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Today's show takes us into the "real" Chicago P.D. with retired Detective Lieutenant Richard Rybicki!

The good lieutenant served for over 29 years on the Chicago Police Department where he worked as a Patrol Officer, Tactical Officer, Gang Crimes Specialist, Detective, Patrol Sergeant, Detective Sergeant, Patrol Lieutenant, and Detective Lieutenant. His last assignment was as the Lieutenant/commanding officer of the Area Three Homicide/Sex/Gang Crimes unit.

If you want to know how the dedicated men and women of the Chicago Police Department actually solve crimes and what lingo and culture are specific to the Chicago P.D., this episode is for you! 

During this episode you will learn:

• What it was like to be a rookie Chicago Cop back in the late 1970s.
• What equipment was issued to a rookie way back then.
• The rank structure for the Chicago Police Department.
• How homicides are investigated in Chicago. 
• Lingo and culture that is used in the Chicago Police Department.

All of this and more on today's episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast!

Visit Richard's author page on Amazon.
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Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website.
If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.
Come join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook group

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

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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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My guest on today’s show is best-selling author, and retired Detective David Putnam!

During his law enforcement career, “Deputy Dave” Putnam worked primarily in California on teams for Patrol, Investigations, SWAT, Narcotics (street level and majors), Violent Crimes, Criminal Intelligence, Internal Affairs, and the Detective Bureau.

He rounded out his law enforcement career with a few years in the Hawaiian Islands as a Special Agent–part of a real-life “Hawaii-50” team.

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      David’s unique childhood, including him, watching the Truman Capote movie “In Cold Blood” at age nine.

·      Why David became a police officer. 

·      David’s start in law enforcement in Southern California.

·      Being on the S.W.A.T. team. 

·      Investigating police officers working in internal affairs. 

·      Being a Special Agent on the real-life Hawaii-50 team.

·      David’s author career and his newest release, A Fearsome Moonlight Black. 

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

Go visit David's website to learn more about him and his books!
Check out David's Amazon Author Page!

Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writer's book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website.
If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.
Join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook group

Consider buying me a coffee :-)

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

My guest on today’s show is New York Times and U.S.A. Today best-selling author, speaker, and consultant, Eva Lesko Natiello!

Eva, a former VP of Global Communications for Estee Lauder Inc. which jump-started a 20+ year career as a communication, marketing, and branding expert. Eva now coaches authors on how to market their books in order to increase visibility and find readers.

Eva is known for her book marketing ideas that work!

In today’s episode, we discuss:

·      How Eva’s degree in psychology has influenced her work in corporate America and her author career.

·      Marketing lessons learned from Estée Lauder that translated to her author career.

·      The power of ‘putting yourself out there.’

·      Your best use of time for marketing your book. 

·      Best book marketing practices for introverts. 

·      How she keeps track of the twists and turns in her stories.

·      Her best advice for struggling authors. 

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

Go visit Eva's website! 
Check out Eva's Amazon Author Page!

Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writer's book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website.
If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.
Join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook group

Consider buying me a coffee :-)

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

My guest on today’s show is George Cramer, an enrolled descendant of the Karuk Tribe of California. 

George began his forty-year investigative career in law enforcement and then moved into private and corporate investigations. He attended the Institute of American Indian Arts, earning his MFA-Creative Writing.

As a corporate and private investigator, Mr. Cramer conducted thousands of investigations throughout the Americas and Asia. He kept his investigative skills honed by volunteering as a Missing Persons investigator at a California Police Department.

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      How George got interested in law enforcement.

·      What it was like to be a police officer in 1968.

·      Training and equipment for a street cop back in the late 1960s.

·      Doing undercover drug buys with members of the Hell’s Angles Motorcycle Gang.

·      Becoming a private investigator. 

·      Beginning his writing career and his M.F.A. at age 68. 

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

Visit George's website to learn more about him and his books!

Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writer's book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website.
If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.
Join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook group

Consider buying me a coffee :-)

Mark Dawson's Self Publishing Launchpad is now live. It is only open a couple of times a year.

This is an affiliate link. https://courses.selfpubform.com/.../self.../jmkb9QYBurv96EiM

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

My guest on today’s show is best-selling author and coordinator of the world’s biggest and best indie author conference, 20 Books Vegas, Craig Martelle 

Craig is a fountain of knowledge as he breaks down the conference for us today that is happening November 14-18, 2022 at Bally's / Horseshoe Las Vegas. 

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      How 20 Book Vegas started and has grown into a premier world-class indie author conference.

·      Why have the conference in Vegas?

·      Navigating the 20 Books Vegas Facebook group.

·      Best practices to enjoy the show.

·      Best safety tips when in Vegas. 

·      How to get to the hotel and other spots in Vegas. 

·      Future 20 Book Vegas conferences.

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

Visit Craig at his website!

Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writer's book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website.
If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.
Join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook group

Consider buying me a coffee :-)

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

My guest on the show today is Author and Crime Scene Investigator, Donna Jaconi.  

Officer Jaconi had a distinguished career for 29 years with the City of Philadelphia Police Department. Starting as a fingerprint technician and then being accepted to the police academy. She worked patrol and got her experience on the streets of Philly. Officer Jaconi worked the majority of her career in the Crime Scene Unit. Officer Jaconi has worked the most notorious crime scenes, including processing over 1,000 homicide scenes.

Now retired, she has written the book, “Out of the Darkness: A story of a CSI officer's journey with murder, love, and compassion.”

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      How she got her start in the Philadelphia Police Department.

·      The special training required for crime scene investigators.

·      The job of CSI at crime scenes, specifically homicide, sexual assault, and robbery.

·      How she dealt with the horrors she saw on the street on a regular basis.

·      The biggest C.S.I. misconceptions on T.V. and Movies. 

·      Testing for gunshot residue and the use of Luminol. 

·      How C.S.I.’s package evidence in specific ways.

·      Her book, “Out of the Darkness: A story of a CSI officer’s journey with murder, love, and compassion.”

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

Visit Donna on Facebook.
Check out Donna on Liberty Hill Publishing.

Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writer's book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website.
If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.
Join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook group

Consider buying me a coffee :-)

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

My guest today is Gary Edgington. I wanted to give a special thank you to Gary who shared the story of his own father who was a police officer, being murdered in the line of duty on this day in 1979 on today’s show. 

Gary's long career in law enforcement includes police officer and detective in several southern California jurisdictions, and Special Agent with the California Department of Justice where he worked on major narcotics cases, organized crime, unsolved homicide, and internal affairs. Gary also was a member of the FBI’s “Joint Terrorism Task Force” in Los Angeles. After 9/11, he was promoted to Task Force Commander and took command of a multi-agency counter-terrorism task force based in Southern California for the California Department of Justice.

Post-retirement life sent him to Iraq, where he was an advisor for the United States Army.

He now works in the private sector and has recently published the book, "Outside the Wire."

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      The impact of his father being killed in the line of duty when he was only three weeks into the L.A. County Sheriff’s Academy as a recruit.

·      His experience working as a detective in the Beverly Hills Police Department.

·      Being an investigator for the L.A. County D.A.’s office.

·      His job as a special agent for the Department of Justice, including the O.J. trial.

·      Him working, among other things I.A.D. 

·      The pros and cons of body-worn cameras. 

·      Gary working with the F.B.I. on the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

·      The biggest terrorist threat to the United States today.

·      His author career, including his debut novel, “Outside the Wire.”

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

Visit Gary's website, which has links to his social media and books!

Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writer's book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website.
If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.
Join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook group

Consider buying me a coffee :-)

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

My guest on the show today is international best-selling author Matthew Dicks. 

Matthew has won numerous literary awards and has had his books translated in over 25 countries worldwide.  

When he is not writing award-winning, best-selling books, Matthew fills his days as an elementary school teacher, a storyteller, a marketing and storytelling consultant, a speaking coach, a blogger, a wedding DJ, and a minister.  ​

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      His 26 years of being a wedding D.J. and the unexpected benefits from this experience.

·      Him sharing a room with a goat named, “Goat.”

·      His book, Someday Is Today: 22 Simple, Actionable Ways to Propel Your Creative Life.

·      How to multitask.

·      The 100-year-old plan. 

·      The eagle and the mouse. 

·      Best practices for entrepreneurs.

·      The power of yes.

·      How to overcome writer’s block.

·      The best way to start and end a story.

·      The importance of celebrating.

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

Come visit Matt on his website!

Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writer's book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website.
If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.
Join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook group

Consider buying me a coffee :-)

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 the dogs! My guests on the show today are award-winning best-selling authors who weave K-9s into their stories, Jodi Burnett and Kathleen Donnelly.

Award-winning author Kathleen Donnelly has been a handler for Sherlock Hounds Detection Canines—a Colorado-based narcotics K-9 company—since 2005. She loves crafting realism into her fictional stories from her dog-handling experience. She has a B.A. in Journalism from Colorado State University and formerly wrote for The Berthoud Weekly Surveyor where she won a Colorado Press Award.

Jodi Burnett is a best-selling indie superstar author with over twelve books published in a little over two years, earning her over six figures a year! Jodi treats her author career as a business, and that is paying dividends for her. ​

In today’s episode, we discuss:

·      The importance of professional, eye-appealing author websites and book covers.

·      Why Jodi is a self-published author and the advantages and disadvantages of being an indie.

·      Why Kathleen is a traditionally published author and the advantages and disadvantages of this author path.

·      Why people are drawn to stories with dogs in them.

·      How they researched the utilization of K-9s in law enforcement.

·      Best advice for authors who are writing stories about dogs or have them as characters in their books.

·      Kathleen’s Sherlock Hounds K-9 Detection service. 

·      The pros of attending author conventions.

·      Their writing tips, tools, and routines.

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

Visit Jodi on her website!
Check out Jodi's Amazon Author Page.
Check out episode #45 Of the Cops and Writers Show with Jodi Burnett

Check out Kathleen's author website!

Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writer's book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website.
If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.
Join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook group

Consider buying me a coffee :-)

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

Welcome back to the conclusion of my interview with Author and NYPD Detective Vic Ferrari! 

Author Vic Ferrari is a retired New York City Police Department detective with the hamstrings of a twenty-year-old. A survivor of an Irish father and Italian mother, Vic loves a cold beer and insists on you removing your shoes when entering his home. When he's not writing, he's picking up after his neurotic Irish Wolfhound.  

 In today’s episode we discuss:

·      Compstat Policing.

·      The perilous unintended consequences of highly restrictive pursuit policies and because of ego, the unwillingness of command staff to change.

·      Vic’s humorous and informative tell-all books about life in the NYPD.

·      The reaction Vic received from his former colleagues regarding his books, the answer might surprise you.

·      Vic’s life as an author.

·      What life was like as an NYPD detective on 9/11 and his firsthand accounts from ground zero.

·      Common NYPD misconceptions that are generated from Hollywood and other media outlets.

 All of this and more on the conclusion of my interview with Vic Ferrari!

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 Writer's book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website.
If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.
Join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook group

Consider buying me a coffee :-)

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