ATO: BRIDGING THE DIVIDE

Some lives are shaped by opportunity. Others are forged in fire. Richard Sanchez spent more than 21 years with the DEA, rising to Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Europe Division and leading international efforts against some of the world’s most powerful criminal organizations. But his greatest battle began long before the badge.

Raised in Floresville, Texas, by his grandparents, Richard grew up in a world marked by addiction, crime, and circumstances no child should endure.

Through faith, resilience, and an unbreakable will, he transformed that pain into purpose. Today, as the President and CEO of One Team Global, an author, and a law enforcement peer coach, Richard dedicates his life to helping others rise from the ashes—and proving that your past may shape you, but it does not have to define you.

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*****Trigger Warning*****

This episode discusses the tragic incident on February 13th, 2021, when a drunk driver hit and killed Dallas Police Officer, Mitchell Penton. 

Today, we sit down with a genuinely good man, a proud Texan, and a Dallas detective who has carried more than most people will ever know—Detective Conner Smith. His journey would take him into the middle of a natural catastrophe and, later, to the scene of an unimaginable tragedy as he responded to a fallen Dallas officer. Those moments leave a mark. Some wounds cannot be seen, and some memories never truly leave us.

But tragedy does not define who we are. Sometimes, it changes us. Sometimes, it breaks us open and forces us to discover a purpose we never knew we had. Conner’s story is a raw and deeply personal look at what happens when trauma is carried in silence—how it can slowly consume the mind, the heart, and the person behind the badge. But this is also a story about courage. The courage to admit you are hurting. The courage to ask for help. And the courage to believe that healing is still possible.

Alongside his wife, Kayla, Conner takes us beyond the badge and into the moments that changed him forever. This is not a story about tragedy. It is a story about what comes after it—and the strength it takes to stand back up, find your purpose, and become a source of hope for someone else who may be silently fighting the same battle.

Critical Incidents Discussed:

Hurricane Harvey August 2017

Dallas Police Officer Mitchell Penton

End of Watch: Saturday, February 13, 2021

Officer Mitchell Penton was struck and killed by a vehicle operated by an intoxicated driver at about 1:45 am.

When Dallas calls, the men and women of the Dallas Police Department step forward. They leave behind their families, embrace the unknown, and run toward the moments most people spend their lives hoping to avoid. They do so with courage forged through sacrifice, a commitment tested by every shift, and a promise to protect a city that depends on them.

Behind every patrol car, every detective's investigation, every tactical operation, and every specialized unit is a team of professionals whose dedication forms the backbone of one of America's most historic police departments.

In this limited series, Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux sits down alongside the officers, investigators, and specialists who answer that call every day. Together, they pull back the curtain on the units, the missions, the challenges, and the victories that define modern policing in Dallas. Through candid conversations and firsthand stories, viewers will experience the people behind the badge and the unwavering commitment that drives them to serve.

These are the stories of those who answer when Dallas calls—because protecting Dallas is more than a profession. It is a calling.

Today we sit down with Mariana (Mari) Cartas-Santiago of South Central Patrol. Dallas Patrol is the backbone of the Dallas Police Department and Mari is one of the bright new stars of DPD.

When Dallas calls, the men and women of the Dallas Police Department step forward. They leave behind their families, embrace the unknown, and run toward the moments most people spend their lives hoping to avoid. They do so with courage forged through sacrifice, a commitment tested by every shift, and a promise to protect a city that depends on them.

Behind every patrol car, every detective's investigation, every tactical operation, and every specialized unit is a team of professionals whose dedication forms the backbone of one of America's most historic police departments.

In this limited series, Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux sits down alongside the officers, investigators, and specialists who answer that call every day. Together, they pull back the curtain on the units, the missions, the challenges, and the victories that define modern policing in Dallas. Through candid conversations and firsthand stories, viewers will experience the people behind the badge and the unwavering commitment that drives them to serve.

These are the stories of those who answer when Dallas calls—because protecting Dallas is more than a profession. It is a calling.

Today we sit down with Vice Detective Rebecca Mack

When Dallas calls, the men and women of the Dallas Police Department step forward. They leave behind their families, embrace the unknown, and run toward the moments most people spend their lives hoping to avoid. They do so with courage forged through sacrifice, a commitment tested by every shift, and a promise to protect a city that depends on them.

Behind every patrol car, every detective's investigation, every tactical operation, and every specialized unit is a team of professionals whose dedication forms the backbone of one of America's most historic police departments.

In this limited series, Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux sits down alongside the officers, investigators, and specialists who answer that call every day. Together, they pull back the curtain on the units, the missions, the challenges, and the victories that define modern policing in Dallas. Through candid conversations and firsthand stories, viewers will experience the people behind the badge and the unwavering commitment that drives them to serve.

These are the stories of those who answer when Dallas calls—because protecting Dallas is more than a profession. It is a calling.

Today we sit with a representative of the great Mounted Unit, Tracy Morgan.

When Dallas calls, the men and women of the Dallas Police Department step forward. They leave behind their families, embrace the unknown, and run toward the moments most people spend their lives hoping to avoid. They do so with courage forged through sacrifice, a commitment tested by every shift, and a promise to protect a city that depends on them.

Behind every patrol car, every detective's investigation, every tactical operation, and every specialized unit is a team of professionals whose dedication forms the backbone of one of America's most historic police departments.

In this limited series, Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux sits down alongside the officers, investigators, and specialists who answer that call every day. Together, they pull back the curtain on the units, the missions, the challenges, and the victories that define modern policing in Dallas. Through candid conversations and firsthand stories, viewers will experience the people behind the badge and the unwavering commitment that drives them to serve.

These are the stories of those who answer when Dallas calls—because protecting Dallas is more than a profession. It is a calling.

Today we sit with Homicide Sergeant Eric Hearn of the Dallas Homicide Unit to highlight this historic unit.

Some of life's greatest lessons are not learned in classrooms—they are forged in locker rooms, tested on the battlefield of competition, and refined through the responsibility of leading others.

In this powerful episode of Geaux Time with Chief Comeaux, Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux unveils the philosophy behind his new book, The Active Sport of Leadership, exploring the many dimensions of leadership through the universal language of sports.

From building championship cultures to developing resilient teams, Chief Comeaux reveals why leadership is not a position to hold, but an active pursuit that demands discipline, sacrifice, accountability, and the courage to inspire others to become more than they believed possible.

Joining him as co-host is five-time Super Bowl Champion and NFL Hall of Famer Charles Haley, whose extraordinary career was defined by an unrelenting pursuit of greatness and an uncompromising standard of excellence.

Together, they draw striking parallels between the gridiron and the front lines of leadership, sharing hard-earned lessons on perseverance, culture, and the immeasurable value of mentorship. This is more than a conversation about winning championships or writing books—it's an exploration of how true leaders build legacies by shaping people, creating purpose, and inspiring the next generation to carry the torch long after the final whistle has blown.

To purchase The Active Sport of Leadership go to :

https://www.dccbooks.com/

We are honored to continue hosting out of town guests with Kansas DPS Superintendent, Erik Smith.

Erik Smith’s journey into public service began in 1991 behind the headset of a dispatcher in south-central Kansas, where every call for help reinforced the weight of responsibility and the value of calm under pressure.

In 1993, he stepped into the streets as a deputy with the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office, building a reputation through years of service in patrol, investigations, a DEA Task Force, and ultimately in supervisory leadership.

In 2002, he earned the badge of a DEA Special Agent, embarking on a career that spanned Minneapolis, Wichita, Kansas City, Washington, D.C., Houston—where he served alongside Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux—and finally DEA Headquarters.

Rising to the agency's highest levels of leadership, he retired in 2023 as Assistant Administrator and Chief Inspector, closing one remarkable chapter only to begin another.

That same year, the Governor of Kansas appointed him to her Cabinet as Superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol, entrusting him with leading one of the state's premier law enforcement agencies. His career is a testament to a simple truth: leadership is not defined by the position one holds, but by the lives one influences and the legacy one leaves behind.

Critical incidents discussed:   

Today we are honored to give the stage to DCAC Dianna Walsh Smoot, the daughter of trailblazing Dallas Police Lt Bill Walsh.

For thirty-five years, the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center has stood as a guardian for society's most vulnerable victims, serving as a steadfast bulwark against the darkness of child abuse and neglect.

Through compassion, advocacy, and an unwavering commitment to justice, the Center has provided a safe haven where children find their voices, families find hope, and offenders are held accountable. For more than three decades, its dedicated professionals, partners, and supporters have formed a protective shield around countless children, ensuring that no child has to face trauma alone.

As the organization marks thirty-five years of service, its legacy is measured not only in the lives it has protected, but in the futures it has restored—standing watch as a beacon of hope, healing, and courage for generations of children across North Texas.

In this episode, Dianna Smoot shares that remarkable legacy while reflecting on the evolution of the internationally renowned Crimes Against Children Conference.

What began as a modest gathering of professionals committed to protecting children has grown into the largest conference of its kind in the world, bringing together investigators, prosecutors, child advocates, medical professionals, and educators from across the globe.

The conference stands as a testament to Dallas' leadership in the fight against child abuse and exploitation, fostering collaboration, innovation, and a shared mission to safeguard children everywhere.

Through Dianna's perspective, we explore how a small meeting became a global movement—and how the work of protecting children continues to unite thousands in the pursuit of justice, healing, and hope.

If you would like more info on the DCAC please go to:

Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center - Help Protect Children

If you would like to donate to the DCAC mission please go to:

Ways to Donate - Dallas Children's Advocacy Center

Every badge carries a story, but few careers have traveled the path of Chief Clay Morris. In this episode, we sit down with the Chief of Police of Hoover, Alabama, and journey through a life dedicated to service, sacrifice, and leadership.

Raised in a family steeped in law enforcement tradition, Morris joined the DEA in 1995 and was soon sent to the streets of Dallas, Texas, where the war on drugs was raging and every operation carried the potential for danger.

From high-stakes narcotics investigations and split-second decisions to the leadership challenges that would define his career, Morris recounts the moments that tested his resolve and shaped the man behind the badge. He also reflects on finding himself at the center of one of Dallas' most publicized investigations involving a Dallas police officer and former NFL starMichael Irvin.

But this story is about more than arrests, seizures, and close calls. It is a story of brotherhood, perseverance, growth, and answering a calling greater than oneself.

Join us as we explore the remarkable life, career, and legacy of Chief Clay Morris—a journey from the front lines of federal law enforcement to the chief's office, and the lessons learned along the way.