky grew up in Buffalo, New York and graduated from the famed Southern Methodist University School of Law in 1978 and quickly began getting involved with the defense of Texas peace officer in the Dallas Area.

He is the founding partner of Lyon, Gorsky, & Gilbert LLP and has responded to over 2000 critical incidents since 1983. He is believed to be the first attorney in Texas to regularly respond to officer – involved critical incidents.

In addition to the development of the attorney’s role in responding to critical incidents, he was the first to attorney to represent an officer at an Internal Affairs Division. (Circa 1985)

He has passionately fought for the rights of first responders throughout his career and continues to do so to this day.

In this episode we detail some of those historic fights like the Ron Iscaro case that occurred on August 25th 1983 when Bob had to fight to create light duty positions for injured officers. Before this case there were no light duty positions for officers that were injured and unable to return to full duty.

There has not been a major fight for Officers against the City of Dallas or the Dallas Police Department that Bob’s expertise and true dedication hasn’t played a role in those fights.

Thank you, Bob for all that you do and being our guardian and protector for our first responders.

www.lyongorsky.com

 Critical Incidents:

On August 25th 1983 Dallas Officer Ron Iscaro responded to 1960 Toronto St. and was shot in the temple with a shotgun. Officer Iscaro was only 23 years old at the time of this incident.  

Hello ATO family

On the eve of releasing the Great Bob Gorsky episode I want to drop our latest message from the host.

This is no ordinary message as we are proud to sit down with a true first responder supporter in the creator of The Officer Next Door Page.

The father of this page likes to remain anonymous so we will respect his wishes but his former Dallas PD friends and family know the real man behind the mask and know his true mission behind this great page.

I met him when he arrived to God’s Country, Southeast Patrol, and I saw that we were very like minded as we both loved putting away neighborhood terrorist. His work ethic and charisma helped him propel to the Dallas Narcotics Division and climb to the top of that unit to take on the “Lab Unit” which is still looked at as the cream of the crop in that Division.

This message tells a little more about why he created his page, The Officer Next Door, and why he is committed to standing along side his police peers as he enjoys a new adventure in life.

Sit back and enjoy this message as it just a “glimpse” of a great man,Officer, Detective, and incredible friend.

Who is this mysterious person that runs this page??  Tune in to try and figure it out.

And please wish him a HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY!!!

[email protected]

If you would like to donate to the ATO please go to ATODALLAS.ORG. Any contribution will be greatly appreciated and it will go to our first responders.

Keep listening….Stay Safe and we will see you soon.

JK

Episode 56

TMPA Field Services Supervisor and Retired Garland Texas Detective Clint McNear

Today’s episode is with a third generation Texas Law Enforcement and a true voice and advocate for all police officers across the country. Clint grew up in Plano Texas and was the son of long time Dallas Police Department Homicide Detective Stan McNear. He joined the Marines and became an MP to begin his long career of service. Clint then dove into being a true Texas Peace Officer as he was hired by the Garland Police Department and he hit the ground sprinting working some of the most crime ridden parts of Garland.

He climbed to the rank of Detective and worked burglary Division, Child Crimes, and finishes in the Crimes Against Persons Unit as he retired in 2013.

Every long police career has a story of heartbreak and Clint was not immune to experiencing life’s tragedies as he had to hold his partner as he gave his final breath after a tragic accident.

Clint McNear now dedicates his life fighting for officers rights as a TMPA, The Voice of Texas Law Enforcement, representative. The TMPA started in 1950 and is the largest police association in Texas and represents over 30,000 local, state and county law enforcement officers.

Clint McNear and Capt. Tyler Owens host the TMPA’s new podcast Blue Grit Podcast: The Voice of Texas Law Enforcement as they also give first responders a stage to tell their stories of resiliency and give their listener a peek at the behind the scenes in this great profession

Clint’s academy classmate and longtime friend Garland PD ICAC Detective Tony Godwin sits in to roast his buddy. Tony is also one half of the hit podcast Catfish Cops.  Detective Godwin is an expert in online child crimes and uses his podcast stage to educate the public and provide awareness to the seedy world of Crimes Against Children. Tony also shows why he is still a loyal friend to McNear and has stood by his friends side for almost 3 decades.

This is the first time, and maybe the only time, the ATO: Bridging the Divide crew sits with a guest and guest cohost who also have their own podcasts.

Sit back and enjoy the story of Clint McNear.

https://TMPA.ORG

CatFish Cops