Break in the Case

New York City Police Department

Season 4, "Stories from the Emergency Service Unit," introduces the most highly-trained officers in the NYPD. Learn why ESU are known as the buffs of the police department and how they prepare both mentally and physically for the most stressful jobs. The season also features a white-knuckle narrative by the officers who stopped a suicide bomb plot from taking place on Brooklyn’s subways in 1997. Break in the Case is a true crime podcast from the New York City Police Department. Each episode features officers – in their own voices –as they revisit cases to offer invaluable insights and colorful recollections. The unique, long-form stories portray the work of the women and men of the NYPD and their interactions with the people and communities they serve. This podcast is supported by the independent nonprofit New York City Police Foundation, and is written and produced by Jill Bauerle and Kenzie De Laine II. The podcast’s narrator, retired Detective Sergeant Wally Zeins, served at the NYPD from 1973 to 2003.

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  1. Stories from ESU Preview

    SEASON 4, EPISODE 1 TRAILER

    Stories from ESU Preview

    Break in the Case, Season 4: Stories from the Emergency Service Unit introduces some of the most highly-trained officers in the NYPD. They’re EMTs. Divers. Hostage Negotiators. SWAT. They put their own lives at risk in the service of others.

    1 min
  2. The Buffs of the Police Department

    EPISODE 1

    The Buffs of the Police Department

    ESU’s rigorous training is nine months long and requires cross training in tactical, medical and rescue work. For its members, the key to success is knowing your equipment. Or as one officer says, "You gotta be somewhat of a buff to be in Emergency."

    22 min
  3. Liberating Lady Liberty

    EPISODE 2

    Liberating Lady Liberty

    On July 4, 2018, a woman climbed up the base of the Statue of Liberty to protest the detention of migrant children. There was no way for her to get down on her own.

    17 min
  4. The Brooklyn Job Part 1

    EPISODE 3

    The Brooklyn Job Part 1

    On July 31, 1997, ESU officers get a tip that some people have built a bomb in their Brooklyn apartment, and they plan to detonate it on the subway the next morning. What happens next is known as The Brooklyn Job. In Part 1 of The Brooklyn Job, two MTA/Long Island Railroad cops are approached on the street by a man who doesn't speak English. He has an urgent message, and the word "bomb" does not get lost in translation.

    21 min
  5. The Brooklyn Job (Part 2): No Win Situation

    EPISODE 4

    The Brooklyn Job (Part 2): No Win Situation

    No Win Situation. In Part 2 of The Brooklyn Job, an Arabic-speaking rookie cop is called in to help translate for the informant. ESU officers prepare for a raid at an apartment in Park Slope, Brooklyn, where two men have been accused of building bombs.

    21 min
  6. The Brooklyn Job (Part 3), Bomb Factory

    EPISODE 5

    The Brooklyn Job (Part 3), Bomb Factory

    Bomb Factory. In Part 3 of The Brooklyn Job, a six-man team prepares to enter the suspects’ apartment. If what the informant says is true, and there is a satchel full of bombs in the apartment, they have a 50/50 chance of making it out of the apartment alive.

    31 min
  7. The Brooklyn Job, Part 4

    EPISODE 6

    The Brooklyn Job, Part 4

    Trip Wires and Politics. Once the bombs are discovered, it’s the Bomb Squad’s turn to dispose of them. Meanwhile, the entry team reflects on what just happened.

    29 min
  8. The Most Stressful Jobs

    EPISODE 7

    The Most Stressful Jobs

    In the final episode of the season, we learn about the hardest jobs for ESU officers. (TRIGGER WARNING: This episode references self-harm.)

    28 min
See All Season 4 (8)

Trailers

4.8
out of 5
63 Ratings

About

Season 4, "Stories from the Emergency Service Unit," introduces the most highly-trained officers in the NYPD. Learn why ESU are known as the buffs of the police department and how they prepare both mentally and physically for the most stressful jobs. The season also features a white-knuckle narrative by the officers who stopped a suicide bomb plot from taking place on Brooklyn’s subways in 1997. Break in the Case is a true crime podcast from the New York City Police Department. Each episode features officers – in their own voices –as they revisit cases to offer invaluable insights and colorful recollections. The unique, long-form stories portray the work of the women and men of the NYPD and their interactions with the people and communities they serve. This podcast is supported by the independent nonprofit New York City Police Foundation, and is written and produced by Jill Bauerle and Kenzie De Laine II. The podcast’s narrator, retired Detective Sergeant Wally Zeins, served at the NYPD from 1973 to 2003.

Information

  • Creator
    New York City Police Department
  • Episodes
    32
  • Seasons
    4
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The City of New York
  • Show Website
    Break in the Case

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