Cops and Writers Podcast

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On today’s show I will be chatting with one of my former colleagues and friend, Lt. William Walsh! 

Lieutenant Walsh joined the Milwaukee Police Department in 1993. He started in patrol and worked in one of the busiest and most dangerous districts in the city, and perhaps the country! During his distinguished twenty-seven-year career, he went on promoted to sergeant being a supervisor for the tactical enforcement unit (SWAT), an instructor at the police academy, an investigator in the internal affairs division (IAD), and then promoted again to lieutenant where he finished his career supervising the sergeants and police officers at district five late shift, where he began his police career. 

The good lieutenant is now teaching at Blackhawk Technical College and writing novels.

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      Will growing up in Milwaukee and then later joining the Marines.

·      How and why, he joined the Milwaukee Police Department. 

·      How friends, family, and the community reacted to him becoming a Milwaukee Police Officer.

·      His beginnings in the department working late shift in one of the busiest and most dangerous districts in the city/country.

·      Him being promoted to sergeant and immediately being assigned to the tactical enforcement unit (SWAT) in an attempt to balance racial inequality.

·      Common misconceptions associated with how SWAT officers are portrayed on TV, in movies, and in books.

·      Reluctantly being assigned to the internal affairs division (IAD) and the problems and challenges that assignment posed.

·      Promoting to lieutenant and commanding the late shift at District Five where his career started!

·      Retirement and his new teaching career and writing novels.

Connect with Lt. Walsh on LinkedIn.
Check out his debut novel, Fallen Angels.

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

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon. 

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

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On today’s show, we will travel to Tennessee! My special returning guest is none other than the totally awesome Honorée Corder! 

Honorée is an executive and strategic book and publishing coach, TEDx speaker, and the author of over 60 books, including There Is No Such Thing As Writers Block: You Can Unlock Your Inner Prolific Writer. Additionally, she is co-creator of The Miracle Morning book series with Hal Elrod. Honorée passionately helps business professionals and entrepreneurs write, publish, and monetize their books, boost their brands, and get much more business!

This show is for the writers out there. I think you are going to want to take notes. There is a lot of great information in today’s show.

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      Where Honoree got the inspiration/idea for her latest book, There Is No Such Thing As Writer’s Block.

·      Why she wrote this book. 

·      Professional writers just write.

·      What is a professional writer?

·      What is really blocking us and how to overcome this?

·      Become the writer you’ve always known you could become.

·      Create a new vision.

·      The importance of self-talk.

·      Clear the decks! Set the writing stage!

·      The importance of sleep, eating the right food, and exercise for writers.

·      Discipline equals freedom!

Learn more about Honoree and her books on her website.

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

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon. 

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Send us a text

On today’s show, we cross the pond to the birthplace of my parents, Ireland, where we chat with returning guest and my favorite Garda, Marie O’Halloran. 

Casey King is the crime-writing alter-ego of crime fighter, Marie O’Halloran. She has spent over two decades as a member of the Irish Police Force, also known as the An Garda Síochána, and has a Diploma in Policing Studies. Throughout her career, she has worked on various gangland operations, and drug investigations and had roles as exhibits officer, community liaison officer, and Traveler liaison officer.

Marie O’Halloran is represented by London agent, Kate Nash, of Kate Nash Literary Agency. Casey was recently listed in The Bookseller Magazine's Agent Hotlist for the London Book Fair. As a playwright, Casey co-wrote the commercially staged play Catching the Train, and most recently had one of her plays long-listed in the 2019 Wexford Literary Festival's Billy Roche International Short Play Award. 

Her debut thriller novel, Deceit was released on September 21st and is burning up the charts and the follow-up to this book, Exposed is set for release on December 14th!

In today’s episode, we discuss:

·      How Marie got involved in law enforcement.

·      Becoming an Irish police officer and the training and equipment. 

·      Her career path in the An Garda Síochána.

·      How she juggled being a mom and wife while working different hours and holidays.

·      Her beginnings in writing, including the therapeutic effects of writing poetry.

·      Book one of the Dublin Thriller Book series, Deceit.

·      Her writing process.

·      Marie’s future writing projects.

Check out Marie's Amazon Author Page!
Come visit Marie on her Facebook page.
Check out Marie on Twitter and Linkendon.

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

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon. 

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Send us a text

You never know who you are going to bump into at a cigar lounge, and this held true for me about a month ago. I was in one of my favorite cigar lounges in Madison, Wisconsin and I bumped into William Walsh. Will, is a retired City of Milwaukee Police Lieutenant whom I had the pleasure of working with on the street for the first six years of my career. 

Lieutenant Walsh is now Professor Walsh and teaches criminology at Blackhawk Technical College in Janesville, Wisconsin. When he asked if I would be interested in chatting with his class, I jumped at the opportunity!

So, on Wednesday, September 20th, I found myself in his classroom with the future of law enforcement staring at me. All I got to say is, they were awesome!

I gave them some tips on how to get hired, stay employed, and enjoy the best job that is out there, being a cop. I hope I did okay.

Here are some things we discussed:

·      How I got interested in being a cop.

·      My internship when I was in college with the Milwaukee Co. Sheriff’s Department.

·      My jobs as a 24-hour restaurant manager, car salesperson, and bartender before I was a cop, and how they prepared me for my future profession.

·      The choices we make before we get hired, and after, can and will have consequences, sometimes dire.

·      Physical fitness and the job.

·      How to maintain your physical and mental health while being a cop.

·      How you no longer have a private life when you raise your right hand and take an oath.

·      You can choose your friends, but not your family.

·      Booze, broads, and social media. How not to get fired.

·      Being a cop is the best job ever!

·      Be of service and the rewards that come from this.

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

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon. 

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Send us a text

On today’s show, I will chat with retired Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Alba Yates. 

In her 25-year career with the L.A. Sheriff’s, she worked in the jail, street patrol, and the courts as a bailiff, and public information officer (P.I.O.).

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      Her childhood memories in Cuba.

·      How she got interested in law enforcement.

·      Being a single mother with a one-year-old son and being a recruit in the sheriff’s academy.

·      How she got interested in law enforcement.

·      Working in the jail.

·      Working on the street, including West Hollywood.

·      Her interest in being in showbusiness.

·      Being the sheriff’s P.I.O. and how she dealt with the press.

·      Dating on the job with her now husband, Cliff Yates.

·      Life after retirement and her children becoming sheriff deputies.

Check out my interview with Cliff Yates!https://www.buzzsprout.com/1595839/10304614

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

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon. 

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Send us a text

Today’s show is going to be a wee bit different. My good friend and fellow podcaster Vic Ferrari had me on his show, NYPD Thorough The Looking Glass a while ago and today's show is a special rebroadcast of that episode. 

So, today I’m in the hot seat. I hope you enjoy this special episode with Vic Ferrari interviewing me.

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      Growing up on the Southside of Chicago and the influences that got me interested in a job as a cop. 

·      My internship with the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department while I was in college.

·      My path to becoming a Milwaukee Police Officer.

·      The different positions I held on MPD as a copper and sergeant.

·      Being in charge of special units, including undercover operations. 

·      Some of the most stressful events on the job.

·      Post-retirement for me, including writing novels, consulting, public speaking, and podcasting.

Visit Vic's Amazon page to find his books!
Check out Vic on Instagram!, Twitter, and Facebook!

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

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon. 

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Send us a text

Today’s show is for those of you authors who are using TikTok and want to up their game, or those of you who are thinking about using TikTok to promote their books. 

So, I brought on two experts who continue to see success using TikTok. Bestselling Author and Indie Author Superstar Cecelia Mecca and from the Self-Publishing Formula, Self-Publishing Launchpad, and the Self-Publishing Show Podcast, James Blatch. 

Cecelia and James have their fingers on the pulse of indie publishing and know what works and doesn’t work for marketing on social media, especially TikTok. 

This is a great conversation that is packed with useful information for those of you who want to sell more books using TikTok! I highly suggest you get your pen and paper out for this one and take notes.

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      Cecelia and James’ highly successful author careers. 

·      Their upcoming TikTok presentation they will be giving at 20Books Vegas this November.

·      Overview of TikTok and the benefits for authors trying to get exposure.

·      The advantages and disadvantages of using TikTok to promote your author business. 

·      How often, and what time of day is best to post a TikTok video?

·      Are hashtags still relevant?

·      Where they get their ideas for their videos.

·      The future of Artificial Intelligence in making TikTok videos.

Learn more about Cecelia Mecca and her books at her website.
Learn more about James Blatch and his books at his website.

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

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon. 

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Send us a text

On today’s show we are going into the courtroom with my special guest, Bestselling Author and His Honor, Judge Martin Clark.

A retired circuit court judge from Patrick County, Virginia, Martin is a cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Davidson College and attended law school at the University of Virginia. When he was appointed to the bench in 1992 at age thirty-two, he became one of the youngest judges in the commonwealth's history. During his time on the bench, he presided over everything from homicides to reckless driving. 

Besides being a retired judge, Martin Clark is a bestselling author that Entertainment Weekly said, “hands down, our finest legal-thriller writer.” The New York Times stated he is “the thinking man’s John Grisham.” 

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      When Martin developed his interest in the law. 

·      His father’s influence on his career in law.

·      Why he was a judge for almost thirty years.

·      Some of the more interesting or bizarre cases he presided over. 

·      Common errors in T.V. or Movies regarding judges and legal proceedings.

·      How he persisted for over 20 years of rejection letters and finally landed a big-time publishing deal.

·      His upcoming novel, The Plinko Bounce.

·      His advice to legal-thriller writers.

Learn more about Martin and his books on his website.

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

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon. 

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Send us a text

It is my honor and privilege to have Forensic Anthropologist and #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Dr. Kathy Reichs on the show.

For years Dr. Reichs consulted with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in North Carolina, and continues to do so in the province of Québec. Dr. Reichs has traveled to Rwanda to testify at the UN Tribunal on Genocide and helped exhume a mass grave in Guatemala. As part of her work at JPAC, she aided in the identification of war dead from World War II, Korea, and Southeast Asia. Dr. Reichs also assisted with identifying remains found at ground zero of the World Trade Center following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
 
 Dr. Reichs is one of only 100 forensic anthropologists ever certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology. She served on the Board of Directors and as Vice President of both the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the American Board of Forensic Anthropology and is currently a member of the National Police Service Advisory Council in Canada. She is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

Kathy Reichs’s first novel Déjà Dead, catapulted her to fame when it became a New York Times bestseller and won the 1997 Ellis Award for Best First Novel.

Dr. Reichs is also a producer and writer of the hit Fox TV series, Bones, which is based on her work and her novels.

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      How old Kathy was one she wrote her first novel. 

·      How Kathy got interested in forensic anthropology.

·      Her first criminal case working as a forensic anthropologist.

·      The job of forensic anthropologist and when they were called into a crime scene. 

·      How often she went out into the field on a case. 

·      How she got her first deal with a publisher.

·      Her writing method for a mystery/thriller.

·      How the hit television show Bones happened and her being a producer/writer on the show.

Learn more about Dr. Reichs and her books on her website.

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

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon. 

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Send us a text

Today on the show, we are going to the land of haggis, kilts, bagpipes, delicious ale, and the best James Bond, Sean Connery. Yes, we are going to Scotland, where we welcome back returning guest: best-selling indie superstar Author Jodi Burnett.

We join Jodi in Scotland, where she is on a solo writer’s retreat. Jodi is doing research for an upcoming novel and has completely immersed herself in the location getting the words in and soaking up the culture. 

If you have ever thought of doing your own writers' retreat, you don’t want to miss this episode.

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      How and why, Jodi started writing. 

·      Jodi’s entrepreneurial spirit.

·      Why she is an indie author and the benefits it has paid her.

·      Jodi’s rise in the publishing world and her becoming a best-selling author. 

·      How Mark Dawson’s SPF Courses catapulted her career as a writer. 

·      The benefits of a solo writer’s retreat.

·      Jodi shares her work schedule with us on her retreat.

·      The good and the unpleasant surprises from her trip.

Please visit Jodi at her website to learn more about her and her books.

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

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon. 

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

Support the show