FOCUS - INSPIRE - TRANSFORM

The ATO is honored to sit down with the owner, the great Aaron Conner, of Legends Fit Gym in Rockwall, Texas.

Aaron is owner of this true first responder gym and they are dedicated to providing a welcoming haven to all walks of life and especially the military and first responder community.  From the moment you walk in the door you see Police, Fire, every branch of the military, and yes our very own Dallas SWAT flag hanging from the ceiling.

Aaron is an Air Force veteran and a  2nd degree Brazilian Jiujitsu Brown belt under Master Carlos Machado. Master Machado has a law enforcement tailored Jiujitsu course that Aaron instructs at Legends Fit. Only first responders are allowed into the MMA room when this training is being instructed to our warriors.  He is also a father of 3, bodybuilding competitor, bull rider, and trail running coach at RunOn.

This gym caters to every level of fitness, body type and are completely dedicated to their members as they provide access to the best trainers in the DFW area.

Legends Fit is located on the E/B 1-30 frontage road just East of John King Blvd. in beautiful Rockwall Texas and is opened 24 hours, 7 days a week.

https://legends.fit

Legends Fit | Facebook

Legends IG: @legendsfitrockwall, @legendsfitrockwallmartialarts

Aaron Conner Facebook:  AARON CONNER, Jiu Jitsu Instructor in Rockwall - Legends Fit

Hello friends

This our third message with the great Misty Vancuren and Joe King

Episode 41

”learned how to turn the squad car into a learning environment “

The Assist the Officer Foundation is proud to sit down with a true Dallas PD legend in Sr. Cpl Lance Crawford.

Lance hired on Dallas PD in 1988, one of Dallas PD’s most deadliest years, in which the Dept lost seven officers in a 12 month period.

Crawford was the epitome of what a field training officer, FTO, should be as he took extra care in teaching the rookie officer not only How to do the job but understand Why they are doing it a certain way.

Chasing dope in the Northwest Division is where Lance formed his incredible reputation as the entire Dept would hear stories of Crawford and Eggleston crawling around in bushes in the dark to take down a drug house.

The incredible career also saw personal and professional tragedy as he was on scene when his friend, Kevin “KJ” James,  was murdered at a Dallas nightclub.

Lance also found himself at the suspects end of a shotgun as he and his partner were both shot while making a drug arrest.

Please enjoy listening to one of the true professionals of the Dallas Police Department and this guest IS the definition of a Policeman.

This episode covers the murder of Officer Kevin James on November 25th 2001 while he worked at Club DMX in Dallas.

Dallas Officer Kevin James

End of Watch Sunday, November 25, 2001

On July 7th 2016 five Officers were killed and nine others were wounded during a protest in downtown Dallas Texas. Two civilians were also injured during this cowardly attack as it was the deadliest incident for law enforcement since the September 11th 2001 attacks.

This event has affected so many lives in so many ways as wives were made widows, friends had to salute the flag draped caskets, children lost their fathers, and the mental anguish will live on forever.

Please say a prayer for these heroes that paid the ultimate sacrifice for their city as well as this country and ask yourself this…..

How do You serve your community?

How do you make the world a better place for your friends and family?

What are You willing to sacrifice to protect those who cannot defend themselves?

1:24: Eulogy for Sgt. Michael Smith delivered by Detective Land

14:26: Eulogy for Officer Patrick Zamarripa delivered by David Brown

25:05: Eulogy for Officer Brent Thompson delivered by Emily Thompson and his daughter.

26:45: Officer Michael Krol put on a 66 end of watch by Police dispatch.

Please pray and honor the Dallas Five.

Episode 40

”Command, Control, Communication “

The History and Evolution of Dallas SWAT: Part 2

This episode is the conclusion to the history of Dallas SWAT. We touch on the failed February 1993 Dallas Cowboys’ Championship parade. This incident magnifies mob mentality as a celebratory day turned to rioting when agitators swayed Cowboys fans.

We also tell the story of a car jacker from January 24, 2006 that held a female driver, at gunpoint, and led Dallas PD on a multi-city chase.

Finally, mob mentality once again appeared in Dallas, Texas in 2020 when the city was under threat of destruction as three days of protests and riots stretched Dallas PD to the limits. 

IG: ATO_Bridging_Divide

EPISODE 39

“Once the threshold is breached…we push on”

THE HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF DALLAS SWAT: PART 1

The Assist the Officer Foundation is proud to sit down and tell a story of one of the most recognized units in the history of law enforcement.

The acronym SWAT is known worldwide as it has been romanticized in tv as well as movies since the 1960’s. However real life is not pretty and the world of SWAT

is not beautiful and the actors involved do not get to hear the word “CUT”and get a redo. The job is both mentally and physically taxing, the hours are long,

the tasks are deadly, and the stakes are high as SWAT is rarely called when a situation is NOT dire.

They are warriors that have a unique history and we have four incredible former and current SWAT operators to talk about Dallas SWAT’s origins, how the foundation was laid and some of the heartbreak that led to changes in strategy and tactics change.

We speak on an incident at 3010 Arizona on March in 1993 that went terribly bad and only because certain SWAT members heroic actions lives were saved that day.

Sit down with The Commander Scott Mcdonnold, who hired on with DPD in 1968, that helped lay a foundation that lasts till this day in Dallas SWAT.

Steve Claggett, who helped form an intense training mindset in Dallas that helped his teammates truly harder to kill. His passion for training and dedication to building the foundation of SWAT is legendary.

Sr Cpl. Matt Smith has been with Dallas SWAT for 17 years and is a Dept. expert when it comes to dissecting hazardous warrant service and training. Matt has the respect of his teammates as well as SWAT units from across the country as a proven leader and dedicated professional.  You will not find a more dedicated professional who truly cares about his teammates and the citizens of Dallas.

Sr Cpl. Danny Canete has been a valued member of Dallas SWAT for 8 years, Master Breacher Certified, Sniper and Less Lethal and Rope Master and instructor for High Angle Team as well rappel instructor for TTPOA.

Term used in this episode: APC- Armored Personnel Carrier

Instagram: dallas.swat

ATODALLAS.ORG

#SWAT

#DALLASSWAT

Hello friends

This our second message and we have a new guest cohost….

Episode 38

The Assist the Officer Foundation sits down with one of the most genuine human beings that Dallas PD has to offer.

Kevin was born in Orange County Texas and grew up in Houston and became a die-hard Astros fan. Living a fans dream in becoming a Houston Astros batboy then climbing that sports fan ladder and becoming an Assistant Equipment Manager for the Houston Rockets.  Kevin finally pursued his dream to go into law enforcement and becoming a true public servant. 

Dallas Officer Kevin James

End of Watch Sunday, November 25, 2001

Hello friends

This is just a little message from our hosts to talk about the Assist the Officer Foundation and some podcast projects we have in the hopper. 

EPISODE 37

The Assist the Officer Foundation is honored to sit down with the Texas Radio Hall of Famer Mike Rhyner as he shares his many stories on the history of Dallas, Texas that span seven decades of change, tragedy, and reform.

Born in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas in 1950 Mike observed so many changes from the Civil Rights Movement, the Kennedy assassination, the birth of the Dallas Cowboys, to the creation of the national radio juggernaut known as The Ticket.

He is known as the Godfather of the Little Ticket, the four time Marconi Award winner for National Sports Radio of the Year.

The Old Grey Wolf is now back on the radio airways as evening drive time host of the Downbeat on 97.1 the Freak.

He also still plays in his band PETTY THEFT and has his own podcast called YOUR DARK COMPANION that can be heard on all streaming platforms and watched on VOKAL.COM.

So ATO fans its time to heed to, trice up, mill about smartly throughout the premises and enjoy Dallas history story time from the Great Mike Rhyner.