Wearing the Badge with Garry McCarthy

Fox 32 Chicago

In "Wearing the Badge," former Chicago top cop Garry McCarthy offers a rare look into the inner workings of one of America’s most-scrutinized police forces. Beyond breaking down the latest crime trends and the policies that shape strategies, McCarthy and seasoned law enforcement officials share what it really means to wear the badge—revealing both the challenges and rewards of serving on the front lines.

  1. 5d ago

    The Gacy Cold Case: Hunt for the Missing Eight

    Join host Garry McCarthy as he sits down with Cook County Sheriff’s Department Commander Jason Moran to explore the chilling, patient reality of high-profile cold cases. Discover how Moran reopened the infamous John Wayne Gacy investigation to bring long-awaited answers to families stuck in a cruel limbo, moving beyond the media headlines to uncover the true nature of modern forensic detective work. The dialogue moves deeply into the psychological and procedural reality of cold case work, beginning with a candid debate on why terms like "closure" and "justice" are dangerous illusions for grieving families. Garry opens up about his own profound personal loss—losing his daughter to fentanyl—to underscore why finding definitive "answers" is the only true anchor for a family stuck in limbo. The two law enforcement veterans trade stories about what draws a person into the dark world of investigations; Moran recounts transitioning from a 22-year-old patrol cop who simply needed to know what happened after he submitted a police report, while Gary shares gripping reflections from his NYPD days, including the fallout of the Mollen Commission corruption scandal and his father’s dangerous post-WWII assignment tracking the mob on New York's riverfront docks. Beyond the Gacy investigation, Moran details the harrowing reality of the 2009 Burr Oak Cemetery case. Dubbed part of the "Cook County X-Files," this massive investigation exposed an unbelievable institutional low where cemetery employees systematically disinterred hundreds of bodies from a historic Black cemetery, dumping the remains in an unmarked back field to resell the plots for profit. Moran describes the mass-disaster style forensic operation required to navigate the commingled remains and the delicate execution of proving desecration while managing the grief of affected families. 00:00 Why "closure" and "justice" are dangerous myths for victims' families 05:17 The exact moment a patrol cop chooses the gritty path of detective work 10:49 The brutal procedural reality of why cold cases get shelved 13:25 Hitchhikers and hippies: How the 1970s landscape bred a golden age of serial killers 20:56 Reopening Gacy: The shocking truth about the "open" status of a closed case 25:11 The DNA hit that changed human identification forever 28:43 Exhuming the pauper's field: The blind hunt for the nameless eight 31:31 An unexpected flood: How 150 families cracked open non-Gacy mysteries 35:12 The Burr Oak Scandal: Uncovering an all-new low in the death care industry 43:47 Inside the real-life Cook County X-Files 49:56 The final word on the nobility of wearing the badge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    The Gacy Cold Case: Hunt for the Missing Eight

  2. Jun 13

    How street gangs make their own automatic weapons

    What happens when politicians hold public safety hostage, and how are federal agents bypassing the red tape to take back the streets? In this raw, unfiltered episode of Wearing the Badge, former CPD Superintendent Garry McCarthy and Christopher Amon, Special Agent in Charge of Chicago's Field Division, blow the lid off the politics of policing and look at what it actually takes to dismantle a city's violent infrastructure. Take an inside look at the front lines of the ATF, where investigators are using aggressive, data-driven tactics to hunt down the shooters terrorizing our communities. The conversation jumps from the gritty reality of 1990s New York - where "broken windows" policing meant getting slapped with a $120 ticket just for riding rollerblades in the subway - to the high-stakes federal war rooms of today. This isn’t about soft, reactive policing; it’s about a proactive blueprint designed to permanently crush criminal networks. You’ll find out exactly how fifteen different law enforcement agencies gather every single morning at 11:00 AM to target the most dangerous repeat offenders. The discussion exposes the terrifying reality of the street weapon of choice: illegal conversion "switches" that instantly turn standard handguns into fully automatic machine guns. From unleashing the power of the federal RICO statute against entire street gangs to calling out the prosecutorial failures that let violent criminals walk, this episode pulls zero punches on what it takes to win the war on violent crime. 00:00 Cold Open 01:24 Who is Christopher Amon? 02:46 From Brooklyn to the ATF 05:12 Hockey Beer Leagues and Super Bowls 07:25 Politics and Proactive Policing Policies 11:36 Understanding the ATF Mission 12:45 Crime Gun Intelligence Center Concept 13:40 Daily Intelligence Sharing in Chicago 17:44 Detective Danny Golden’s Impactful Work 19:11 Confronting the Machine Gun Switch 22:20 Using RICO Statutes Against Gangs 24:43 Long Term Investigations and Robberies 26:00 Reclaiming Territory and Washington Heights 29:58 High School Bike Messenger Memories 31:45 Quality of Life Enforcement Lessons 34:50 Post 911 Federal Agency Cooperation 37:47 Leadership and Prosecution Importance 40:49 Future Strategies for Nonfatal Shootings 42:25 Ballistic Tracing and Gun Trafficking 48:58 Final Thoughts on Noble Service Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    How street gangs make their own automatic weapons

  3. May 1

    Heart disease - the true cop killer | Wearing the Badge

    "The number one killer of cops is heart attack." In this powerful episode of "Wearing the Badge," host Garry McCarthy welcomes Dr. John Sheinberg, a man who navigates the worlds of both high-stakes medicine and law enforcement. With a career spanning three decades as a sworn officer and a parallel journey as a board-certified cardiologist, Dr. Sheinberg brings a unique perspective to the "perfect storm" of stress, physiology, and culture that puts police officers at extreme risk. 00:00 – Episode Open: The Silent Killer 00:45 – Guest Intro: Dr. John Sheinberg’s "Triple Crown" 02:36 – From Jersey Boy to Military Medicine 07:12 – The Road Back to Law Enforcement in Texas 10:42 – The Disparity in Tactical vs. Health Training 11:53 – Presumptive Status and Line of Duty Death 15:31 – Garry McCarthy’s Personal Heart Attack Story 21:43 – Tactical Wellness: Moving from Reactive to Proactive 27:55 – Adrenaline Dumps and Physiological Changes 34:01 – The Science: Inflammatory Markers in Police 39:09 – The Sigma Wellness Screening Program 45:02 – Leadership’s Role in Officer Longevity 51:38 – Final Thoughts: The Nobility of Service Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  4. Apr 11

    When 'tough it out' fails cops | Wearing the Badge

    Police work puts officers in the middle of mental illness, homelessness, addiction, and trauma, often with little training and a lot of stigma. In this episode of Wearing the Badge, Garry McCarthy sits down with Ernie Stevens, a retired San Antonio police officer and crisis-intervention trainer, to talk about what works when someone is in crisis, and why officer wellness cannot be an afterthought. 00:00 Cold open 01:40 Who is Ernie Stevens? 03:35 “Volunteered” into crisis training 05:43 The NAMI story that changed him 09:11 Training as a reward 10:29 De-escalation with a gun present 18:15 Homelessness 20:03 Partnering with NAMI 25:03 The stigma of officers getting help 29:10 Officers come forward for help 29:28 Garry’s father and the 1953 shootout 32:58 Adam Toledo and the aftermath 39:34 Building a culture of officer wellness 43:53 What trauma really is 48:22 'Crisis Cops' and why the film mattered Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  5. Apr 10

    This PD uses high-tech to bust lowlifes | Wearing the Badge

    Oak Brook Police Chief Brian Strockis and Garry McCarthy dig into proactive policing, political pushback on tools like ShotSpotter and LPRs, and the real-world tactics Oak Brook says are working — from disciplined pursuit policies to drones and “tag-and-track” technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  6. Feb 21

    Can Chicago be saved? | Wearing the Badge S2E4

    A special Town Hall edition of Wearing the Badge from Chicago. Former CPD Superintendent Garry McCarthy sits down with Fox News Channel's Gianno Caldwell for a wide-ranging conversation about crime, fear, disorder, policing strategy, and community intervention. CHAPTER MARKERS 0:00 Cold Open: What’s the solution? 1:27 What Wearing the Badge is about 2:48 McCarthy and Caldwell on urgency and unity 6:04 Town Hall Begins: Crime, fear, and what works 12:08 Disorder and deterrence: visible chaos, real consequences 20:28 Tio Hardiman: violence interruption, trauma, second chances 25:11 Policing tools and data: gangs, retaliation, ShotSpotter debate 33:50 Schools, jobs, mentorship: opportunity as prevention 43:32 Stops, stop-and-frisk, and the Terry v. Ohio framework 49:46 Accountability and partnerships: what a full strategy needs 50:09 Faith, family, and community as stabilizers 52:00 There should never be a next time: trauma and hope 58:30 Closing the room: unity, gratitude, next steps 59:00 Service, country, and a new path 1:01:19 Goodbye Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  7. Jan 17

    He took a bullet to save the president | Wearing the Badge S2 E3

    Former Secret Service Agent Tim McCarthy (no relation to host Garry McCarthy) joins Wearing the Badge with a story that puts him in an exceptionally small club: he took a bullet protecting President Ronald Reagan during the 1981 assassination attempt. Tim breaks down what happened in those seconds outside the Washington Hilton—how training takes over, how the team moved the president, and what stays with you for life. Then he fast-forwards to the second act of his career: leaving the federal world, stepping into local policing leadership, and eventually serving as Orland Park Police Chief—where the job becomes unions, arbitration, politics, and the everyday realities of public safety. 00:00 Cold open: the coin flip, the shooting, and the images that stay 01:36 Welcome + “Are we related?” 02:48 Ireland roots, “Black and Tans,” and family stories 05:05 Name confusion + the other Tim McCarthy (MAP union) 06:25 NY politics + fear of crime + quality-of-life policing 09:52 Chicago justice politics + Cliff Lewis case discussion 12:56 Major Crimes Task Force + murder numbers and clearance rates 15:01 Tim’s background: South Side, Leo High, Illinois football 18:44 Joining the Secret Service + the entrance test + Chicago field work 24:59 Presidential detail: Carter to Reagan to Bush 26:39 The day Reagan was shot: advance, crowd scan, six shots 32:35 Recovery, the danger of a .22, and meeting Reagan in the hospital 37:17 Back to work, body armor, and the 9/11 suit story 40:36 Leaving DC + private sector detour + path to Orland Park chief 43:36 Recertifying, training requirements, and what’s “useful” in the field 46:21 SES management training + learning a union environment fast 49:32 Command decisions, community pressure, and the “why I was sent” moment 52:23 Union arbitration war story + sanctions and settlements 54:32 Fitness standards, buy-in, and culture shifts 56:33 Final thoughts: courage, service, and closing the episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  8. 11/08/2025

    Poisoned, not “overdosed”: Inside America’s fentanyl war

    Former NYPD/CPD leader Garry McCarthy sits down with retired CPD gang investigator Terry Almanza and former DEA Special Operations chief Derek Maltz for a blunt conversation about America’s synthetic-drug crisis. They compare “overdoses” versus poisonings, unpack cartel–China pipelines, debate border and national-security gaps, and talk plainly about loss: both Garry and Terry lost daughters. Almanza explains how she pushed Chicago to pursue drug-induced homicide cases and built a national advocacy network; Maltz brings hard numbers and a strategy for education, accountability, and data-driven enforcement. It’s tough, personal, and focused on fixes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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4.3
out of 5
6 Ratings

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In "Wearing the Badge," former Chicago top cop Garry McCarthy offers a rare look into the inner workings of one of America’s most-scrutinized police forces. Beyond breaking down the latest crime trends and the policies that shape strategies, McCarthy and seasoned law enforcement officials share what it really means to wear the badge—revealing both the challenges and rewards of serving on the front lines.

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