Send us a text

Today, we are speaking with Patrick O’Donnell. Patrick O’Donnell is a retired police sergeant with 25 years experience with the city of Milwaukee Police Department. During his police career he worked exclusively on the street in patrol, and he participated and supervised different special units (anti-gang unit, licensed premise unit, violent crime task force, and armed robbery unit). He is now the author of nine books, including the police procedurals Cops and Writers reference guides. His last four books in the Brew City Blues series are collaborations with Michael Anderle and is now working solo on another crime fiction series.

Patrick hosts the popular Cops and Writers Podcast. O’Donnell’s Cops and Writers Facebook group that is 7,000 members strong has members of law enforcement from around the globe answering crime writer’s police procedural questions. O’Donnell lives in Wisconsin with his wife. He has four kids and one adorable granddaughter. In his spare time, he works out almost every day and enjoys riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle, smoking an occasional cigar with friends while they solve world problems and traveling.

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. 

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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a text

Today on the show we are going on the road. Well, actually, we’re interviewing someone who is living on the road with his wife and children, Eric Reynolds. 

Eric Reynolds, a former Boynton Beach Florida Police Officer turned health advocate, shares a story of transformation and resilience. He is the son of June Hawkins, a retired Miami-Dade Homicide Sgt. and step-son of Sgt Al Singleton who were both featured in the Netflix series Griselda. Eric's journey took an unexpected turn when he discovered through DNA his half-brother, Dave Stull a fellow police officer in Florida. Dave had been RVing full-time for ten years, inspiring Eric to sell his home, continue homeschooling, and travel the country with his family in a toy hauler.

After being wounded in the line of duty, Eric battled PTSD and heart disease, ultimately losing 80 pounds on a ketogenic diet. This transformation motivated him to become a licensed sports nutritionist, personal trainer, and founder of KetoFiveO Sports Nutrition Company. Passionate about holistic health, Eric founded Cops and Campers, a non-profit offering outdoor retreats to help first responders recover from PTSD and chronic health conditions.

In podcast and radio interviews, Eric shares captivating stories from law enforcement, his family journey with his mother June, brother Dave and his personal path through nutrition. His insights into mental health and wellness inspire listeners, while his candid stories of overcoming challenges offer a unique view of police work and the realities of recovery.
 
In today’s episode we discuss:

·      How his mother, June Hawkins career in law enforcement molded his future in law enforcement.

·      What did kids said about his mom, June Hawkins, when he was growing up? A female cop, let alone a detective working on a big case was unusual for that time period.

·      Did Eric ever sense the danger of his mom’s job when he was a kid? Especially when she was involved in cartel cases like Griselda Blanco?

·      My mom is a cop who has a contract out on her life?

·      Being a retail security guard helped him later in his law enforcement career. 

·      The car chase with a bank robber that led to a deadly encounter.

·      What really happens during a shootout? It’s not like the movies!

Check out Eric's Keto Five0 and his non-profit, Cops and Campers!
Head on over to the Netflix Griselda page.

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. 

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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a text

If you’re like me, you are a sucker for 80’s T.V. and pop culture. One of the biggest and most influential shows back then was Miami Vice. Not the God-awful movie, the T.V. show. Well, on the show today I have the real Miami Vice with a detective who was an undercover detective in the hay day of cocaine trafficking and violence in the Miami area, Michael Hearns! 

Michael Hearns is a Miami native and a former 27-year veteran South Florida police officer and detective. He spent a decade of his career undercover, investigating large-scale cocaine trafficking and high-volume money laundering cases. He was cross-designated with multiple police and federal agencies, and he is a certified DEA instructor. He has a master’s degree in Investigative Criminal Psychology. He has worked and consulted on multiple serial offender homicide cases. Since retiring from law enforcement, his experience and knowledge are highly valued as a technical advisor for motion pictures and television. He is a movie producer and an adjunct professor at multiple universities within the United States. He is also the author of the Cade Taylor series of books. 
 
 Please enjoy my conversation with the real Miami Vice, Michael Hearns!

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      How and why, Michael started in LE. Family members in LE?

·      Michael being involved in an undercover operation while he was still in the academy.

·      The Miami area in the 80’s and 90’s. Was it as crazy as what you see on Miami Vice or other popular depictions? 

·      Spending a decade of your career undercover, investigating large-scale cocaine trafficking and high-volume money laundering cases.

·      Instruction manuals from cartels instructing their drug dealers on how to look and act normal? 

·      Working on and consulting on multiple serial offender homicide cases. 

·      Michael’s newest book, Choices and Chances: A Cade Taylor Novel.

Visit Michael's website!

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. 

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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a text

Today’s show is for you crime writers, or those who are curious about how a good crime novel is crafted. On today’s show I will be chatting with the acclaimed crime-writing trio of Deborah Levison, T. M. Dunn, and Wendy Whitman, whose topics range from serial killers to domestic violence. 

Deborah Levison is an author and publicist. Her first book, an acclaimed nonfiction called THE CRATE, is a true crime with echoes of the Holocaust, which reviewers called it “gorgeous and poetic,” “heart-wrenching,” and “a brilliant story.” The Jerusalem Post wrote: “exquisite.” The book won seven literary awards. Her debut novel, A NEST OF SNAKES, is part thriller, part courtroom drama inspired by real-life abuse at elite New England private schools, described as “a roller-coaster ride of surprising twists” leading to a “staggering climax.”
 
 Wendy Whitman has a unique background through her decades-long work as an executive and producer covering almost every major high-profile murder case in America. She spent fifteen years at Court TV and another several at HLN for the Nancy Grace show, where she appeared on air as a producer/reporter. 

Before attending Law School, Whitman worked for comedians Lily Tomlin and George Carlin. Since turning her attention to writing, Whitman has published two crime thriller novels: PREMONITION and the sequel, RETRIBUTION.

Patricia AKA T. M. Dunn is the author of the psychological thriller, HER FATHER'S DAUGHTER, REBELS BY ACCIDENT, and LAST STOP ON THE 6. She has served as Senior Director of the Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College, where she holds an MFA in creative writing. She coaches aspiring and established writers and teaches creative writing workshops. She co-founded Key to the Castle Workshop, co-hosts the Westport Library's podcast, "Go Ahead, Write Something," and co-chairs programming for Sisters-in-Crime CT. 

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      Wendy’s beginnings as an assistant to Lilly Tomlin and George Carlin.

·      Wendy’s over twenty years as a producer/reporter for Court TV where she covered numerous high profile murder trials.

·      Wendy’s author career and her latest book, Retribution in the Deer Killer Series. 

·      Deborah’s breakout hit, The Crate and the impact it has had on her professionally and personally. 

·      Deborah’s intimate experience with the holocaust and how she wove into her book, The Crate.

·      How a grisly murder hit home and the impact it had on Deborah and her family. 

·      How T.M. helps other authors realize their potential.

·      T.M. Dunn’s latest novel, Her Father’s Daughter.

·      T.M. Dunn’s podcast, Go Ahead, Write Something.

Please visit Wendy Whitman's website.
Come on over to Deborah Levison's website.
Visit T.M. Dunn's website. 
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

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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a text

Welcome back everyone to the conclusion of my interview with former Sheriff Deputy, now Attorney, Bridget Truxillo. 

Life isn’t fair. We have all heard this and it is so true. But sometimes you come across a story that really pulls at your heart and you learn a new level of empathy for someone who was in a certain situation. Bridget’s story did that for me. This is a story of a person being treated unfairly and her resilience and eventually overcoming in her own way. This is the story of Bridget Truxillo.
 
 Bridget Truxillo was a Deputy Sheriff in Florida where she excelled in her job earning spots on the elite narcotics unit where she was primarily utilized in undercover operations and later joined the SWAT team as the only female to have worked in SWAT for her agency.

Unfortunately, Bridget was the victim of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation forcing her to eventually resign from law enforcement. She then went to law school where she earned her Juris Doctorate. Bridget is now an attorney that has her own law firm that specializes in helping law enforcement officers and first responders fight back when facing the same issues. 

If you believe you are the victim of workplace harassment, discrimination, or retaliation, please talk to someone and get some help! Thank you for joining me for the conclusion of my interview with someone who suffered and eventually overcame in her own way, Bridget Truxillo. 

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      The harassment, discrimination, and retaliation she faced during her time in law enforcement.

·      How the continuing harassment, discrimination, and retaliation affected her personally and professionally.

·      Bridget’s eventual resignation from law enforcement. 

·      Life after law enforcement for Bridget.

·      When and why, she decided to become an attorney. 

·      How she delt with going to law school later in life.

·      How she helps cops who are being discriminated against or otherwise being treated unfairly as an attorney.

·      Bridget’s professional advice to someone out there who is listening to the show and is contemplating taking legal action against their department because they think they are being treated unfairly, discriminated against, or harassed.

·      Bridget’s law firm that specializes in helping first responders who are being treated unfairly, discriminated against or harassed, Lady Law Shield.


Visit Bridget at her law firm, Lady Law Shield.

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. 

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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a text

Thanks for joining me for this bonus episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast. I wanted to talk about something that has been bothering me for some time. I feel that we have lost our way in policing in America today and the victims of crime are paying the price. When was the last time you heard someone in pop culture talking about “Victim Rights?” You certainly hear them talking about police corruption or defunding the police. But never about the thousands of innocent people who are the victims of crime every day in this country. 

The cops have been handcuffed and are not allowed to do their jobs, and the people who are living in the most vulnerable areas of the country are paying that price. 

I want to make it very clear that I support the men and women in blue who literally risk their lives every day protecting us, the Constitution, and our way of life. We must do more than wearing a t-shirt or quietly telling a cop, “Thanks for your service.” We must elect individuals who actually want to do something about the crime in this country, not give vague ideologies or theories that don’t work or rehash crime-fighting strategies that never worked. We must support those who support the cops, even when it is not popular, but it’s the right thing to do.

On the show today I’m joined by a friend of the show, retired NYPD Detective, Vic Ferrari, and retired NYPD Captain Peter Moreno. 

Detective Ferrari and Captain Moreno have over forty-eight years of police experience in street patrol, investigations, and police upper management of the New York Police Department. They have seen crime fighting/reduction strategies come and go and have seen what works and doesn’t work. 

We are going to discuss the pros and cons of Broken Windows, Data-Driven Policing sometimes called, Hot Spot Policing, and Community Oriented Policing. 

This show is not a bitch session, and we try our best not to be too political in this show, I wanted to enlighten you as to what actually works when it comes to fighting crime. 

Thanks for joining us and I welcome your input regarding this special bonus episode. If you have a better solution, we are all ears! 

Check out Peter's Security Company, K.H. Briger.
Visit Vic Ferrari's Amazon Author Page to learn more about him and his 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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a text

Life isn’t fair. We have all heard this and it is so true. But sometimes you come across a story that really pulls at your heart and you learn a new level of empathy for someone who was in a certain situation. This episode did that for me. This is a story of a person being treated unfairly and her resilience and eventually overcoming in her own way. This is the story of Bridget Truxillo.
 
 Bridget Truxillo was a Deputy Sheriff in Florida where she excelled in her job earning spots on the elite narcotics unit where she was primarily utilized in undercover operations and later joined the SWAT team as the only female to have worked in SWAT for her agency.

Unfortunately, Bridget was the victim of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation, forcing her to eventually resign from law enforcement. She then went to law school where she earned her Juris Doctorate. Bridget is now an attorney that has her own law firm that specializes in helping law enforcement officers and first responders fight back when facing the same issues. 

I believe this interview will surprise you in ways you never thought possible. Please enjoy this sometimes shocking and emotional interview with Bridget Truxillo. 

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      Why and where Bridget got interested in law enforcement?

·      What was the academy like? How many females were in her class? 

·      1st day on the job and field training.

·      Being assigned to narcotics and working undercover after only a year on the job. 

·      The dangerous aspects of working as an undercover narcotics deputy.

·      You went to the SWAT team. How much time did you have on? I’m guessing it was a part-time unit. Can you explain how that works?

·      Getting on the SWAT team and the special physical requirements to earn a position on SWAT.

·      Being the first female on the unit. How did that feel and what were some of the problems and challenges that came with that?

·      Politics and SWAT, the ugly truth.

·      The harassment, discrimination, and retaliation she faced during her time in law enforcement.

Visit Bridget at her law firm, Lady Law Shield.

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. 

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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a text

For today’s show, we are traveling to the West Coast and the home of Fisherman’s Warf, The Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, and of course, Alcatraz. On today’s episode, we will be chatting with the City of San Francisco Police Sergeant and Bestselling Author, Adam Plantinga. 

Adam Plantinga’s first book, 400 Things Cops Know, was nominated for an Agatha Award and won the 2015 Silver Falchion award for best nonfiction crime reference. It was hailed as “truly excellent” by author Lee Child and deemed “the new Bible for crime writers” by The Wall Street Journal. Adam’s debut novel, Ascent, is burning up the charts and has been optioned for the silver screen by Universal Studios.

Plantinga began his career in law enforcement in 2001 as a Milwaukee police officer. He is currently a sergeant with the San Francisco Police Department assigned to street patrol.   

This interview was near and dear to my heart because Adam started his LE career as a Milwaukee copper, just like me. We never worked together, but we sure have known the same characters and chewed the same dirt.

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      Why and where Adam got interested in law enforcement?

·      A special thank you to the “Cop Doc” Dr. Ellen Kirschman for introducing us.

·      From the land of Dirty Harry and The Streets of San Francisco. Are there any memorabilia from the shows in the San Francisco PD?

·      How long before Adam made the switch to SFPD from the Milwaukee PD?

·      Why did he switch departments? 

·      Biggest differences between MPD and SFPD, including rank.

·      Is there still the iconic rank of Inspector in the SFPD today?

·      His hot new novel, Ascent.

·      The use of popular thriller tropes in this novel.

·      How Ascent got picked up by Universal Television for a future television series.

Check out Adam's website with links to all of his socials and books.

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. 

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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a text

Welcome back to the conclusion of my interview with a former member of the Gambino Crime Family, now International Bestselling Author, Television Producer and Director Louis Ferrante.

Mr. Ferrante grew up in New York City and became entangled in the Gambino crime family. He was eventually arrested and served almost ten years in prison. While he was incarcerated, he taught himself to write, and he fell in love with books. He promised himself that he would someday become an international bestselling author, and he did!

Lou also created, wrote, produced, and hosted Inside The Gangster Code series for Discovery Channel about maximum security prisons and gang culture around the world.  

As a special treat to everyone, I’m bringing back my friend and colleague, Podcaster, Author, and Retired NYPD Detective Vic Ferrari. Vic spent most of his life in New York City and was assigned to the NYPD’s organized crime unit which specialized in stolen cars, the same area of criminal expertise that was Lou’s, just on the other side of the law.

Please enjoy this powerful and inspirational conversation with Lou Ferrante and Vic Ferrari.

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      Life in a maximum-security prison.

·      Lightbulb moment for you when you were in prison that it was time for a change. 

·      Did you have to do something to declare that you were no longer a member of the mafia? I thought it was a lifetime commitment.

·      Did you find God, or turn away from him when you were at your lowest in prison? “No atheists in foxholes.”

·      First thing Lou you did when he was released from prison.

·      Lou’s newest book, Borgata: Rise of Empire: A History of the American Mafia (Borgata Trilogy).

·      Why write this book?

·      Mob formed in Sicily. Sicily was an island in itself. Didn’t like rules or outsiders. 

·      How big of an influence is the mafia in Sicily today?

·      The mob and turning adversity into fortune?

·      Prohibition (Kennedy’s and other family’s made millions), the stock market crash of 2029, and World War 2, the U.S. military asking the mob for help.

·      What should we expect in book two?

Check out Lou's newest book, Borgata: Rise of Empire: A History of the American Mafia (Borgata Trilogy)
Visit Lou 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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a text

Welcome to part one of my interview with a former member of the Gambino Crime Family, now International Bestselling Author, Television Producer, and Director Louis Ferrante.

Mr. Ferrante grew up in New York City and became entangled in the Gambino crime family. He was eventually arrested and served almost ten years in prison. While he was incarcerated, he taught himself to write, and he fell in love with books. He promised himself that he would someday become an international bestselling author, and he did!

Lou also created, wrote, produced, and hosted, Inside The Gangster Code series for Discovery Channel about maximum security prisons and gang culture around the world.  

As a special treat to everyone, I’m bringing back my friend and colleague, Podcaster, Author, and Retired NYPD Detective Vic Ferrari. Vic spent most of his life in New York City and was assigned to the NYPD’s organized crime unit and specialized in stolen cars, the same area of criminal expertise that was Lou’s, just on the other side of the law.

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      Why do you think we are fascinated with criminals, more specifically gangsters? Some examples are The Sopranos, Scarface, Sons of Anarchy, etc.…?

·      How do you keep these stories of the mob “the old days” fresh for today’s audience?

·      What parallels are there with the mob and the street gangs of today?

·      What was life in a maximum-security prison really like? What keeps someone who will never leave alive in line?

·      What is the attraction to being in a gang or mafia?

·      Is there a mafia today? If yes, where do they operate?

·      How did you go from stealing cars and joyriding to making money chopping a car and later being involved in armed highjackings?

·      How did the mob get interested in you?

·      Eventually you got arrested. What were the circumstances? By what agency? Did you get offered a deal to be a rat? What was the offer? 

·      Is there a code of honor in the mafia and how that has changed over the years?

Check out Lou's newest book, Borgata: Rise of Empire: A History of the American Mafia (Borgata Trilogy)
Visit Lou 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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.