Sixty years after the JFK assassination, the questions and consequences still echo through Dallas. In our final episode, historian Rick Janich shares the seldom-discussed aftermath: the federal tensions between the FBI and Dallas Police, the city’s scarred reputation, and the creation of what would become the Dallas Police Museum. We also examine the legal aftermath of Jack Ruby, the man who killed Lee Harvey Oswald on live television, and how his actions changed the course of history. Finally, Rick offers his personal reflections on what Dallas has carried — and learned — in the decades since that tragic November.

Presented by: CitizensBehindTheBadge.org

Podcast Series: Heroes Behind the Badge

#JFKAssassination #JackRuby #DallasPolice #Oswald #HistorySeries #TrueHistory

Beyond the headlines of November 1963 were the families, officers, and everyday citizens whose lives changed forever in the aftermath of President Kennedy’s assassination.

In Part Two, we explore the emotional heart of the story:

• Marie Tippit, widow of Officer J.D. Tippit
• Jackie Kennedy’s private grief and her letter to Dallas
• Clint Hill’s reflections decades later
• The experiences of Detective Jim Leavelle
• Elsie Graves and Temple Bowley, two overlooked eyewitnesses whose voices shaped the investigation

These firsthand perspectives reveal the shock, sorrow, and strength inside Dallas — stories rarely told, but essential to understanding the human dimension of the JFK assassination.

Subscribe for Part 3, where we explore the legacy and meaning of those days.

Presented by: CitizensBehindTheBadge.org

Podcast Series: Heroes Behind the Badge

On November 22, 1963, shots rang out in Dealey Plaza — and the world changed in seconds. But behind the iconic images of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination was a frantic, chaotic, and deeply human response unfolding inside the Dallas Police Department.

In this first episode of our three-part series, Dallas Police historian Rick Janich walks us through the minute-by-minute movements of Lee Harvey Oswald: from the rifle wrapped in brown paper, to his escape from the Texas School Book Depository, to the confrontation with Officer J.D. Tippit, and finally his dramatic arrest inside the Texas Theatre.

These are the details most Americans have never heard — the eyewitness accounts from officers, citizens, and investigators who lived the events moment by moment. Their stories reveal not just what happened, but what it felt like inside Dallas during those 48 historic hours.

Subscribe for Parts 2 & 3, where we explore the human stories behind the headlines and the lasting legacy of November 1963 in Dallas.

Presented by: CitizensBehindTheBadge.org

Podcast Series: Heroes Behind the Badge

00:00 – A Firsthand Memory of 1963

01:23 – Introducing Historian Rick Janich

03:22 – The Curtain Rods: Oswald’s Morning Begins

04:49 – Shots Fired in Dealey Plaza

05:59 – The Murder of Officer J.D. Tippit

09:39 – The Chase to the Texas Theatre

13:10 – Jack Ruby Walks Into the Story

16:45 – Ruby’s Motive and Confession

#JFKAssassination #LeeHarveyOswald #DallasPolice #DealeyPlaza #JFK #HistoryPodcast #TrueHistory #1963

What happens when the badge comes off?

When the mission changes, but the heart that served still needs a place to go?

In this second part of a powerful two-part conversation, Heroes Behind the Badge host Dennis Collins continues his discussion with David Berez, Dave Howe, Bill Erfurth, and Craig Floyd—exploring what comes after awareness: rebuilding purpose, identity, and joy beyond the uniform.

They share stories of recovery, leadership, and rediscovery—how faith, family, and service become anchors in a life that once revolved around duty.

This episode isn’t about what’s been lost—it’s about what can still be found

• David Berez (author, retired police lieutenant)
• Dave Howe (U.S. Army Lt. Colonel, Comfort, Peace & Freedom Foundation)
• Bill Erfurth (retired Miami-Dade detective, filmmaker)
• Craig Floyd (Citizens Behind the Badge)

• Finding identity and purpose beyond law enforcement
• The power of life planning and gratitude
• Leadership as service, not authority
• Healing through faith, family, and freedom
• Building a culture that values wellness over silence

Presented by: CitizensBehindTheBadge.org

Podcast Series: Heroes Behind the Badge

Timestamps:

00:00 – Shifting Gears: Life Beyond the Badge

03:45 – Stewards of the Badge

06:10 – The Power of a Life Plan

13:45 – Leadership Isn’t About You

16:40 – Leadership Is Service

23:50 – Faith, Family, and Freedom

27:15 – Learning to Re-Love

30:00 – Closing Reflections

#HeroesBehindTheBadge #BeyondTheBadge #PoliceWellness #FirstResponderResilience #PoliceLeadership #LifeAfterPolicing #PositivePsychology #OfficerSupport #PoliceMentalHealth #LawEnforcement

Every year, more law enforcement officers die by suicide than from all line-of-duty causes combined.

In this powerful first part of a two-part conversation, Heroes Behind the Badge host Dennis Collins sits down with David Berez, Dave Howe, Bill Erfurth, and Craig Floyd to confront the silent epidemic of stress, trauma, and loss inside police culture.

They discuss why suicide remains the most painful taboo in law enforcement, what it means to carry invisible weight, and how small acts of connection and leadership can save lives.

This episode is not about statistics—it’s about the people behind them.

• David Berez (author, retired police lieutenant)
• Dave Howe (U.S. Army Lt. Colonel, Comfort, Peace & Freedom Foundation)
• Bill Erfurth (retired Miami-Dade detective, filmmaker)
• Craig Floyd (Citizens Behind the Badge)

• The true scope of suicide in law enforcement
• How silence and stigma cost lives
• Why awareness isn’t enough
• The first steps toward real cultural change

Presented by: CitizensBehindTheBadge.org

Podcast Series: Heroes Behind the Badge

• 00:00 – Opening Story: The Final Call
• 03:30 – The Hidden Numbers No One Mentions
• 07:00 – Why This Conversation Matters
• 14:40 – A Plan for a Joyful Life
• 17:20 – Gratitude and the Grass Metaphor
• 20:15 – From Trauma to Purpose

#HeroesBehindTheBadge #PoliceMentalHealth #LawEnforcement #OfficerWellness #FirstResponder #PoliceSuicideAwareness #BehindTheBadge #MentalHealthMatters #ThinBlueLine #FirstResponderSupport

What happens when officers are ordered not to act, even as lives hang in the balance?

In this gripping episode of Heroes Behind the Badge, former U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steve Sund returns to discuss the growing tension between politics and policing in America.

From the real-life Chicago dispatch audio where police were told to stand down, to the lessons he learned on January 6, Sund reveals how split-second decisions can collide with political agendas. Joined by hosts Dennis Collins, Bill Erfurth, and Craig Floyd, the conversation dives deep into duty, leadership, and the cost of obedience in modern law enforcement.

This is a raw, unfiltered look at what happens when orders conflict with honor, and why the courage to act still defines the badge.

#SteveSund #HeroesBehindTheBadge #LawEnforcement #Policing #January6 #Leadership #Duty #StandDown #CitizensBehindTheBadge

At just 19 years old, Chris Cosgriff founded the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP) from his college dorm room. What started as a student project has grown into the nation’s leading digital memorial for fallen law enforcement officers, honoring their sacrifice and ensuring they are never forgotten.

In this episode of Heroes Behind the Badge, Chris shares the incredible story behind ODMP, its evolution into a national nonprofit, and his personal journey into policing. From the first memorial he ever created to ODMP’s impact on parole hearings and police training, this conversation reveals how one idea became a movement that has touched millions.

--> Share this podcast to honor fallen officers and support ODMP’s mission.

Subscribe for more episodes of Heroes Behind the Badge, where we bring you real stories from America’s law enforcement.

Support law enforcement remembrance at odmp.org

In Part 2 of this series, we move beyond the statistics to reveal the real-world consequences of America’s crime crisis. From Baltimore’s violent crime surge to the collapse of proactive policing, we uncover how political decisions, media narratives, and staffing shortages affect both law enforcement officers and communities.

Discover what it means when National Guard troops patrol U.S. streets, why “soft on crime” policies are failing, and the human cost behind manipulated crime statistics.

👉 Share this episode to start the conversation about America’s future of public safety.

👉 Subscribe to Heroes Behind the Badge for more real stories from America’s law enforcement professionals.

Why do politicians and media outlets say crime is down while Americans feel less safe than ever? In Part 1 of this two-part series, we expose the hidden truth behind America’s crime statistics, the shocking 44% rise in violent crime, and why most people have never heard of the National Crime Victimization Survey.

You’ll hear about police staffing shortages, the fallout from the defund-the-police movement, and why official numbers don’t tell the full story.

👉 Share this episode to spread the truth about America’s crime crisis.

👉 Subscribe to Heroes Behind the Badge for Part 2, where we explore how these statistics shape public policy, policing, and community safety.

In this second and final part of his powerful 9/11 story, retired Port Authority Police Chief Joe Morris shares what it was like to lead the recovery effort at Ground Zero after surviving the collapse of the South Tower.

Chief Morris recounts how he organized hundreds of officers in the midst of chaos, the heartbreaking loss of colleagues like Captain Kathy Mazza and Lt. Jimmy Romito, and the proudest and most tragic moments of his career. He also reflects on rebuilding the Port Authority Police Department after the loss of 37 officers and how 9/11 forever shaped his life and leadership.

If you haven’t already, listen to Part 1 for Chief Morris’s firsthand account of surviving the South Tower collapse.

This episode is a testament to courage, resilience, and the human spirit in the face of unimaginable tragedy.