Reasons We Serve: Police Careers & Officer Experience

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

Interview with retired San Diego Police Department Sergeant Detective David Contreras

Years of Service: 1985-2015

Born in Tijuana, Mexico, David came to the United States and, as a young child, knew he wanted to become a police officer. As David explains, he always had a sheepdog mentality and was always looking to defend the weaker kids who were getting picked on by bullies and saw law enforcement as a way to protect others who were being preyed upon.

As a young man, David became the founder and Executive Director of the New Life Rehabilitation Center for drug addicts and hardcore gang members. David explains that it was here that he learned his communication skills and began his education in how to deal with gang members and drug addicts and developed a philosophy to never believe anyone without first looking into the facts.

David was later hired as a corrections officer, where he worked with maximum security inmates and developed expertise in gangs, and furthered his street education in dealing with people from all walks of life.

At 28 years old, David was recruited by a mentor to the San Diego Police Department, where he began a long and storied career. With 8 months on patrol, David talks about what it was like working in San Diego in heavy crime and gang-ridden areas and tells the story of purchasing drugs in full uniform.

Throughout his career, David worked in the gang unit, internal affairs, narcotics, community relations and was the assistant to the chief of police. Most importantly, David worked for the Criminal Intelligence Unit which worked as the Mexican Liaison group, working directly with the Mexican Government on crimes such as rape, robbery, narcotics, and murder. The CIU unit worked in Mexico, where David and his team often found themselves searching for suspects from the United States hiding in Mexico.

David is the co-author of the book “When the Music Stops! The Pain Begins” which discusses the troubles law enforcement officers have reintegrating into society after a career in policing.

David is also working on his second book about active shooters, their mentality, and the after-effects.

Finally, David is the co-host of three podcasts. The Grey Line The Story Behind the Blue Line where he and his co-hosts talk to various guests about law enforcement as well as suspects they dealt with, as well as the spin-off podcast called Ash Wednesday, where they discuss numerous topics. If you love God, Family, Country, Whiskey and a great cigar this podcast is for you.

And lastly, the podcast “The Three Chingones” which is a boxing podcast where David and his co-hosts discuss past and present boxers and boxing matches and provide their analysis.

The Grey Line the Story Behind the Blue Line: https://www.youtube.com/@thegraylinepodcast Los #3 Chingones Boxing: https://www.youtube.com/@UCw9Unx2Voqn9AR2-ssdhe1w
When The Music Stops! The Pain Begins

Interview with retired ATF Special Agent Roland Ballesteros. 

Years of Service: 1987-2018

Roland grew up in Texas in a large family with a history of law enforcement going back to the 1800s to his great, great, great grandfather, who was a deputy sheriff. That service history continued through his family, with one brother becoming an ATF Special Agent and another working for the Air Force and, ultimately, the NSA.

As Roland was searching for what to do with his life, one brother took him for a ride along in high school, and from that moment on Roland realized he wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement.

As Roland was finishing college, he knew he didn’t want to work in an office and was trying to decide what law enforcement agency to go into. His brother told Roland to join the ATF, which Roland knew little about. After researching the agency, Roland applied and began his career in 1987 as a Special Agent.

During his career, Roland has worked on investigations focusing on felons in possession, fugitive apprehension, militias, the Centennial Park Bombing, the Eric Rudolph manhunt, homicides, gangs, home invasions, drug trafficking, the DC Sniper, and numerous other investigations.

Roland has been involved in investigations throughout the United States and other countries, including Mexico and El Salvador.

During this interview, Roland tells numerous stories about his career, including a harrowing recounting of the search warrant served at the infamous Branch Davidian Compound in Waco, Texas.

Interview with Dan Flores, retired United States Army, Customs and Border Protection and EMS pilot.

Years of Service: 1985-2022

Daniel Flores is a lifelong Texan. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1985, attending Infantry training at Ft. Benning Ga. He then served in the 4th Infantry Division in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
 
After his active-duty time, he then served in the Texas Army National Guard’s special operations unit; Company G. 143rd Infantry LRRP (Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol). In 1990 Mr. Flores went to Army flight school to become an Apache helicopter pilot with 7th Squadron 6th Cavalry Regiment, based in Conroe Texas.

In 2006 he was deployed as the attack asset for the 10th Mountain Division. He was in the infamous Korengal Valley and numerous outposts in the Hindu Kush mountains and along the Pakistani border.

He wrote a #1 bestselling book telling of his experience flying the Apache helicopter in combat and was instrumental in the success of the movie "Apache Warrior" as a Co-Executive producer.

The title of his book is “South of Heaven, My Year in Afghanistan”. From his book the film “Above the Best” was made. The film uses actual footage taken from his Apache helicopter in combat.

He received the “The Air Medal” and “Bronze Star” and retired after 26+ years in the Army. He also flew airplanes and helicopters for 21 years, for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as an Air Interdiction Agent before retiring in July 2020. He has been deployed to the U.S./Mexico border and South America on numerous occasions for operations against the Drug Trafficking Cartels and the illegal immigrant surge.

He currently flies Helicopters as an EMS pilot, in the Houston area.