ATO: BRIDGING THE DIVIDE

Today we sit down with the Dallas Chief of Police for another episode, but this one comes with two special cohosts to guide this story. Class 406 recruits, Jeremy Delafuente and Casandra Palmer join Chief Comeaux to discuss their short time with the Department and what it means to them to be the future of the profession.

Casandra, growing up in Miami, did her research on where to serve and ultimately decided on calling Dallas her new home and her classmate, Jeremy, didn’t have to travel far to join DPD.

The Dallas Police Department has been in existence since 1881 and we have only had 31 Police Chiefs and so many great many men and women have put on our badge and served that never get to sit down with one of these Chiefs so we wanted to take a different approach to hear from the future of our Department and get their thoughts on how this journey is beginning for them and how we can continue to evolve our culture of excellency.

 Class 406 will graduate on February 27th, 2026.

Today’s episode is very special to the podcast team as it lets us revisit some of the most fun and memorable times in our careers as we turned a little drug team into a family that created lifelong friends.

In 2010, Chief Brown, began an initiative that mandated all seven patrol substations in Dallas to create a street level knock and talk unit that had one mission, to curb the division level narcotic sales.

This is the story of when the Southeast CRT was created and how, over time, it turned into an effective team that gained a reputation, not only in the Department, but in the streets amongst the suspects they targeted.  

To tell this story we see Danny Canete, Sgt. Mark Bacon, and new Ranger Master Sgt. Candelaria return ot the mic to talk about their experiences and growth while working on this team. We will give an inside look at the laughs, the frustrations, close calls, and brotherhoods forged.

Child Abuse Detective Kristen King, Sgt Kent Wolverton, and podcast newbie Emily Canete join this roundtable of shenanigans. Enjoy

We finally got em! Danny cocreated the show and quite frankly our product would not be near the quality what it is without Danny and his many talents. We wanted to make 100 special, and I believe we surpassed any expectations I had.

Enjoy our Final Revisited episode.

**** Trigger Warning Alert****

Episode 100 was always going to be a special episode for our show but when I got today’s guest to finally agree to tell his story I knew I wanted to make it extra special for the listener but also make it special for one of my best friends and one of the most impressive humans I have ever met. – Joe King.

 We are honored to share this stage with Dallas SWAT Operator and ATO: Bridging the Divide Co-Creator, Daniel Canete.

 Danny gravitated to music at the age of five and quickly began mastering the language and art of music as he became a student of the piano. Most students that age avoided the stage, but Danny ran to it and excelled and built on his natural inquisitive nature and quickly began performing on that stage. Playing at churches, then to recitals, then began dominating in local and state competitions. He was a natural on the performance stage, this trait will become very important as later he will find himself on a life and death stage.

As a musician, his desire was to share music with people to perpetuate a love for the arts and to educate the public in order to keep the classical arts alive. He mastered the piano and percussion but the five-octave marimba will always hold a special place in Danny’s heart.

Danny left his mark on the music world at Colorado State as a scholarship was created in his name, the Daniel Canete Music Performance Scholarship.

 Sometimes we all reach crossroads in life and are thrust into a difficult decision as we navigate our life journey. Danny, with all of his skills and successes and dedication to music, was not impervious to these life changing decisions.  9/11 changed us all and changed the world but for some people, people like Danny, it provided him a new calling to serve this world in a different way.

He chose to serve with the Dallas Police Department and was assigned to “God’s Country”, the Southeast Division and fell in love with being a street cop and serving the citizens.

This story will finally give the listener a peek into the life of a very private man that just happens to have a very high-profile profession as a member of Dallas SWAT.  

 The stage is set and the ATO listeners are making their way to their seats to see a true talented and gifted performer.

Thank you for all of the support you have given us since August of 2021, it has been an incredible journey to 100.

Special Thanks:

Billings PD Lt. Brandon Wooley

USAF Lt. Colonel Zach, Cougar, Fennell

Dr. Janet Landreth

SWAT Lt. Andre Taylor

SWAT ASL Matt Smith

SWAT Sgt. Ryan Scott

SWAT Brandon Berie

Trent Custis

Kimberly Canete

 Critical Incidents Discussed:February 13th, 2012

Officer involved shooting in Pleasant Grove, Southeast Division, as CRT members engaged a robbery suspect.

 July 7th 2016

The shooting in downtown Dallas on July 7th2016 when 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.

 Daniel Canete Music Performance Scholarship - College of Liberal Arts | Colorado State University (colostate.edu)

This revisit is one of my personal projects that I had wanted to get out for the listener for quite some time and to see it all put together was something I will always cherish.

This episode has been a project since this show began as we finally tell the story of the attack on Dallas Police Headquarters on June 13th, 2015.

At approximately 12:30 am a suspect, driving an armored van, drove to police headquarters in Dallas Texas and planted bags containing pipe bombs and opened fire on the front of the building with an assault rifle. Several officers responded and were met with gunfire in the streets in front of headquarters and then led the police on a chase that would end in history being made in US law enforcement history with the method in which the threat was eliminated.

The episode will detail the tragedy from the 2013 arrest of the suspect to the events on June 13th, 2015, as he was eliminated by the use of a .50 caliber rifle, the first and only time this weapon platform has been used on a suspect in the United States.

This episode welcomes then Dallas SWAT members Jude Braun, Kent Wolverton, Danny Canete and Keith Rieg to the stage to give a play-by-play firsthand account of this incident and the significance in Dallas and US law enforcement history.

Guest List:

Jude Braun #5015           

36 years with Dallas Police and served 33 years with Dallas SWAT. Jude has the reputation of being an expert on explosive breaching and spearheaded the rifle program on the Dallas Police Department. Braun is now retired.

Keith Rieg #6809

32 years with the Dallas Police Department and is still an active SWAT member after 24 years. Keith is a sniper and pulled the trigger of the .50 caliber rifle during this incident.

Kent Wolverton #8393

20 years with Dallas Police Department and served as supervisor in SWAT for nearly 7 years. Kent also commanded the Dallas K9 Unit and now is a supervisor in Narcotics.

Danny Canete #8834

               17-year Dallas veteran with over 8 years in Dallas SWAT. Danny also was a member of the Dallas Narcotics Unit and the Southeast CRT.

               Master Breacher Certified, Sniper and Less Lethal and Rope Master and instructor for High Angle Team as well rappel instructor for TTPOA.

Terms used in episode:

               “Green Light”: Order giving by the Chief of Police authorizing operators to use deadly force to eliminate the threat.

Weapons used by the suspect:

               Jennings JA-9 9mm handgun

               Taurus Judge .45 caliber handgun

               Savage Model 111 6.5/284   Norma with Redfield scope

               Ruger 10/22 with Nikon scope

               Stevens Model 320 Security 12 gauge pump

               Pipe Bombs

“Trust God, Clean House, Serve Others”

 The Assist the Officer Foundation sits down with an incredibly accomplished and unique individual today in Sgt. Andre Taylor of Dallas SWAT.

As Dre grew up in the South side of Chicago, he regularly witnessed acts of violence but also witnessed an incredible community and family as his mother was ever present in his upbringing ensuring he didn’t fall prey to the many negative lifestyles of the streets that could lead to him in jail or dead.

Life laid itself out for Andre as he found himself moving to Dallas Texas to join the Police force in 1999 and began serving the City of Dallas. He joined the Dallas SWAT team in 2003 and trained under some of the toughest SWAT trainers who exposed him to a new level of police work . Andre experienced several critical incidents during his time in SWAT and one that sticks out more than others is an incident that’s familiar to this show. The hostage rescue on Martel still haunts everyone that was a part of that operation.

After leaving SWAT he joined the Dallas Mounted Unit and learned the tools to have a partner, Tommy, that weighed over 1500 lbs. and quickly understood the power and beauty of horses and saw the importance of community policing.

Andre Taylor returned to Dallas SWAT years later and found himself in a new role as the leader and not the operator, so he had to learn to develop tools for his new role as being a boss to high performing and highly trained operators.

Dre has always been in control of his life and his own destiny however in January of 2023 he looked into the mirror and did not like what he saw and realized he could not control an aspect of his life. As he contemplated his new direction, he typed out on email that would change his life, both personally and professionally, forever as he knew once he hit the send button everything would change.

Once he hit send and the first step in climbing a new mountain was taken and now Dre found himself in a completely new world as he had to ask for help to regain control of his life.

The listener will have to finish this story and hear Andre’s new challenge in life and career as he found a new purpose and “why”.  We are hoping Dre finds that needed time now to work on his old cars and roller skate.

ATO Family you are never alone in this life…….Please always reach out.

Critical incident:

Infant hostage on 5800 Martel, Dallas, Texas on 6/20/2007

Acronyms/Phrases:

APC- Armored personnel carrier

#SWAT

#Chicago

12 Step AA Programs: 12 Steps to Recovery for Addiction (americanaddictioncenters.org)

This is #4 in our revisited series as we talk about the circumstances regarding “Riggs” episode as he speaks extremely candidly and open as we tackle the difficult subject of suicide. This is an epidemic in the first responder community and conversations like these can never cease.

You are enough and people are in your life for a reason…..

This show will never shy away from having the difficult conversations. Thriving mental and physical health is paramount and crucial to survival and sadly, if not addressed, it could lead to a life ending.

First responders are three times more likely to die by suicide than the from the job that they do.

These numbers don’t include the suicide attempts or suicidal ideation of first responders that are suffering and struggling in silence. There are a lot of descriptors that officers apply to themselves such as Fearful, Shame, Unworthy, Useless, Despair and Apathy to Life to name a few.

These are all symptoms of depression, which is the ultimate liar.

It will tell you that you are a failure when you have actually succeeded.

It will make you feel like a burden to others.

It will make you feel that others will be better off without you in life.

It will tell you that you are alone.

Reality:

People do count on you.

Others do love and respect you.

These people will no longer have you there to help them, make them laugh, call you when they are struggling, and no longer to tell you they love you.

You are worth so much to so many.

Today’s episode will pull back the curtain on a first responder that was enveloped by the darkness and lost all hope and wished to leave this world and the people that call him a husband, a father, a sibling, a colleague, and a friend.

This is someone who went to the edge of the cliff and had one foot off and then was rescued by a voice to pull him back into this world and remind him that it was not his time and he had much more to give this world.

This guest could be your husband, wife, child, friend, coworker, partner on a call or your boss. The darkness is real and can come for us all at any time in our life and sadly there are many who do not hear that voice that calls them from that cliff.

If are struggling, there is help!:

Suicide Awareness (smore.com)

Call 988 suicide hotline

COPLINE: 1-800-COPLINE

#suicideawareness

#suicideprevention

#mentalhealthmatters

#reachout

#mentalhealth

#trauma

This is #5 in our Revisited series as we discuss the Penton episode. This episode was one of the most emotional stories we have released. This is a behind the scenes on how the show idea came about and on the hosts personal takes on this shows impact.

"Always come home".

This is the story of a young Dallas Officer who had ambitions of fighting crime, serving the city and starting a new family. Mitchell Penton embraced the Northeast Patrol Division’s fast pace and settled in with several other young officers that became a blue family.  Mitchell loved being a cop….was a loyal son, a devoted father, and husband and everyone in his life looked to the future to travel with him on this journey.

But life being what it is - a series of intersecting lives and incidents, out of anyone's control changed all of that on February 13th, 2021, on an icy morning in Dallas, Texas. Officer Penton was struck and killed by a drunk driver as he worked an accident scene on North Central Expressway and Walnut Hill.

He left behind an expectant wife, stepson, amazing parents and a brother and sister.

Today we are hearing from his parents, Tim and Kathy, as they give a peek into who Mitchell Penton was as a child, a soccer player, a goofy and fun-loving kid, to his decision to serve as an Officer.

They take us on their own journey from the night of February 13th, 2021, to the conclusion of a  trial in May of 2023.

 This story is a powerful reminder of the fleeting nature of life and of the importance of cherishing our moments.

It encourages us to live in the present, to appreciate the people and experiences around us, and to make the most of the time we have.

Please welcome the Penton family to the ATO stage.

Critical Incident:

February 13, 2021:

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

This is a behind the scenes peek at the Great Alan Holmes episode as he was our shows first Detective from the Crimes Against Persons Division. Since the show we have received so much great feedback and made new connections from people that the episode resonated with them for different reasons.

”Show me the survivor, I’ll show you the suspect “

IN 1887 SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE INTRODUCED THE WORLDS GREATEST DETECTIVE IN SHERLOCK HOLMES. HOLMES WAS KNOWN FOR HIS USE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE, DEDUCTIVE REASONING THAT BORDERS ON THE FANTASTIC. THE CITY OF DALLAS HAS THEIR VERY OWN DETECTIVE HOLMES….ALAN HOLMES.

GROWING UP IN BROOKLYN NEW YORK, COMING FROM A FIRST RESPONDER FAMILY, ALAN MOVED TO DALLAS TEXAS TO EMBARK ON HIS OWN FIRST RESPONDER CAREER. AFTER COMPLETING THE ACADEMY ALAN WAS ASSIGNED TO THE NORTHEAST DIVISION OF DALLAS AND HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AS HE ENGAGED IN A STYLE OF AGGRESSIVE PROACTIVE STYLE OF POLICING.

HOWEVER, IN 2015 ALAN FOUND HIS TRUE CALLING AS HE JOINED THE DALLAS PD SEXUAL ASSAULT UNIT. THIS UNIT INVESTIGATES SOME OF THE MOST HORRIFIC CRIMES AS THEY HUNT DOWN TRUE PREDATORS IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

ALAN HAS INVESTIGATED OVER 50 SERIAL RAPISTS IN HIS TIME WITH THE SEX ASSAULT UNIT IN DALLAS.

DETECTIVE HOLMES HAS SPECIALIZED TRAINING AND EXPERTISE IN NEURO-BIOLOGY OF TRAUMA, AND SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE AND INVESTIGATIONS.

IN 2017 DETECTIVE HOLMES PUT HIS ART DEGREE AND FORMAL FORENSIC ART TRAINING TO WORK AS THE FORENSIC SKETCH ARTIST FOR DALLAS PD AND LOCAL AGENCIES.

DETECTIVE HOLMES IS TRULY ONE OF DALLAS PD’S FINEST AND PROMOTED TO A SERGEANT ON MAY 24TH.

CONGRATULATIONS ALAN HOLMES!

WHEN IT COMES TO SOLVING CRIMES….IT IS ELEMENTARY WATSON

“The Rolodex”

ATO Family please welcome one of our blue family members that has traveled over 800 miles to take the stage for the listeners.

Nearly a year ago the ATO received a heartfelt message of gratitude, and it formed a new friendship many states away. This rollercoaster of a story will touch on many topics and have many emotions but when we get to the “Never Give Up on You” exit music the listener will be reminded that Police work is the same everywhere, the trauma is the same everywhere and even trained first responders need help to survive.

In July of 2022 an incident occurred that changed the direction of this officer’s life but also reminded him of very old wounds that existed from the life of being in law enforcement for over two decades. The cumulative trauma officers endure daily can be as damaging as a rifle being leveled at you during a traffic stop and if, untreated, can weigh on you and become too much.

The weight of the badge is heavy not only for the one that wears it but also the ones they go home to. We have seen the weight ruin relationships with family and friends and we have also seen that NO ONE is immune to the effects of this weight.

The message today will be clear: YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

Here to present this story today is Joe, Kent, and the Great Dallas SWAT Operator Steve Claggett.

Todays guest is the husband to his beautiful wife Jen, father to Chloe and Hailee, and a true public servant to the state of Iowa.

Special Shout Out to Cedar Rapids Blair Klostermann as she and Matt recently won their Department’s Medal of Valor Award.

 Matt Jenatscheck the ATO stage is yours to tell us about the “Rolodex”.

Critical Incidents:

 The brutal murder of Lynnsey Donald on April 21, 2015. The suspect attacked her, as her 7-year child watched, and stabbed her to death in a parking lot. The suspect received life in prison with no parole.

Officer involved shooting in July 2022 in Cedar Rapids Iowa.

Acronyms used:

EMDR- Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing

Shelby Houston

In Memory of Richard Houston

On December 3rd, 2021, Richard Houston, a 21-year Mesquite PD veteran, answered a domestic disturbance call and tragic events unfolded and he did not make it home that night.

Being a family member or a friend of a first responder can be very rewarding as you have a front row seat of a true servant, a role model, and a hero. However tragedy can watch from afar and show up and cause a loved to receive a life changing phone call that will shape everyone’s future.

Richard was a dedicated husband, incredible father to his children and a dedicated peace officer that left this world too soon.  Before he responded to that call and left this world he sent his daughter, Shelby, a sweet and reassuring text that he and her mom will aways have her back.

At her father’s funeral she gave a breathtaking eulogy that inspired so many as it truly showed the beautiful side of humanity as Shelby spoke of forgiveness. This is her story of resiliency, faith and the incredible journey she is now a part of.

The ATO is honored to sit down with this amazing young woman as she tells her story of her new “Why” in life and how she honors her father. Here to help tell this story we also are honored to welcome on the Honorable Judge Rainey Webb and her husband, former Dallas SWAT member Chris Webb.

“If you are serious about your dream, surround yourself with people who love you well” -Bob Goff

 Mesquite Police Officer Richard Houston Badge #821

End of Watch December 3rd,2021

www.shelbyhouston.org

WWW.BOBGOFF.COM