Things Police See: Firsthand Accounts

Steven Gould: Police Officer, Background Investigator
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Massachusetts police officer Steve Gould interviews a variety of law enforcement officers about their most intense moments on the job. Shocking moments, humorous moments and terrifying moments are recalled by the officers that experienced them. Meet the variety of personalities that make up the police and get to know them on a personal level. You couldn't make these stories up if you tried. **new episodes every Wednesday steve@thingspolicesee.com

  1. Sheriff Robert Hardwick: 32 Years Policing, Murders & Florida Justice

    18H AGO

    Sheriff Robert Hardwick: 32 Years Policing, Murders & Florida Justice

    Join host Steven Gould for an in-depth interview with St. Johns County Sheriff Robert Hardwick, a 32-year law enforcement veteran, former homicide detective, police chief, and retired National Guard member. Sheriff Hardwick shares powerful stories from his career, including his first homicide call involving a childhood friend, the bizarre 2008 staged murder case of Summer Smith (where investigators wired a coffin for a confession), and the heartbreaking 2021 Tristyn Bailey murder by Aiden Fucci. SJSO Unlocked, a St. Johns County Sheriff's Office podcast https://media.rss.com/sjsounlockedpodcast/feed.xml YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJsWnAMeSsc 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

    51 min
  2. Sheriff Ross Teeple: Unlocked Jail Experiment, Border Threats & Cop War Stories

    MAR 4

    Sheriff Ross Teeple: Unlocked Jail Experiment, Border Threats & Cop War Stories

    Pinal County Sheriff Ross Teeple joins the show to discuss his bold leadership, the high-stakes Netflix series "Unlocked: A Jail Experiment" Season 2, and life inside Arizona's corrections system. Fresh off taking office, Sheriff Teeple shares how he was "strong-armed" (old friends) by predecessor Sheriff Mark Lamb into filming a groundbreaking re-entry program that unlocked jail cells, shifted to indirect supervision, and empowered inmates to self-govern—aiming to build responsibility, reduce recidivism, and break cycles of crime. Hear raw stories from his career: his first high-speed pursuit gone wrong, a terrifying hand-to-hand fight during an arrest, heartbreaking search-and-rescue recoveries (including a tragic plane crash in the Superstition Mountains), bizarre and intense calls, and a heartwarming success saving a young woman from a predatory relationship. Sheriff Teeple opens up about border security challenges near the Tohono O'odham Nation (where 80% of U.S. fentanyl crosses), cartel threats on American soil, drone smuggling risks, staffing shortages, pay raises for detention officers, and advice for new law enforcement recruits: put down the phone, build real-world communication skills, and seek face-to-face conflict resolution. Unlocked: A Jail Experiment  Season 2 now on Netlfix - https://www.netflix.com/title/81476420 Follow Sheriff Teeple on Instagram @teepleforthepeople Pinal County Sheriff's Office on Youtube   @PinalCountySheriffsOffice   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/@UCuobtuGxJny9V5lX5a1ieuw

    56 min
  3. 27 Years in Law Enforcement: TBI, PTSD, Survival — Jeff Casselman

    FEB 25

    27 Years in Law Enforcement: TBI, PTSD, Survival — Jeff Casselman

    Discover the raw truth about traumatic brain injury (TBI) and PTSD in law enforcement from retired officer Jeff Casselman, who served 27 years in the military and at Lorain Ohio PD. After multiple concussions from cruiser accidents, bar fights, and on-duty violence, Jeff faced memory loss, rage blackouts, seizures, and three failed marriages before a diagnosis changed everything. He shares powerful stories: brutal fights, bizarre calls (like a grim reaper walking a goat), heartwarming redemption with a former addict he helped save, and the "Wild West" days of policing. Jeff founded the Sentinel Neuro Awareness Institute and authored Survival Guide to educate officers, departments, and families on recognizing cumulative brain damage early—before it destroys careers, relationships, or lives. Topics include: firearm concussion risks, hyperactive startle response, adult-onset ADD from head trauma, medications like lamotrigine (Lamictal) for impulse control, and why early awareness matters for cops, veterans, and contact-sport athletes. If you're in law enforcement, a first responder, veteran, or love someone who is—this eye-opening interview reveals the hidden neurological toll of the job and how to fight back. Jeff's Book https://a.co/d/09rr36Ge Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/1FRkgeRM8F/?mibextid=wwXIfr 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

    1h 1m
  4. Canadian Peace Officer Explains Policing in Alberta & On‑Duty Stories

    FEB 18

    Canadian Peace Officer Explains Policing in Alberta & On‑Duty Stories

    What's it really like to work as a Peace Officer in Alberta, Canada? In this episode, Steve sits down with Brad Larsen, a veteran CPO who has served since 2014, to break down the major differences between Canadian policing and U.S. policing — from authority levels to training, to why peace officers aren't armed, and how they work alongside the RCMP. Brad shares unfiltered stories from the road, including bizarre bylaw calls, intense foot chases, dangerous encounters, and the time suspects stole his patrol truck during a fight outside a hockey arena. He also talks about animal enforcement, impaired driving laws, provincial authority, and what it's like policing vast rural areas in Alberta. If you're curious about Canadian law enforcement, the Peace Officer Act, or the realities of rural policing, this episode delivers a rare inside look at a profession most people outside Canada have never heard of. 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/@UCuobtuGxJny9V5lX5a1ieuw

    1h 11m
  5. 30 Years on the San Antonio PD: Ernie Stevens' Wildest Calls, Crisis Cops & Mental Health Reform

    FEB 11

    30 Years on the San Antonio PD: Ernie Stevens' Wildest Calls, Crisis Cops & Mental Health Reform

    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

    59 min
  6. Boston Marathon Bombing: SWAT - Full Account of the Manhunt

    FEB 4

    Boston Marathon Bombing: SWAT - Full Account of the Manhunt

    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

    59 min
  7. FBI Agent Barry Black: Waco Sniper, OKC Bombing, Ground Zero Responder

    JAN 28

    FBI Agent Barry Black: Waco Sniper, OKC Bombing, Ground Zero Responder

    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

    48 min
  8. Montana Narcotics Agent: Wild Undercover Ops & Other Intense Police Stories

    JAN 21

    Montana Narcotics Agent: Wild Undercover Ops & Other Intense Police Stories

    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

    1h 11m
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About

Massachusetts police officer Steve Gould interviews a variety of law enforcement officers about their most intense moments on the job. Shocking moments, humorous moments and terrifying moments are recalled by the officers that experienced them. Meet the variety of personalities that make up the police and get to know them on a personal level. You couldn't make these stories up if you tried. **new episodes every Wednesday steve@thingspolicesee.com

Information

  • Creator
    Steven Gould: Police Officer, Background Investigator
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    293
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2022 Steven D. Gould
  • Show Website
    Things Police See: Firsthand Accounts

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