Cops and Writers Podcast

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On today’s episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, we are going into the courtroom with Attorney and Author Mark Bruce. 

California native Mark Bruce attended Humboldt State University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Journalism. He then attended UC Berkeley Law School, where he graduated with his jurist doctorate. 

While attending UC Berkeley, he was a finalist in an oral advocacy competition where he appeared before Justice Scalia, who told him. “I like you because you’re not a wimp.”

Attorney Bruce has been a lawyer for 38 years, 18 as a public defender. Presently, he works for Estelle & Kennedy doing criminal and family law.

In 2018, he won the Black Orchid Novella Award and has appeared four times in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, including the May 2023 Cover Short Story. 

In today’s episode, we discuss:

·      His education in journalism and his shift to attend UC Berkeley law School. 

·      His encounter with Supreme Court Justice Scalia as a law student.

·      38 years as an attorney, 18 as a public defender. 

·      Why is he a defense attorney?

·      One of his most memorable cases as a defense attorney and what it meant to him personally.

·      Winning the 2018 Black Orchid Novella Award and appearing 4 times in the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, including the May 2023 Cover Short Story.

·      Why Perry Mason was a terrible lawyer.

·      Has he ever refused to defend a client? Why?

·      How he explains the fact that he defends guilty criminals.

Visit Mark at his website to learn more about him and his work.

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Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
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On today’s episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, we are going to the greater Cleveland area to chat with Bestselling Author, Drummer, and former Police Chief Rick Porrello.

Rick’s first career was as a jazz drummer. At the age of 18, he got his first big break when he started touring internationally with Sammy Davis, Jr. Despite a skyrocketing music career, Rick traded his sticks for a badge. What followed was a 33-year career as a police officer in Greater Cleveland, with the last ten of those years as chief of police.

As an organized crime historian, Rick Porrello’s perspective is an intriguing one. He began writing his first book during family research into the murders of his grandfather and three uncles, all of whom, he learned, were mob leaders killed in Prohibition-era violence. The Rise and Fall of the Cleveland Mafia quickly became a regional favorite.

His second book caught Hollywood’s eye before it was published. Hollywood snapped up To Kill the Irishman—the War that Crippled the Mafia and turned it into the movie Kill the Irishman, starring Ray Stevenson, Vincent D’Onofrio, Christopher Walken, and Val Kilmer.

Please enjoy this wide-ranging conversation where we talk about everything from being on tour with Sammy Davis Jr, becoming a police officer and eventually becoming the chief of police, researching his family’s organized crime roots, to writing bestselling books that become movies. 

In today’s episode, we discuss:

·      Playing the drums for Sammy Davis Jr. 

·      Why Rick became a police officer and his career trajectory.

·      How and why, he became a police chief. 

·      Why are we, as a culture, so fascinated with organized crime?

·      Omerta. What it is and what it means in mob culture.

·      His father’s pushback when writing the book, “The Rise and Fall of the Cleveland Mafia Corn Sugar and Blood.”.

·      Elliot Ness and The Untouchables cleaning up police corruption in Cleveland.

·      The book, “Kill the Irishman.” The story of Cleveland Mob Boss Danny Greene. Why he wrote this book and how it became a major motion picture.

Visit Rick Porrello's website for links to his books. 

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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a female detective in the mean streets of New York City? Today’s guest, Marique Bartoldus, is here to tell us all about it. She’s a retired 20-year veteran of the NYPD and an author! 

Marique attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice where she graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Police Science. Shortly after graduating, she was sworn into the NYPD, and after six months of training in the Police Academy, was assigned to Transit District 20. After a year, she was reassigned to Patrol Borough Queens South's 105th Precinct. She was assigned to multiple units within the Precinct including Patrol, Conditions, SNEU, Anti-Crime, and Field Intelligence, then left the 105th Precinct and became one of the first detectives assigned to the Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad, where she investigated dog fighting and animal cruelty complaints throughout New York City. She returned to the 105th Precinct where she ended her career assigned to the Intelligence Bureau, investigating illegal firearm and narcotics sales and possession. She effected 400 arrests and executed hundreds of search warrants during her distinguished twenty-year career. 

Marique recently published Twenty and Out: A Compilation of Chaos Experienced while serving 20 years in the New York City Police Department, and I can’t recommend this book enough.  

Please enjoy this entertaining and honest conversation about being a big-city detective, through the eyes of someone who actually did the job. 

In today’s episode, we discuss:

·      The universal cop slang of Felonious Mopery.

·      Her father being an NYPD homicide detective and growing up in a cop house.

·      Coming to the NYPD a short time after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. 

·      Working in the subway during a major power blackout.

·      Working undercover, posing as a prostitute.

·      Her promotion to the rank of detective.

·      Being a cop on New Year’s Eve working in Times Square.

·      Marique’s author career, including her debut book, Twenty and Out: A Compilation of Chaos Experienced while serving 20 years in the New York City Police Department

Check out Marique's Amazon Author Page.

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Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website. 

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On Today’s show, we will chat with Award-Winning Author, Green Beret, and Former Secret Service Agent Steve Stratton!

Steve joined the Army in 1973 at the age of 19. His first assignment – the White House Communications Agency supporting the President, Vice President and Secretary of State. The next four and a half years included trips to Russia, Africa, South America, the Pacific and all over the US. 

The transition to Secret Service was an easy move and Steve’s role changed to that of Technical Security Specialist. Working at the White House when not on travel his more interesting tasks included managing suspicious package incidents, the Carter-Sadat-Begin peace accord meetings, and support for candidates during the 1980 Presidential Campaign.

After a job change to take on a security role with DOE as a contractor, Steve also earned his Green Beret as a member of the National Guard 20th Special Forces. From 1986 until his retirement in 2000 Steve and his teams supported counter-drug missions in the US, Central and South America.

Steve’s contractor career includes programs at the FBI, the Pentagon, Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, and US SOF commands.

We also talk about Steve’s newest book, Shadow Sanction. 

Please enjoy this amazing conversation with a guy who has been there and has done that. And yes, we do discuss the recent assassination attempt on President Trump and our mess of a withdrawal from Afghanistan. 

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      Protecting President Ford while skiing, when he didn’t know how to ski.

·      Why Steve Joined the Army and how his career progressed to Special Forces and earning the Green Beret.

·      The difference between Special Forces (Green Berets), Ranger, Ranger Battalion, SEALS, Marine Force Recon, Delta Force, and Air Force PJ’s. 

·      The biggest misconceptions regarding S.F. you see in movies and books.

·      With your experience, what is your opinion on our withdrawal from Afghanistan?

·      Steve’s path to becoming a Secret Service Agent.

·      Looking at the recent assignation attempt on President Trump, what were the glaring errors? How can they be fixed?

·      Steve’s Award-Winning Author career.

Check out Steve's website to learn more about him and his books!
https://x.com/strattonbooksTwitter 
https://instagram.com/stevestrattonusa – Instagram https://facebook.com/stevestrattonusa - Facebook 

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!
Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website. 

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Welcome everybody! On Today’s show we are going to jail with Author and Jail Psychiatrist Dr. Joseph Baskin. 

Joseph H Baskin is a psychiatrist in Cleveland, Ohio, where he was Born and raised.

After graduating medical school at The Ohio State University, he completed a surgical internship in Chicago.  Seeking a way to stab at patients without the use of a scalpel, he switched to psychiatry, training in The Harvard South Shore Program in Brockton, Massachusetts.

Additional fellowships in the specialties of psychodynamic psychotherapy (Freudian-based without the sofa) and forensic psychiatry (the interface between the law and mental health) followed. His unique background has fostered an ability to work with varied populations, including incarcerated folks both in prison and in jails where the level of mental illness is far greater than the general population.

Dr. Baskin’s newest book, Burning River is his first in the Horror/Supernatural genre.

Please enjoy this super informative conversation where we dig into the minds of criminals and not-so-criminal folks.

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      Joseph’s beginnings in medicine and how he became a physiatrist in prisons and jails.

·      The concept of ‘re-parenting’ and how it helps jail inmates. 

·      Explaining ‘executive function.’

·      PTSD and helping military veterans overcome mental challenges.

·      Throwing pills at patients, the overprescribing of psych medications.

·      Using de-escalation techniques in the jail/prison setting when dealing with inmates.

·      Can people change for the better? 

·      Dr. Baskin’s wide variety of books and his writing process.

Please visit Dr. Baskin's latest book, Burning River!

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!
Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website. 

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Welcome everybody! Today’s show is for you writers out there! No matter if you are a bestselling author with a huge backlist or you are just kicking around the idea of writing a book, today's show will have huge value to you!

My guest on the show today is Clay Stafford! This guy has been in the entertainment business since he was 10 years old being discovered as a singer/actor child protégé in rural Appalachia. Did I mention he became a published author at age 10 and started a film production company at age 16?

Clay is an award-winning author, screenwriter, actor, and filmmaker. He has sold over four million books that are available in 16 languages and has seen his film work distributed internationally in over 14 languages.

Clay is the founder and operator of the acclaimed mystery/thriller writer's conference, Killer Nashville, which I will attend this year from August 22-25. If you’re going to be attending, come say howdy and I will buy you a drink at the open bar

Please enjoy this informative and inspirational conversation with this one-of-a-kind entertainer. 

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      Clay being discovered at age 10 and being a child actor.

·      The life, or lack of, of a child actor.

·      Being a published author at age 10.

·      Having mentors as a young actor, including Alan Alda, and hanging out on the set of MASH.

·      The importance of Being a risk taker in the entertainment biz.

·      How he sold over four million books and what sells books today. 

·      Conversations with David Hasselhoff.

·      How can we prepare ourselves for a career as a writer?

·      Hosting Killer Nashville, who it is for, and how to get the most out of it as an attendee.

Visit Clay's website!
Learn more about Killer Nashville!

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!
Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website. 

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Welcome back everyone to the conclusion of my two-part interview with retired City of Miami Police Lieutenant and Master Dog Trainer Garret Wing.

Garret Wing grew up in a law enforcement family. His father, mother, stepmother, and stepfather were all city of Miami cops. His father and stepmother were K9 officers. It makes sense that Garret entered the police academy at the tender age of nineteen. 

Garret was assigned a K9 after only two years on patrol and quickly rose through the ranks of the police department promoting to lieutenant and worked a variety of highly sought-after specialty units. 

After eighteen and a half years, Garret did something unheard of for most cops in his position. He left the police department and went into business for himself. 

Taking this leap of faith and following his passion for training dogs, he founded American Standard Dog Training and DIY K9. He has now devoted his life to training civilian dogs and has turned this passion into a very successful seven-figure business!

Please enjoy this entertaining and informative interview with a true entrepreneur. 

In today’s episode, we discuss:

·      Police K9s and the difference between patrol, bomb, duel purpose, narcotics, firearm dog, single purpose dog, money dogs, and missing person dogs.

·      Training police dogs.

·      Pit Bulls and other banned dogs.

·      One or two dogs in a home. What’s best for the dog and owner?

·      Clickers, treats, regular and premium treats, shock collar or E collar, pincher choker collar. When are these appropriate for training dogs?

·      How to stop a dog fight or dog attacking a human? 

·      What advice would you give someone who wants to be a K9 cop?

·      Garret’s huge media presence! How he built it and maintains it?

 Check out Garret's website to learn more about him and his businesses.

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!
Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website. 

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Welcome everyone to part one of my two-part interview with retired City of Miami Police Lieutenant and Master Dog Trainer Garret Wing.

Garret Wing grew up in a law enforcement family. His father, mother, stepmother, and stepfather were all city of Miami cops. His father and stepmother were K9 officers. It makes sense that Garret wound up entering the police academy at the tender age of nineteen. 
 
Garret was assigned a K9 after only two years on patrol and quickly rose through the ranks of the police department promoting to lieutenant and worked a variety of highly sought-after specialty units. 

After eighteen and a half years, Garret did something unheard of for most cops in his position. He left the police department and went into business for himself. 

Taking this leap of faith and following his passion for training dogs, he founded American Standard Dog Training and DIY K9. He has now devoted his life to training civilian dogs and has turned this passion into a very successful seven-figure business!

Please enjoy this entertaining and informative interview with a true entrepreneur. 

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      Interviewing his father on his podcast.

·      K9’s role in the United States Secret Service.

·      Doing the unthinkable, leaving a secure job in the police department after 18 ½ years to pursue his dream job.

·      Growing up with a family of cops and police dogs in the house.

·      Garret’s career path with the City of Miami Police Department.

·      Garret taking his first bite with the sleeve when he was eight years old.

·      What it is really like to wear the bite suit and be chased and bitten by a police dog.

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Check out Garret's website to learn more about him and his businesses.

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!
Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website. 

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Welcome everyone to this very special episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast. As most of you listening to my show are cops, first responders, or someone who writes stories about first responders, I thought this episode would be extremely useful to you all. We all have dealt with, or are still dealing with, a high volume of death. Sometimes we don’t deal with it at all. But I guarantee, it will come back to haunt us. 

So today on the show I have a very special guest, Dr. BJ Miller.

Dr. Miller was the executive director of San Francisco's Zen Hospice Project from 2011 to 2016. He's the co-author, with Shoshana Berger, of the book "A Beginner's Guide To The End: Practical Advice For Living Life And Facing Death." Dr. Miller is also known for his 2015 TED Talk, "What Really Matters at the End of Life". Miller has been on the teaching faculty at UCSF School of Medicine since 2007. 

Dr. Miller is no stranger to death, coming very close to himself by being electrocuted with 11,000 volts that resulted in several months in a burn unit, and eventually losing both legs and his left arm. 

Dr. Miller is also the co-founder of Mettle Health, an organization that provides personalized, holistic consultations for any patient or caregiver who needs help navigating the practical, emotional, and existential issues that come with serious illness and disability.

Dr. Miller is one of the most inspirational and knowledgeable persons I have ever spoken to regarding death, and life.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

·      Clinton Eastwood quote from the movie, The Outlaw Josey Wales. “Death is easy for us; it’s living that’s tough.”

·      My first time hearing Dr. Miller on the Tim Ferriss show back in 2016.

·      Experiences with ghosts or the presence of a person after their death.

·      The beauty of the mundane of death.

·      Dr. Miller’s unexplainable synchronicity with his patients.

·      The difference between palliative care, end-of-life care, and hospice.

·      When is it time to stop treatment and what do you do when a loved one pushes back against that?

·      Visions or conversations with dead relatives? Sebastian Younger’s new book, In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife on the James Altucher podcast.

·      Assisted suicide or assisted dying.

·      The role of child life specialists when helping children with death.

·      Regrets at the end of life. 
       
         The Netflix documentary featuring Dr. Miller, End Game.

Visit BJ at Mettle Health.
Watch BJ's TedTalk.

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My guest today is a Swiss Army Knife of law enforcement experience. 

Mike Roche has over four decades of experience starting as a street cop, detective, and special agent for the ATF and the U.S. Secret Service. Mike also served as an adjunct professor teaching threat Assessments of Physical Structures and Behavioral Threat Assessments of Mass Killers. 

Mike shares his vast experience with us today and gives us valuable insights into law enforcement, especially his time with the U.S. Secret Service.

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      How Mike became interested in law enforcement and why he choose to spend the bulk of his career with the U.S. Secret Service.

·      What it was really like working a protective detail with U.S. Secret Service.

·      How he and other members of the U.S. Secret Service investigated threats against the President of the United States.

·      How to identify potential mass killers in the workplace and school.

·      The role that the U.S. Secret Service plays in the detection and recovery of counterfeit currency. 

 All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Visit Mike Roche's website!

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