Ep. 37 When the news gets to shape the narrative, the consequences can become deadly for citizens and police alike.

This is a special crossover episode with Drew Breasy of YouTube’s “Failure To Stop” and “Drew Breasy Uncuffed.” Together, Drew and I break down an article that has haunted me for more than a year titled: “How broken taillights end in killings by police.” It ran Oct., 31, 2021 in the Sunday New York Times, splashed across the front page above the fold. Under it was a breakout story with the headline:  “At traffic stops, officers’ presumption of danger breeds overreaction and seemingly avoidable deaths.” As I say in the interview, this statement is an opinion presented as fact. They make a premise and then everything they say supports that premise to give the illusion that it is true. Also known as a circular argument.

It is not my goal to give The New York Times or any other media a hard time. The media serve an important purpose in this country. But a story like this in an outlet as influential as the NYT is dangerous in how it affects societal perception, in how it affects officers’ ability to do their jobs and in that it has influence on states, counties and municipalities which, based on these misperceptions, create policies and laws that further jeopardize the lives of police and their ability to protect the public. As you well know, this ran at a time when civil unrest was still at its peak and calls for defunding were deafening. This article was intended to fuel that fire. 

Many of you already know Drew Breasy, aka Lt. Andrew Baxter, who retired from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office just over a year ago after 29 years in law enforcement. Since then, he has launched “Drew Breezy Uncuffed” across his social media platforms. I appreciate his walking through this article with me. I think you will find it cathartic.

Here are links that relate back to the episode:

Failure to Stop:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KNPmjMrJ8c&t=1s

New York Times story

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/31/us/police-traffic-stops-killings.html

Chicago PD Officer Ella French

https://www.odmp.org/officer/25407-police-officer-ella-grace-french

Chicago PD Officer Carlos Yanez and his family-run Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/POCarlosStrong #CarlosStrong

DINKHELLER documentary by filmmaker and former police officer Patrick Shaver

https://www.dinkhellermovie.com/

Instagram: drew_breasy

Facebook: Drew Breasy Uncuffed

https://youtube.com/c/DrewBreasy

linktr.ee/Drew Breasy

LinkedIn: Andrew Baxter

Please don’t forget to follow or subscribe to the podcast. Feel free to leave a review. And find me on my social or email me your thoughts:

Facebook: On Being a Police Officer

Twitter: @AbbyEllsworth13

Instagram: on_being_a_police_officer

[email protected]

©Abby Ellsworth. All interviews, editing, production done by Abby Ellsworth. Music courtesy of freesound.org

Ep. 36  Seattle PD Det. Britt Kelly (née Sweeney) who has 13 years on the department, is embarking on a passion project to honor the department’s line of duty deaths, of which she was nearly one.  On Oct. 31, 2009, just a few weeks into Britt’s field training, her Field Training Officer Timothy Brenton was murdered in an ambush attack as the two of them sat in their squad car pulled off to the side of the road. Britt sustained injuries but was able to exit the vehicle to return fire at the fleeing shooter’s car. She walks me through the incident, the emotions, the trauma and what made her change her mind after she “quit.” 

We also discuss the shock of a subsequent officer ambush less than a month later on Nov. 29, 2009 when four officers from Lakewood PD, located just south of Seattle, were shot and killed as they were sitting in a coffee shop on a Sunday morning. These two ambush attacks left all area LE and the community reeling. Police were being hunted – hunted and killed. These were some of the darkest days for this region. 

Britt and I discuss what kept her going through these tough times and why she remained committed to law enforcement and SPD.  She talks about how she now shares her experience with fellow and student officers as a way of helping them understand and prepare for the impact of a line of duty death. Sadly, the department has suffered two since Officer Brenton was murdered: Officer Lexi Harris, E.O.W. June 13, 2021 and K9 Officer Jedi, E.O.W. Jan. 5, 2022. 

We do, of course, talk about the good times on the job, in particular her time on Bikes and what she loved about it, and her current role as a detective for the Force Investigation Team (FIT) which investigates officer involved shootings and other high-level use of force incidents. Britt told me it is her greatest honor to serve her fellow officers in these investigations. 

As Britt says, her mission with the memorials is to hold true to what the department – and I will add the community – always say which is we will never forget. I will play what small role I can here in sharing the Officer Down Memorial Page tributes to the officers mentioned in this episode.

Seattle Police Department Line of Duty Deaths

https://www.odmp.org/search?ref=global&query=Seattle+Police+Department

The Lakewood Four 

Officer Tina Griswold

https://www.odmp.org/officer/20138-police-officer-tina-gail-delong-griswold

Officer Ron Owens

https://www.odmp.org/officer/20140-police-officer-ronald-wilbur-owens-ii

Sgt. Mark Renninger

https://www.odmp.org/officer/20137-sergeant-mark-joseph-renninger

Officer Greg Richards

https://www.odmp.org/officer/20139-police-officer-gregory-james-richards

Pierce County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Kent Mundell

https://www.odmp.org/officer/20190-deputy-sheriff-walter-kent-mundell-jr

As you may know, the Officer Down Memorial Page is a non-profit that takes donations. If you’re so inclined, here is their page:

https://www.odmp.org/

©Abby Ellsworth. All booking, interviews, editing, production done by Abby Ellsworth. Music courtesy of freesound.org.

Facebook: On Being a Police Officer

Twitter: @AbbyEllsworth13

Instagram: on_being_a_police_officer

[email protected]

Ep. 35 A special episode in reaction to the devastation of Hurricane Ian and the impact on first responders. Joining me for the second time on the podcast is Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office retired Lt. Drew Breasy to talk about this response, in particular the first responders we don’t see – the 911 Call Takers and Dispatchers, the “first” first responders as Drew calls them. Drew lives in the Tampa area which was initially in Hurricane Ian’s direct path. 

Drew started his career as a Dispatcher and 911 Call Taker and later returned to the Communications Center as a lieutenant. He has insight into the very specific trauma these first first responders experience. He also continues to lobby for better treatment of Communications specialists who are categorized as clerical staff without the pay, benefits or wellness training that first responders receive. Info on how you can help is below through the 911 Saves Act.

In his 29 years in LE, Drew has seen his share of hurricanes in the Tampa area. We talk about how all first responders leave their own families and homes behind to rescue those caught in the storm, not knowing what they will return to. LE has the added challenge of policing while saving lives. 

Many of the LEOs I’ve spoken to in the course of the podcast have worked through natural disasters ranging from wildfires to hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, earthquakes and more. It’s part of the job most of us don’t often think about. I’m glad I was able to cover some aspects of these particular challenges. And take a moment to thank all first responders, those we see, and those we don’t for what you do in extreme circumstances like this. And for what you do every day to protect the rest of us. 

Drew and I also talk about the important work of Team South Florida, an all-volunteer, non-profit organization. Their primary mission is to honor and remember those Law Enforcement Officers who have been killed in the line of duty while supporting their agencies and their families. Their secondary mission is to bridge the gap between Law Enforcement and the communities they live and work in. In response to the Hurricane, Team South Florida has stepped up to support first responders through donations that cover everything from food and water, to diapers, flashlights, toiletries and other services they need. 

You can find them on their website and social media and if you are so inclined, make a donation. 

https://www.teamsouthflorida.org/

https://www.facebook.com/TmSouthFlorida

https://www.instagram.com/teamsouthflorida/

Twitter: @TmSouthFlorida

Here is the flyer with specific needs that Drew mentioned: https://mcusercontent.com/affe9705f31024d1058eab6f8/files/e3825dfd-b06c-4e9b-42f8-bfa44a334684/Flyer_Final.pdf

The 911 Saves Act we discussed:

The 911 SAVES Act is bipartisan legislation to reclassify 911 dispatchers from “Office and Administrative Support” to “Protective Service Occupations” in the Office of Management and Budget’s Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) catalog. Get involved by writing to your representatives in support of this legislation. Here is a press release with details:

https://torres.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/torres-fitzpatrick-include-9-1-1-saves-act-amendment-ndaa

Where to find Andrew Baxter a.k.a. Drew Breasy

Instagram: drew_breasy

Facebook: Drew Breasy Uncuffed

https://youtube.com/c/DrewBreasy

linktr.ee/Drew Breasy

LinkedIn: Andrew Baxter

Failure To Stop on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCShU5ZCwvbeFZ5zADRzrlhQ

©Abby Ellsworth [email protected]

Facebook: On Being a Police Officer

Twitter: @AbbyEllsworth13

Instagram: on_being_a_police_officer

Ep. 34 Seattle PD SWAT Sgt. Drew Hancock, (retired 2021), discusses his 28-year career with the department working foot patrol, mountain bikes, undercover VICE and Narcotics, and SWAT as a sergeant/supervisor for ten years. In this role, he helped manage the Unit’s response to the 2020 riots that famously shut down a several-block area of the city and temporarily shuttered the department’s East Precinct. He talks about the scope and intensity of those days and compares this experience to working the World Trade Organization (WTO) riots in 1999 for which Seattle also made national news. 

I met Drew 12 years ago just as he was starting as SWAT sergeant. It's great to reconnect to look back at all of it and to hear the stories of the people he helped, the camaraderie, the good times and the tough times. And I finally get to ask him what SWAT really does because I realized I did not know! 

We also talk about Drew’s new role as Director of Practice Development - Law Enforcement for Creative Planning, a nationally recognized wealth advisory firm dedicated to helping clients achieve their long-term financial goals. Drew and his wife started as clients seven years ago and for the past two years, Drew has been proactively talking with fellow officers about their needs and what the company’s financial planners can do for them. With his firsthand knowledge of LE’s pay structure and Creative Planning's approach, Drew can answer officers’ questions about what the company can do for them and arrange a free, no obligation consultation with a financial planner. 

As Drew says, the company “gives you a much better approach and trajectory for your own personal financial success, instead of just leaving it up to the state or the city or the pension board to control your money. It’s a very personal approach to a holistic wealth management. I think it’s one reason I was able to retire early.” 

Drew welcomes having a conversation with LE from around the country. You can reach him at [email protected] or connect with him on LinkedIn.

On a personal note to you my listeners, it is meaningful to me to air this episode at this time since it was two years ago that I launched the podcast. Initially, it was in response to the 2020 riots to give LE a platform to discuss the impact of the extreme verbal, physical and emotional attacks you undeservedly suffered and to showcase the profession as it really is, not as it was made out to be. 

My first episode was with a Seattle PD Wellness Sergeant conducted on the day that Carmen Best, the department’s first Black female Chief resigned. Since then, I have interviewed law enforcement from around the country. My goal is to tell the real stories of LE, the ones that don’t make the news. It’s also my way of telling law enforcement through dark days and good, that there are civilians like myself who support you and who see the profession for what it really is. Thank you for what you do and your families and loved ones who share you with us.

Facebook: On Being a Police Officer

Twitter: @AbbyEllsworth13

Instagram: on_being_a_police_officer

[email protected]

©Abby Ellsworth. All booking, interviews, editing, production done by Abby Ellsworth. Music courtesy of freesound.org.

Ep. 33 I continue my conversation with Spokane PD Officer Stacy Roark. In Ep. 32, we started with an overview of Officer Roark’s 30-year career in law enforcement. We also talked about his current role on the Behavioral Health Unit and as a negotiator. Joining us is Jenny Mandin, a mental health professional with Frontier Behavioral Health. Officer Roark and Jenny are co-deployed to respond to persons in crisis. We discuss how this pairing works, the calls they respond to and the role each of them plays in assessing each person’s needs. Their goal is to connect people with services and keep those who do not need to be in jail or in the hospital out of both. I also discuss with Jenny what she’s learned about law enforcement, the challenges officers face and why it is important for the safety and protection of everyone involved that she respond with law enforcement to these calls.  

I have talked about the co-responder model in the podcast, but in these two interviews, it is the first time I have covered the co-deployed approach. And it is the first opportunity I’ve had to speak with a mental health professional to get insight on training and approach. 

Facebook: On Being a Police Officer

Twitter: @AbbyEllsworth13

Instagram: on_being_a_police_officer

[email protected]

©Abby Ellsworth. All booking, interviews, editing, production done by Abby Ellsworth. Music courtesy of freesound.org.

Ep. 32 Joining me is Officer Stacy Roark who has been in law enforcement for 30 years. He is currently with the Spokane Police Dept. in the Behavioral Health Unit which uses a co-deployed model for responding to persons in mental crisis. Officer Roark rides with a mental health professional (MHP), Jenny Mandin from Frontier Behavioral Health. We talk about the calls they respond to and how they get people the help they need with the goal of keeping them out of jail or the hospital. 

I’ve previously discussed the co-responder model on the podcast in which officers call for a clinician to come to the scene, but this is the first time I’ve discussed the co-deployed approach in which the officer and clinician ride together. I have made it a point to cover these response models to show the lengths to which law enforcement goes to help persons in mental crisis.

We also discuss Officer Roark’s work as a negotiator for the department dealing with barricaded individuals, hostage situations, suicidal subjects and more. Officer Roark shares what it’s like to witness persons who complete suicide as well as the importance of remembering the “wins” when he and his fellow negotiators are able to succeed in keeping people from harming themselves or others. We discuss the current environment for LE and his work supporting officer wellness. And we take a look back at why he became a police officer, the rewards of the job, and how it was not at all what he thought it was going to be. 

In my next episode, mental health professional Jenny Mandin will join us to talk more about their work together in the Spokane PD's Behavioral Health Unit.

Thanks for listening.

Facebook: On Being a Police Officer

Twitter: @AbbyEllsworth13

Instagram: on_being_a_police_officer

[email protected]

©Abby Ellsworth. All interviews, editing, production done by Abby Ellsworth. Music courtesy of freesound.org

Ep. 31 Joining me is Andrew Baxter, a.k.a., Drew Breasy, creator and host of the popular social media channel “Drew Breasy Uncuffed” which he launched after retiring a year ago. It is, in his words, “the unapologetically honest opinion of a retired police lieutenant.”  

First, we look back on Drew’s 29 years with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (Tampa area). We talk about why he knew “come hell or high water” he would become a deputy with HCSO. We then jump into his resume which is so impressive, I focused on what, to me, is the stuff of TV shows including his work both as a detective and a supervisor in undercover narcotics, informant handling, wire taps, and much more. Drew started in the Communications Center as a 911 Operator and Dispatcher and returned there later in his career as Lieutenant. We talk about the trauma specific to dispatch and call takers and their importance as “first” first responders.

All of this experience informs “Drew Breasy Uncuffed.” He addresses widely distributed but often inaccurate reporting on law enforcement, whether it's issues or incidents. He does his research and digs through all the details on LE’s involvement for cases that range in nature, but which have captured traditional and social media attention – from Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie, to Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake, to the tragedy in Uvalde. As Drew says, he is now able to speak freely, something active LEOs can’t do. He comes from “a place of healing,” and his goal is to give a voice to those who don’t have one. That’s a goal we share. 

Here is where you can find him:

Instagram: drew_breasy

Facebook: Drew Breasy Uncuffed

https://youtube.com/c/DrewBreasy

linktr.ee/Drew Breasy

LinkedIn: Andrew Baxter

Please don’t forget to follow or subscribe to the podcast. Feel free to leave a review. And find me on my social or email me your thoughts:

Facebook: On Being a Police Officer

Twitter: @AbbyEllsworth13

Instagram: on_being_a_police_officer

[email protected]

©Abby Ellsworth. All interviews, editing, production done by Abby Ellsworth. Music courtesy of freesound.org

Ep. 30 Teresa Taylor, executive director of WACOPS, the Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs, shares an update on the wide-ranging police reform legislation that went into law in Washington State in July 2021. Now almost a year later, we look at the impact of the legislation on law enforcement and the community, the revisions that have been made and why, and what still needs to be changed. We also look at some concerning new developments including legislation that would make deadly use of force justified only if the threat is “immediate” as opposed to “imminent,” a potentially dangerous distinction. And we talk about the concept of “compliant handcuffing.”

Our conversation is relevant not only to police departments in WA State, but also to law enforcement agencies around the country. It reflects the impact of the national negative narrative on policing and how it plays out in our communities, and how it impacts individual departments and officers. If you live in Washington, you’ll be pleased to know how much Teresa and WACOPS do for officers and for the community.

Teresa, like me, is a civilian. We share the goal of supporting law enforcement and helping people understand what it really means to be a police officer.  

WACOPS is recognized as the largest, oldest and most influential trade organization representing law enforcement professionals in Washington state. Here is a link to their website. 

https://www.wacops.org/

For those who want to know more about WACOPS, please contact Teresa at [email protected]

Please don’t forget to follow or subscribe to the podcast. Feel free to leave a review. And find me on my social or email me your thoughts:

Facebook: On Being a Police Officer

Twitter: @AbbyEllsworth13

Instagram: on_being_a_police_officer

[email protected]

©Abby Ellsworth. All interviews, editing, production done by Abby Ellsworth. Music courtesy of freesound.org

Ep. 29 Joining me is New Zealand police officer, Constable James Walkling.  James is originally from the UK where he started his career in law enforcement with the Metropolitan Police in London in 2011. We talk about policing in these very different countries, in particular what it’s like to be unarmed in the UK and “semi armed” in New Zealand. We also review the current debate in New Zealand to move to “generally armed,” which would allow officers to carry a handgun as they do in Australia. This debate was ignited in 2021 following the murder of New Zealand Constable Matthew Hunt during a traffic stop. 

James looks back on his challenging upbringing in the foster care system and unpleasant interactions with UK police as a teen, factors which actually led him to choose law enforcement as a profession to make the changes he wanted to see. In fact, his advice to Americans who are disgruntled with law enforcement is to do the same. He also encourages civilians to do a ride-along with officers to really understand the job.  “Go and do those ride-alongs and be involved in it, and understand that policing is nothing what you think it is.”

We also discuss the events in America over the past two years including the murder of George Floyd, civil unrest, calls for defunding the police and the perception and impact of these events on law enforcement here and in other countries. The negative narrative on policing does not stop at our borders. 

For all that is different among these countries, there is much that is the same. The commitment, the sacrifice, protecting the most vulnerable, dealing with people on what is very possibly the worst day of their lives. Our conversation is both thoughtful and upbeat and is as much about James’ support of law enforcement in the U.S. and worldwide as it is about his own experiences.

Remembering Constable Matthew Hunt killed on duty July 2021 - a short documentary

Facebook: On Being a Police Officer

Twitter: @AbbyEllsworth13

Instagram: on_being_a_police_officer

[email protected]

©Abby Ellsworth. All interviews, editing, production done by Abby Ellsworth. Music courtesy of freesound.org

Ep. 28 Head of Public Affairs for the Baltimore, Chicago and Fairfax County VA police departments, Anthony Guglielmi talks about advocating for LE while being transparent with and educating the public on what it means to be a police officer.

He reflects on the rewards and challenges of supporting police departments in two of the largest and most violent cities in the country. While with Baltimore PD from 2008 to 2013, Anthony helped the department communicate their strategy to reduce rampant gun violence through “targeted prosecution and putting the right people in jail for the right reason at the right times.” He also discusses BPD’s Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF) and the resulting scandal which led to officers being charged with racketeering, robbery, extortion and fraud. Anthony talks about how this happened and what went wrong. 

Before the GTTF scandal broke, Anthony was recruited by Chicago PD to manage the release of dash cam video of the killing of Laquan McDonald by Officer Jason Van Dyke, video that contradicted police statements. It was Anthony’s job to help the department and the city rebuild public trust. Ultimately, Chicago PD become one of the first departments in the country to release body cam footage within days of an incident, a practice and a concept that was unheard of at the time.  

After Chicago PD, Anthony joined the Fairfax County Police Department in Virginia outside Washington D.C. We revisit the January 6th insurrection and Fairfax County PD’s mutual aid response. And we talk about Anthony’s commitment to telling the real stories of LE. His teams have produced and distributed videos about the good work officers do. In Anthony’s words: “Here's what you didn't see on last night's news.”

©Abby Ellsworth. All interviews booked, conducted and edited by Abby Ellsworth. 

Follow me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/OnBeingaPoliceOfficer and https://www.facebook.com/abby.ellsworth.52

Instgram: on_being_a_police_officer

Twitter: @AbbyEllsworth13

Email: [email protected]

https://heroespodcastnetwork.com/