Cops and Writers Podcast
Cops and Writers is a podcast hosted by retired police sergeant and author, Patrick O'Donnell. The podcast provides valuable insights and humor for crime writers who want to create accurate and believable police stories. O'Donnell conducts in-depth interviews with members of law enforcement and civilian experts, discussing police procedures and culture. He also interviews crime fiction writers and writers from different genres, discussing what works in the ever-changing landscape of book sales and publishing. The podcast offers candid stories told with cop humor and technical details about the world of law enforcement.
Episodes
311 episodes
FBI Special Agent Barry Black: From Accountant to Sniper and Bomb Tech at Waco, Oklahoma City and 9/11 (Part 1)
From accountant to FBI Special Agent, FBI SWAT sniper, and bomb Tech. My guest on today’s show, Barry Black, has been involved in investigating multi-million dollar crimes, from being a SWAT sniper at the Waco standoff, a...
Borders, Badges, and Congress with Sheriff Mark Lamb (Part 2)
Last week, we heard how a single ride-along changed the trajectory of one man's life forever. This week, Sheriff Mark Lamb and I talk about the big issues: border security, the Second Amendment, term limits, what's broken in law enforcement ...
One Ride Along Changed Everything-America's Sheriff Mark Lamb (Part 1)
One ride along and a passion for public service. That's all it took to change everything. My guest on the show today, Sheriff Mark Lamb, walked away from a successful business career, stepped into a police academy in his t...
The California Kid: Owen Hanson's Journey from Cartel Kingpin to Frozen Protein Bars. Prison, Power, & Purpose!
Today’s show is going to be a little different. Usually, I interview professionals who are law enforcement, military, or victims of crimes. Today, I will interview a man who was a criminal. This is a story of second chances and what can be a...
DEA Agent J. Todd Scott: From Busting International Drug Dealers to Writing and Producing Dutton Ranch (Part Two)
Thanks for coming back for the conclusion of my interview with Author, Screenwriter, Producer, and Retired DEA Agent J Todd Scott. Today’s episode, we talk DEA stuff and work our way into Hollywood and books, more specifically, him being a p...
DEA Agent J. Todd Scott: From Busting International Drug Dealers to Writing and Producing Dutton Ranch (Part One)
The name of this podcast is Cops and Writers. My guest on the show today, J Todd Scott, definitely fits that bill. The conclusion of this interview will air next Sunday!Todd spent 30 years as a special agent for the DEA, being ...
Police Officer Mike Martinez: Surviving 3 Life and Death Incidents in His First 18 Months as a Cop (Part Two)
“Have you ever shot someone?” Most cops will be asked this throughout their careers, including myself. Most cops go to retirement without having to take a life. Then others have been involved in multiple officer-involved shootings (OIS). Mos...
Police Officer Mike Martinez: Surviving 3 Life and Death Incidents in His First 18 Months as a Cop (Part One)
“Have you ever shot someone?” Most cops will be asked this throughout their careers, including myself. Most cops go to retirement without having to take a life. Then others have been involved in multiple officer-involved shootings (OIS). Mos...
What the Dead Know With New York City Death Investigator Barbara Butcher.
One pleasure of hosting this podcast is having some of your favorite people come back on the show. Today’s episode is one of those occurrences.Today on the show, I welcome back retired New York City Death Investigator, author, ...
Undercover Trooper & ATF Special Agent Jennifer Eskew. Becoming Fire! (Part Two)
Welcome back, everyone, for the conclusion of my interview with retired ATF Special Agent Jennifer Eskew. A little about Jennifer. Jennifer (CLARKE) Eskew is a former Virginia State Trooper, a retired ATF Senior Special Ag...
Undercover Trooper & ATF Special Agent Jennifer Eskew. Becoming Fire! (Part One)
Welcome everyone, to part one of my interview with retired ATF Special Agent Jennifer Eskew. The conclusion of this interview will air next Sunday!A little about Jennifer: Jennifer (CLARKE) Eskew is a former Virginia State Troo...
30 Years. 50 Banks. How FBI Agent Ray Carr Caught the Most Prolific Bank Robber in History. (Part 2)
Welcome back, everyone, for the conclusion of my interview with Retired FBI Special Agent, Author, and Professor Raymond Carr. When we think of bank robberies, it conjures up visions of iconic movies like Dog Day Afternoon...
FBI Agent Ray Carr Caught the Most Prolific Bank Robber in History… But First, How It All Started. (Part One)
Welcome, everyone, to part one of my interview with Retired FBI Special Agent, Author, and Professor Raymond Carr. The conclusion of this interview will air next Sunday!When we think of bank robberies, it conjures up visions of...
Bonus Episode! A Novel Crime With Bestselling Author Deborah Levison!
Welcome everyone to a bonus episode of the Cops and Writers podcast, author spotlight with bestselling author and publicist, Deborah Levison. Her first book, THE CRATE, won seven literary awards, and Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling ...
Sgt. Betsy "Tactical Grandma" Brantner Smith; Undercover Cop, Sergeant, & Television Reality Star. (Part Two)
Welcome everyone to the conclusion of my interview with Naperville Police Department Retired Police Sergeant and now Spokesperson for the National Police Association, Betsy Brantner Smith. Last week, we learned about Betsy...
Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith, Resilience Under Fire: The Early Years of a Female Cop Who Refused to Quit. (Part One)
Can you imagine being the only female in your police academy class? How about the instructor telling you that you shouldn’t be in the classroom and instead should be giving him a blowjob? Or being a rookie cop and being formally disciplined ...
Civilians Replacing Cops? C.S.I.s Frank Carson & Bill Greene & The Future of Law Enforcement
With historical shortages in law enforcement, today's departments have to find ways of augmenting positions that were traditionally filled by sworn law enforcement officers. One option is to have civilians working these jobs. On today’s show...
Police Stories: The Rookie Years. The Howells vs. Pam From The Office.
In this Last episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast bonus series, retired Milwaukee Police Sergeant Patrick O'Donnell reads Chapter 26, "The Howells vs. Pam From The Office," from his book:Police Stories: The Rookie Years - True Crim...
Move Over Jack Reacher, Bestselling Author Nick Petrie's Peter Ash is Here!
Today’s show will be especially helpful for you writers out there, or if you are curious to see what makes a full-time thriller author tick. On the show today, we have award-winning and bestselling author Nick Petrie, who just released his 9...
Police Stories: The Rookie Years! Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?
In this episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast bonus series, retired Milwaukee Police Sergeant Patrick O'Donnell reads Chapter 14, "Scooby-Doo Where Are You?" from his upcoming book:Police Stories: The Rookie Years - True Crime, Chao...
Jennifer Bucholtz: From Interrogating Enemies in Iraq & Afghanistan to Solving Cold Cases at Home (Part 2)
Welcome everyone, to the conclusion of my interview with Professor and El Paso County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Jennifer Bucholtz. Jennifer Bucholtz is a former U.S. Army Counterintelligence Agent, and a decorated ...
Police Stories: The Rookie Years! A Tale of Two Kidnappings!
In this episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast bonus series, retired Milwaukee Police Sergeant Patrick O'Donnell reads Chapter 33, "A Tale of Two Kidnappings," from his upcoming book:Police Stories: The Rookie Years - True Crime, Cha...
Jennifer Bucholtz: From Interrogating Enemies in Iraq & Afghanistan to Solving Cold Cases at Home (Part 1)
Welcome everyone to part one of my interview with Professor and El Paso County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Jennifer Bucholtz. The conclusion of this interview will air next Sunday!Jennifer Bucholtz is a former U.S. Army C...
Police Stories: The Rookie Years! "Wojo!"
In this episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast bonus series, retired Milwaukee Police Sergeant Patrick O'Donnell reads Chapter 32, "Wojo," from his upcoming book:Police Stories: The Rookie Years - True Crime, Chaos, & Life as a B...
Hunting Down The Worst Criminals in Philadelphia: Philly Warrant Unit with Tristin Kilgallon!
Welcome everyone as we travel to the city of brotherly love and Rocky, Philadelphia. Today on the show, we have former Philadelphia warrant squad member Tristin Kilgallon. Tristin grew up in Philadelphia and started his c...
