The Brighter Side of Blue Podcast

The Brighter Side of Blue

A podcast focusing of the great things law enforcement officers and agencies have done and continue to do on a daily basis.  Crime stories with interviews from those involved...victims, investigators, officers, informants, lawyers and more.

  1. 6d ago

    Inside the St. Louis Gang Unit with Lt. Col. Ronnie Robinson

    Featured Interview...(28:10) Before Ronnie Robinson became a retired SLMPD Lieutenant Colonel, he helped build and lead one of the most influential gang intelligence units in St. Louis history. In this episode, Ronnie shares his remarkable journey from growing up in a changing North St. Louis neighborhood to leading the department's Gang Unit during one of the city's most violent eras. Rather than simply making arrests, Ronnie explains how gathering intelligence, building relationships, and mentoring young people became the keys to reducing violence and solving some of St. Louis' toughest gang-related crimes. He also discusses the arrival of Bloods and Crips in St. Louis, the influence of Hollywood on gang culture, the crack cocaine epidemic, and why empathy is one of the most important qualities a police officer can possess. Perhaps the most powerful moments come as Ronnie reflects on the young lives he was able to change through the Police Athletic League (PAL), and the heartbreaking stories that continue to stay with him decades later. This isn't just a conversation about gangs. It's a conversation about leadership, community, mentorship, and the people who refused to give up on a generation of young people. If you enjoy the stories we share, please subscribe, leave us a review, and share this episode with someone who appreciates the history and humanity behind the badge. Before the interview, the guys tackle everything from Producer John's trip on the Bourbon Trail to "The Rolling Crackers," escaped bees, a pastor's viral fight, and a heartfelt tribute to a fallen Toronto police officer. Communities that support law enforcement are safer places to live. #TheBrighterSideOfBlue #SLMPD #StLouis #GangUnit #PolicePodcast #LawEnforcement #TrueCrime #PoliceStories #Leadership #Podcast

    1h 25m

  2. Jun 22

    $1.3 Million, 50 Kilos, and a Cartel Connection: The Guy Goolsby Case

    Veteran investigators Joe Somoyge, JD Gaddy, and Leo Rice join The Brighter Side of Blue to tell the story of the massive Guy Goolsby investigation. What began as intelligence on a courier traveling from Houston quickly grew into a multi-state drug trafficking case involving wiretaps, hidden surveillance, cartel connections, millions of dollars in seizures, multiple murders, and some of the most dangerous criminals operating in St. Louis. The detectives take listeners behind the scenes of the investigation, sharing stories that have never been told publicly and explaining how patience, informants, surveillance, and teamwork ultimately brought down a major criminal organization. Before we dive into the Guy Goolsby investigation, the crew covers a little bit of everything: Father's Day history, St. Louis trivia, police stories, Schicker Ford's Question of the Week, chiropractor videos, old Fourth of July celebrations, and plenty of good-natured ribbing. After the laughs, we sit down with veteran investigators Joe Somoyge, JD Gaddy, and Leo Rice to discuss one of the biggest criminal investigations of their careers. #TheBrighterSideOfBlue #StLouisCrime #TrueCrime #PolicePodcast #DrugInvestigation #DEA #FederalInvestigation #LawEnforcement #StLouisHistory #BehindTheBadge #CrimeStories #Podcast #GuyGoolsby #DetectiveStories

    52 min

  3. Jun 15

    Cops, Camaraderie, and Cold Beer: Stories From the St. Louis Police Bar Scene

    The badge came off, the stories came out, and the real conversations began. This week, we look back at the St. Louis police bar scene and why it became such an important part of life on the job. These weren't just places to have a drink. They were where young officers learned from veterans, where friendships were forged, where supervisors became mentors, and where cops processed the stress, tragedy, and humor that came with the profession. From Rosie's and Area 4 to Hilltop, Route 66, Barney's, and many others, we share the stories, characters, and memories that made these places special. We also discuss why those gathering spots helped build the police family that so many officers still talk about today. Along the way, we remember Guns N Hoses legend Steve Holley, celebrate Flag Day, and share a few laughs that could only happen on Brighter Side of Blue. "The bars were never really about the beer. They were about mentorship, friendship, laughter, and helping each other carry the weight of the job. If you wore a badge in St. Louis during our era, chances are you had a favorite spot." #BrighterSideOfBlue #PolicePodcast #SLMPD #StLouisPolice #ThinBlueLine #PoliceFamily #Brotherhood #PoliceLife #LawEnforcement #BehindTheBadge #StLouisHistory #StLouis #Dogtown #PoliceStories #FirstResponders #BlueFamily #CopLife #PoliceCulture #TheBarsThatBuiltUs #MoreThanJustADrink 🍻🚔

    1h 7m

  4. Jun 8

    The South Side Rapist and the Girl Who Fought Back | Rare Prison Interview

    A rare prison interview. A survivor's story. Two very different versions of the truth. In this episode of The Brighter Side of Blue, we examine one of the most notorious predators in St. Louis history, Dennis Rabbitt, the South Side Rapist. You'll hear excerpts from a rare 2003 prison interview recorded inside a Missouri prison, where Rabbitt discusses his crimes, his methods, and his claim that victims who fought back often caused him to retreat. You'll also hear from Tammy Sorocko-Benjamin, who was just 14 years old when Rabbitt entered her home. Tammy shares her remarkable story of fighting him off and surviving an attack that could have ended very differently. After the interviews, we discuss the contradictions between Rabbitt's prison narrative and the reality experienced by one of his youngest victims. Plus, before the main feature, the crew discusses an incredible community effort to build a fence for a child with autism, an Oakville graduation surprise, Cold War postal history, police stories, dogs, and the usual Brighter Side of Blue banter. #SouthSideRapist #DennisRabbitt #PrisonInterview #TrueCrimePodcast #StLouis #TheBrighterSideOfBlue #LawEnforcement #SurvivorStory

    1h 42m

  5. Jun 1

    Remembering the Fallen, Supporting the Living | Chief Joe Spiess

    This week on The Brighter Side of Blue, we sit down with Brentwood Police Chief Joe Spiess and St. Louis Police Department employee Laurie Erson to discuss the 40th Annual St. Louis Police Memorial Breakfast and the powerful stories behind this year's event. Laurie, whose father, Officer Greg Erson, was killed in the line of duty in 1980, shares why she selected Chief Spiess as this year's keynote speaker and reflects on the lifelong bond between the families of fallen officers and the law enforcement community that continues to support them decades later. Chief Spiess talks about the emotions of delivering the keynote address, the officers and families who have shaped his career, the impact of line-of-duty deaths on those left behind, and the importance of organizations like the St. Louis Police Foundation and BackStoppers that continue to support officers and their families. Before our main interview, the boys discuss the Missouri Special Olympics Torch Run, recent efforts to combat dangerous street takeovers, the debate surrounding the department's new drone program, downtown St. Louis revitalization efforts, a little "This Day in History," and, as always, a few laughs along the way. Following our conversation with Chief Spiess and Laurie Erson, we present Chief Spiess' powerful keynote speech from the 40th Annual St. Louis Police Memorial Breakfast in its entirety. It's an honest conversation about sacrifice, resilience, brotherhood, service, and the enduring legacy of those who gave everything in the line of duty. We hope you'll join us for this special episode as we remember the fallen, honor their families, and reflect on the bonds that make the law enforcement community unlike any other. 💙 #TheBrighterSideOfBlue #TBSOB #SLPOA #StLouisPolice #PoliceMemorial #NeverForget #BackTheBlue #ThinBlueLine #LawEnforcement #PoliceBrotherhood #SupportThePolice #FirstResponders

    1h 12m

  6. May 25

    Building a Bigger Voice for Law Enforcement

    Coming to you from our brand-new studio inside Colombo’s Cafe & Tavern in Dogtown, this episode marks a major moment for The Brighter Side of Blue Podcast as we officially announce our partnership with the St. Louis Police Officers Association. Joining us in studio are SLPOA President Marty Garcia and Business Manager Joe Steiger as we discuss the mission behind this collaboration: telling the real stories behind the badge, honoring the sacrifices made by police officers, spotlighting the human side of policing, and helping reconnect communities with the men and women who serve them every day. We also talk: The future of policing in St. LouisRecruiting and retaining officersInvesting back into public safetyWhy positive police storytelling mattersThe brotherhood and camaraderie of the professionExpanding these stories through social media and community partnershipsPlus: Updates on the new studioViral podcast clipsListener storiesSponsor shoutoutsAnd the usual Brighter Side banter, laughs, and chaosThis partnership is just the beginning as we continue building a platform dedicated to preserving police history, honoring the profession, and sharing the stories that deserve to be told. #SLPOA #TBSOB #TheBrighterSideOfBlue #BackTheBlue #StLouisPolice #PolicePodcast #PoliceStories #ThinBlueLine #SupportThePolice #FirstResponders #Brotherhood #StLouis #LawEnforcement #PoliceCommunity

    58 min

  7. May 18

    Glendale Police Chief Jeff Beaton on the Murch Family Tragedy

    (27:53) Featured interview...Former Glendale Police Chief Jeff Beaton joins us to discuss one of the most heartbreaking and nationally covered cases in St. Louis area history — the 2012 Murch family murder-suicide in Glendale, Missouri. Chief Beaton walks us through the 911 call, arriving on scene, the uncertainty surrounding the investigation, the role of the Major Case Squad, and the emotional toll cases involving children can have on officers. We also discuss mental health, officer wellness, the realities of small-town policing, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Missouri, and Beaton’s remarkable 33-year law enforcement career. In this opening segment, the crew settles into the new studio, talks upcoming police and community events around St. Louis, discusses current issues impacting law enforcement, and previews a powerful interview with retiring Glendale Police Chief Jeff Beaton. The conversation ranges from policing, corruption, and officer wellness to humor, history, and the stories behind some of St. Louis’ most talked-about cases. #BrighterSideOfBlue #TrueCrime #StLouis #PolicePodcast#LawEnforcement #ChiefBeaton #GlendaleMO #BehindTheBadge #MajorCaseSquad #OfficerWellness#MentalHealthAwareness

    1h 6m

  8. May 11

    The ABB Shooting: Chaos at the Plant | First Responders Recall That Morning

    (28:43) On a freezing January morning in 2010, gunfire erupted inside the ABB plant in north St. Louis. What began as confusion quickly turned into one of the region’s first true active shooter incidents. Retired and active St. Louis police officers Lt. Adam Duke and Lt. Jim Joyner give a firsthand account of responding to the chaotic scene as shots were still being fired, victims were trapped inside, and officers searched building-to-building trying to stop the threat and save lives. Before our featured interview, the crew opens the show from Colombo’s Cafe in Dogtown with classic Brighter Side of Blue banter — honoring Police Memorial Week, discussing the growing partnership with the St. Louis Police Officers Association, recruitment efforts within the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, and remembering fallen officer Michael Langsdorf and the sacrifices made by officers across the region. The guys also dive into: -The SLMPD recruitment blitz that brought in over 100 candidates -Why policing still offers unmatched camaraderie and purpose -Stories about legendary officers and personalities -JJ’s frustrations with St. Louis highway construction -Beethoven, blues music, Pete Rose, and the kind of off-the-rails conversations listeners have come to expect from the show

    1h 6m
See All (172)

4.9
out of 5
51 Ratings

About

A podcast focusing of the great things law enforcement officers and agencies have done and continue to do on a daily basis.  Crime stories with interviews from those involved...victims, investigators, officers, informants, lawyers and more.

Information

  • Creator
    The Brighter Side of Blue
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    172
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Brighter Side of Blue
  • Show Website
    The Brighter Side of Blue Podcast

You Might Also Like