Things Police See: Firsthand Accounts

Step inside the world of frontline policing with retired San Antonio Police Officer Ernie Stevens, co‑author, crisis‑response pioneer, and star of HBO's Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops. In this powerful interview, Ernie shares raw, unfiltered stories from 30 years on the job — from adrenaline‑pumping pursuits to heartbreaking death notifications, bizarre calls, and the creation of one of the nation's most respected police mental‑health units. Host Steve Gould of Things Police See dives deep into Ernie's early days as a young officer, his most intense and terrifying moments, and the emotional toll that comes with serving a major city like San Antonio. Ernie also opens up about responding to officers in crisis, the evolution of de‑escalation, and what policing really looks like behind the scenes. If you're interested in law enforcement, mental health, crisis intervention, or real‑world police stories told without filters, this episode delivers. Ernie and Scott's Book https://a.co/d/1ZnX4BO Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055 Sergeant Steve - @TheSergeantSteve https://www.youtube.com/@TheSergeantSteve

Retired Waltham Police Sergeant and NEMLEC SWAT operator Jim Vaglica returns to Things Police See to deliver a full, unfiltered account of his response to the Boston Marathon bombing and the massive manhunt that followed. Jim walks listeners through the moment the bombs detonated, the chaos of deploying into Boston, the tense overnight searches in Watertown, and the dramatic final standoff where the second bomber was captured. His firsthand perspective reveals what really happened behind the scenes — the communication breakdowns, the tactical challenges, the danger of unexploded IEDs, and the sheer exhaustion of operators working more than 24 hours straight. This episode is a rare, detailed look at SWAT operations during one of the most significant domestic terrorism events in U.S. history. If you're interested in law enforcement, tactical operations, crisis response, or the Boston Marathon bombing, this interview is essential listening. Follow Jim on X - https://x.com/JimVaglica Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055 Sergeant Steve YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@TheSergeantSteve

Former FBI agent Barry Black joins Things Police See to share gripping firsthand accounts from his 31‑year career. Barry served as a sniper at Waco, responded to the Oklahoma City bombing, worked the Atlanta Olympic bombing, and deployed to Ground Zero after 9/11. He also trained military and law‑enforcement personnel around the world and recently released his memoir Hazardous Devices. In this interview, Barry breaks down what really happened at Waco, describes the chaos of Oklahoma City, explains the evolution of bomb‑tech work, and shares unbelievable stories from financial‑crime investigations to international terrorism cases. This episode offers rare insight into the realities of federal law enforcement, high‑risk operations, and the human side of policing. If you're interested in FBI operations, SWAT, bomb disposal, true crime, or behind‑the‑scenes law‑enforcement stories, this is an episode you won't forget. Barry's Book - https://a.co/d/dJf7WQJ Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055 Sergeant Steve - Bodycam breakdowns https://www.youtube.com/@UCuobtuGxJny9V5lX5a1ieuw

Dive into gripping real-life stories from the front lines of law enforcement in this powerful episode of Things Police See Podcast with host Steve Gould (Ole Gingerface). Guest Cameron Pavlicek, an active Montana narcotics investigator, Afghanistan war veteran, former president of the Montana Narcotics Officers Association, and founder of Yellowstone Narcotics training company, shares intense, bizarre, and eye-opening experiences. Hear about a chilling first homicide call in freezing Montana conditions, using a baby as collateral in a meth deal gone wild, a 36-hour armed standoff ending in tragedy, creative undercover social media operations catfishing drug dealers online (posing as women to bust perps), bizarre encounters with a schizophrenic man carrying a stolen 100-pound welded California sculpture, and much more. Perfect for fans of true police stories, narcotics investigations, undercover ops, body cam breakdowns, and rural policing in the American West. Don't miss these raw, unfiltered cop tales from the Big Sky State! Yellowstone Narcotics https://yellowstonenarcotics.com/ Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055 Sergeant Steve - Bodycam Breakdowns https://www.youtube.com/@UCuobtuGxJny9V5lX5a1ieuw

Listen to raw, unfiltered police stories from a 30-year veteran of the Minneapolis Police Department! Retired Lieutenant Scott Zierden shares his firsthand accounts of bizarre calls, intense fights, terrifying moments, and heartwarming rescues during his career in patrol, training, criminal investigations, and internal affairs. Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055

In this gripping episode, retired Waltham, Massachusetts police sergeant Jim Vaglica shares raw, firsthand accounts from his 32-year career. With 16 years on the NEMLEC regional SWAT team, Jim was on the ground during the intense manhunt and capture of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in Watertown — including the chaotic boat standoff, massive gunfire, and negotiations. He reveals behind-the-scenes details on the 2013 events (inspired by films like Patriots Day), bizarre scenes (like intact brains ejected from shotgun wounds), heart-pounding SWAT entries against armed barricaded suspects, early adrenaline-fueled calls, and the unsolved Waltham triple murder linked to the older Tsarnaev brother. Jim also discusses recruiting new cops, school resource officers, his time on reality TV shows, and why policing remains an honorable profession. A must-watch for true crime fans, law enforcement stories, and Boston Marathon bombing insights. Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055 Follow Jim on X - https://x.com/JimVaglica

Retired LAPD Lieutenant Rick Deadman joins the show to share over 50 years of intense, bizarre, and sometimes humorous police stories from his career with LAPD, Casper PD, and Natrona County Sheriff's Office. From high-speed pursuits and armed suspects in the 1970s "Jungle" to a tragic training accident that shook Hollywood Division, Rick pulls no punches. He also discusses his current volunteer work with Copline, helping officers and their families through PTSD, trauma, and crisis. Copline www.copline.org Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055

Merry Christmas everyone! In this episode Kerry and I discuss whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Just wanted to give you guys an episode over the holiday. Police interviews are back next week! God bless and Merry Christmas! Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055

Dive into the 2025 year-end review of the popular law enforcement podcast "Things Police See: Firsthand Accounts" hosted by Steve Gould! In this special episode, Steve is joined by his lovely wife Kerry for a fun, candid conversation covering podcast stats from Spotify Wrapped, growth challenges, top episodes (including the ATF task force standout), listener demographics across 52 countries, and surprising fan favorites in music and books. Get behind-the-scenes insights on balancing police life, family Christmas chaos, the rise of the Sergeant Steve YouTube channel, short-form content struggles, and heartwarming stories from police holiday parties and academies. If you love intense, bizarre, and humorous police stories from active and retired officers, subscribe for weekly episodes! Share with a cop in your life – guest suggestions welcome. Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055

My good friend the great Gill Reyes tells his tales from the California Highway Patrol! Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055

My good friend Ken Roybal, a retired Los Angeles Police Department veteran with an extraordinary 35 years of service to the city of Los Angeles. Ken started his career as an LAPD officer in 1980, he patrolled the streets during some of the most turbulent times in the department's history, then honed his expertise as a background investigator from 1997 to 2001, meticulously vetting the next generation of guardians. After retiring in 2003, he continued his mission in the City of Los Angeles Personnel Department, guiding countless applicants through the rigorous hiring process until his full retirement in 2018. Now, as the founder of Policebackground.net and host of The Police Applicant Podcast—affectionately known on Instagram as The Background Whisperer—Ken empowers aspiring officers with insider strategies to navigate backgrounds, interviews, and beyond. Police Applicant Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2blCjqkzrztWRsbg1W5yGH?si=2df84ec0e4894714 Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055

Retired Ontario PD aviation supervisor and K9 handler Sgt. Eric Weidner is back! Eric returns to dive deep into his years as a police dog handler with his 115-lb Czech Shepherd "Kachi" – from the very first bite, training dogs to ride in helicopters, head bites, narcotic detection at airports, and the craziest tracks and apprehensions of his career. Now retired, Eric owns CNC Technologies – the company that outfits, upgrades, and 24/7 supports law enforcement surveillance helicopters and airplanes all over the world. Hear how he went from chasing suspects on the ground and in the air to running one of the most trusted aviation companies in public safety. If you love real police K9 stories, police aviation, or just insane behind-the-scenes law enforcement tales, this is the episode for you. CNC Technologies: https://www.cnctechnologies.com Instagram: @cnctechnologies Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com Sergeant Steve - https://www.youtube.com/@TheSergeantSteve Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055

Eric retired from the Ontario Police Department, where he served as the aviation unit supervisor. He is currently the chief operations officer at CNC Technologies. Before his time in air support, Sgt Weidner was a dedicated K9 handler for Ontario PD. Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055 www.thingspolicesee.com

Virginia State Trooper & 29-year ATF Special Agent Jennifer Eskew shares shocking police stories from her 33-year law enforcement career on "Things Police See" podcast with host Steve Gold. From her first double-fatality crash as a rookie trooper to terrifying undercover crack buys in gang-infested Portsmouth, VA, and heartwarming rescues of drug-addicted moms—discover intense cop moments, bizarre naked arrests, and life-saving advice for new officers. Jennifer's new memoir Becoming Fire: Chasing the Passion to Protect, Serve and Love launches Nov 18—pre-order now! Foreword by Joe Kenda. Perfect for true crime fans, law enforcement enthusiasts, and police story lovers. Get Jennifer's Book https://www.jenniferclarkeeskew.com/ Bodycam Breakdowns - https://www.youtube.com/@thingspolicesee Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055

Anthony Pesare served with distinction as a Major in the Rhode Island State Police and later as Chief of Police for Middletown, RI. Over the course of his career, Pesare held commanding roles in the Intelligence Unit, Detective Bureau, and Narcotics Division, and played a pivotal role in dismantling organized crime operations across New England—including cases involving the notorious Patriarca crime family. www.anthonympesare.com Books on Amazon https://a.co/d/c1stQTa Support The Podcast by Joining The Patreon! https://patreon.com/thingspolicesee?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Sergeant Steve YouTube - @TheSergeantSteve Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com

Join host Steve Gould on "Things Police See" as he interviews retired Nashville Police Sergeant Scott Cothran. With 16.5 years at Metro Nashville PD, Scott shares gripping stories from his career, including high-stakes drug busts, a dramatic flood rescue during Nashville’s 2010 flood, and a terrifying encounter with a murder suspect. Now working with first responders battling PTSD and substance abuse, Scott opens up about his personal struggles with alcoholism and recovery. Discover powerful insights, intense police experiences, and advice for new officers. Subscribe for more real police stories and recovery journeys! Reach Scott at - Scott.cothran@magnoliameadows.com Magnolia Meadows at Waverly - For First Responders https://www.facebook.com/share/18psaKq9sg/?mibextid=wwXIfr www.youtube.com/@TheSergeantSteve Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com Support the show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055

Join host Steve Gould on "Things Police See: Firsthand Accounts" as he interviews retired police officer Jon Perry, a 36-year veteran with Kansas City and Virginia State Police. In this gripping episode, Jon shares intense stories from his career, including high-stakes crisis negotiations, criminal profiling, and assisting with a double homicide in the Ozarks. From barricaded subjects to global homicide investigations, Jon reveals the challenges and emotional toll of policing, offering insights into the mindset of a negotiator and the realities of law enforcement. Tune in for bizarre, heartwarming, and unforgettable moments from the front lines, plus advice for aspiring officers. Don’t miss this powerful episode—perfect for true crime enthusiasts, law enforcement professionals, and anyone curious about the untold stories of policing. Subscribe, rate, and review to support the show! Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055

Join host Steve Gould on the "Things Police See" podcast as he interviews retired DEA Supervisory Special Agent Jack McFarland. With 32 years of service, Jack shares gripping stories from his time in the Caribbean, tackling drug trafficking, undercover operations, and international law enforcement challenges. From busting offload crews to navigating high-stakes cases in St. Croix and Baltimore, Jack reveals the intense, bizarre, and sometimes humorous moments of his career. Tune in for thrilling tales of DEA operations, Caribbean crime, and the brotherhood of law enforcement. Jack's Instagram - @JackMcFarlandDEA Jack's LinkedIn - @JackMcFarland Truth Social - @JackMcFarlandDEA Website - www.jackmcfarlanddea.com Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055

Dive into gripping firsthand accounts from Tristan Kilgallon, a former warrant investigator for Philadelphia's First Judicial District. Hear intense tales of serving warrants in Philly's toughest neighborhoods like Kensington, known for its heroin crisis and zombie-like streets. From rooftop chases and shootouts to bizarre encounters with Sylvester Stallone filming Rocky Balboa, plus heartwarming stories of redemption for addicts and prostitutes. Tristin shares advice for new cops, the realities of law enforcement, and insights from his book "Philly Warrant Unit" co-authored with Mark Fusetti. Perfect for true crime fans, police story enthusiasts, and those interested in urban policing challenges. Don't miss this unfiltered look at active and retired officers' bizarre, humorous, and intense moments on the job. Subscribe for more cop interviews, law enforcement podcasts, and real police experiences! Tristin's Book Amazon: https://a.co/d/eDGg6YS Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com Support the show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055

Join host Steve Gould on Things Police See as he interviews David Liang, a retired New Orleans Police Department sergeant with 24 years of service. David shares gripping stories from his career, including his first adrenaline-pumping call to a house fire, a bizarre suicide scene in the French Quarter, and the chaos of securing the New Orleans Convention Center during Hurricane Katrina. Now serving in a smaller Kansas agency, David reflects on cultural differences, the challenges of modern policing, and the impact of media on law enforcement’s reputation. Packed with intense, heartwarming, and humorous anecdotes, this episode offers a raw look into the life of a dedicated officer. Subscribe for more firsthand police stories! 02:30 - David Leang’s Background: 24 Years with NOPD 05:15 - Culture Shock: New Orleans to Kansas 10:45 - First Hot Call: House Fire with a Trapped Child 16:20 - Steven Seagal’s Reserve Deputy Role 25:40 - Bizarre Call: French Quarter Suicide Scene 31:50 - Hurricane Katrina: Chaos at the Convention Center 40:10 - Voodoo and New Orleans Culture 47:25 - Most Intense Call: Predator-Like Crime Scene 53:30 - Mardi Gras Policing Challenges 58:45 - Heartwarming Moment: Saving a Life 1:05:00 - Advice for Aspiring Police Officers 1:12:20 - Challenges of Modern Policing and Christian Belief Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055