Interview with retired King County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Detective Jon Holland

Years of Service: 1987-2019

Jon began his career in law enforcement with the South Salt Lake City, Utah Police Department. After two years, he moved to Washington State and began working for the King County Sheriff's Office, located just south of Seattle.

Jon started on patrol but gradually rose through the ranks, serving in the Street Crimes Team, Vice Unit, FBI Fugitive Task Force, and Special Assault Unit, before finally joining the Major Crimes Unit.

While in the Major Crimes Unit, Jon handled cold cases, violent crimes, and homicide investigations, and briefly participated in the Green River Killer investigation. 

Jon is the owner of Holland Polygraph, based in Southern California.

Interview with retired Los Angeles Fire Department Battalion Chief Steve Ruda

Years of Service: 1978-2019

In 1975, Steve attended the Marine Corps Officer Candidate Scholl and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He left active duty in 1978 at the rank of Captain.

In 1978, Steve joined the Los Angeles Fire Department, where he led a long and storied career spanning 40 years. Steve received the California State Firefighters Association’s Medal of Valor. He also holds three commendations for bravery, including the Medal of Merit, and in 2005 was selected as the Firefighter of the Year.

During this episode, Steve talks about leadership both in the Marines and LAFD and the qualities of what makes a good leader. During his 40 years, Steve was involved in the LA Riots of 1992, the floods of 1993 as well as the fires of 1993.

Interview with retired Los Angeles County Sheriff Homicide Detective Gil Carrillo

Years of Service: 1971-2009

Gil grew up in the 1970s in Los Angeles. As Gil explains, he was a lazy student who often hung around other young men who were going nowhere. At age 17, a police officer took an interest in Gil and recognized that if he didn’t get out of his environment, he was going to end up in jail or possibly dead. The officer brought Gil home one day and told his parents that if they didn’t sign Gil over to the military, they would probably lose their son.

Gil joined the military, served in Vietnam, and, as he tells it, changed his life. He came home with a new attitude and three goals. To graduate from college, to become a police officer, and to get back at his ex-girlfriend, who had sent him a dear John letter while he had been in Vietnam.

Gil joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at age 21 and became a correctional deputy. He soon was on patrol and then worked in plain clothes investigating gangs. With just 9 ½ years on the job, Gil joined the Homicide Unit where worked for over 21 years.

Gil is best known for being the co-lead on the Richard Ramirez “Night Stalker” case and, in this interview, discusses theories of the case that he had that no one else believed.

Gil also talks about how he was approached by George Lopez to host a podcast and what that experience was like.

Years of Service: 1987-2002

In the world of law enforcement, there are many careers other than police officers, sheriff deputies, and Special Agents that play a crucial role during investigations leading to the arrest and prosecution of criminals. One of those careers is as an intelligence analyst, where information is gathered and put together in conjunction with on-ground street enforcement. These analysts are on the front lines and often participate in interviews of suspects as well as gathering evidence during search warrants.

Chris’ father was the first DEA Special Agent to be stationed in Mexico and Chris decided he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. Because of a medical issue, Chris was unable to pursue his goal of becoming a DEA Special Agent and instead became an Intelligence Analyst.
 

During this interview, Chris talks about his career and some of the unconventional things he did as an Intelligence Analyst. Chris was stationed in some domestic offices but also was stationed in Buenos Aires, La Paz Bolivia, and was temporarily stationed in Latin America and was present for search warrants at Manuel Noriega’s residence.

Chris currently runs his own company called MIC Worldwide, focusing on counterfeit investigations and is the author of “Counterfeits, War Stories and Lessons Learned”. Chris is a business coach and his first non-fiction novel was just published called “The Hunter” based on real people in his life.

Years of Service: 1986-Present

Steve has had a long line of service, starting in 1986 when he joined the United States Army. He eventually found his way to the Diplomatic Security Service in 1999 where he was assigned to the Washington D.C. Office.

Steve has had a long career with assignments domestically to include D.C., Orlando and Miami Florida, Glynco, Georgia, and Honolulu, Hawaii. In between these domestic assignments, Steve has served internationally in hotspots in Algeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

During this interview, Steve discusses how to become a DSS Agent and the qualities that make a good DSS Agent.

Steve is the author of “Afghans Never Smile: Reflections of a DSS Agent from Both Sides of the Durand Line” and much of this interview revolves around his time spent overseas in areas of the world that most people would not consider safe.

Interview with Boise Fire Department Captain Jim Walker

Years Of Service: 1999-Present

During this episode, Jim discusses his journey to becoming a fireman and his path to becoming a Captain with the Boise Fire Department.

During this entertaining episode, Jim talks about his early life in Idaho and why he turned down attending two military academies after being accepted.

Jim discusses the fun as well as the downside of being a college football player and life after college. The episode features lighthearted digging into why being a firefighter is better than being a police officer and the ongoing rivalry between the two career paths.

Interview with retired Miami-Dade Homicide Detective Ramesh Nyberg

Years of Service: 1979-2006

Ramesh grew up in South Miami, with a mom from India who would later become a Principal and a father who was a Swedish boat-builder. Much like other kids, Ramesh initially had aspirations to become a professional football player but later at Miami Dade College as a music major, he decided he was going to become a professional musician.

At 19 years old, Ramesh was listening to his roommate's police scanner and became so interested in the radio chatter that he went on a few ride-alongs. He switched his major to Criminal Justice and decided he wanted to become a police officer.

At 21 years old Ramesh began working for the Opa-Locka Police Department but after a year transferred to the North Miami Police Department where he worked another 2 years before ending up at Miami- Dade Police Department. After three years Ramesh was promoted to Homicide Detective where he remained the rest of his career.

Ramesh is the author of the books "Badge, Tie, and Gun: Life and Death Journeys of a Miami Detective" and "The Ten Must-Haves to be a Great Detective". Ramesh is also working on two other books, "Sugar Town" and "The Flyboys".

Interview with retired United States Customs Special Agent Bob Starkman

Years of Service: 1980-2018

Bob began his career in law enforcement in 1980 as a correctional officer at Greenhaven State Prison in New York. From there he worked for the NYC Sheriff's Office that he described as the worst job he ever had.

In 1982, Bob was hired as a U.S. Customs Patrol Officer before transferring to Miami and being promoted to Special Agent. Bob was in Miami during the Cocaine Wars and investigated high-level drug traffickers and worked on several large-scale money laundering cases including Operation Greenback.

During his career, Bob worked on the FIST Team, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the response group for Miami International Airport.

As busy as he was catching criminals, Bob started coaching basketball in 1997 and continued until 2018. During this period, Bob amassed a coaching record of 319-186, won 2 conference championships, coached 59 All-Americans, 8 All-State players, 5 All-Americans, and 2 Players of the Year. Bob was inducted into the FCCAA Hall of Fame as a coach and is the author of the book "Inside Both Courts". When asked how he managed to become a decorated law enforcement agent and a Hall of Fame coach and manage his time between the two careers, Bob said if "I knew that I'd be a millionaire".

Interview with retired DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Dante Sorianello

Years of Service: 1987-2022

In 1987, Dante was hired by the DEA. After graduating from the DEA Academy, Dante was assigned to the San Diego office where he investigated clandestine methamphetamine laboratories, money laundering including the Green Ice initiative, and was assigned to the gang task force.

Dante was deployed to South America where he served under Operation Snowcap destroying cocaine laboratories and clandestine airstrips.

During his career, Dante was assigned Tuscon, AZ, Bogata, Colombia, Midland and San Antonio, Texas as well as DEA Headquarters. Dante was also part of the DEA Jungle Group where he focused on an investigation into the FARC also known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

Interview with retired NYPD Detective Vic Ferrari

Years of Service: 1987-2007

Vic was born in New York and from a young age always wanted to be an NYPD police officer.
 
During this episode, Vic talks about growing up in New York and what led him to a career in law enforcement. He tells very entertaining stories about his time on patrol and his work as an auto crimes detective. Vic also talks about what it was like to be on ground zero following 9/11. 

During his career, Vic was part of the anti-crime unit, narcotics unit, and auto crimes.

Vic is the host of the NYPD Through the Looking Glass Podcast and the author of eight books, including the following, which can be found on Amazon.

NYPD Through the Looking Glass podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@vicferrari4046
NYPD Through the Looking Glass NYPD: Presumption & Dysfunction
NYPD: Laughing In the Line Of Duty The NYPD's Flying Circus: Cops, Crime & Chaos
NYPD: Law and Disorder
Grand Theft Auto: The NYPD's Auto Crime Division
Dickheads & Debauchery: and other ingenious ways to die
Confessions of a Catholic High School Graduate