Proper Scoundrel

Adam Cordova
  • 4.6 (7)
  • True Crime

Veteran law enforcement officers share behind-the-scenes accounts of some of the most famous crime stories in history. Their unscripted firsthand insights reveal untold details, investigative challenges, and personal experiences rarely seen by the public, offering a gripping and authentic perspective on landmark cases that shaped criminal justice and captured national attention.

  1. 5d ago

    EP-60 / Sgt. Eric Giambalvo & Det. Marc Giambalvo, Los Angeles Sheriff's Dept (Ret)

    SEE THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/rozEfz3TAKo 🚨 TWO BROTHERS. ONE BADGE.🚨 THIS IS THE EPISODE YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR. The Giambalvo Brothers are finally in the house. Two LASD veterans. Two careers forged on some of the toughest streets in Los Angeles. And a family legacy that goes back to the 1970s. 🔥 ERIC & MARC GIAMBALVO. Eric Giambalvo — LASD Sergeant (Ret.) 👮 Training Officer 💊 Narcotics / Major Crimes Detective 🚨 OSS Gang Detective Sergeant Marc Giambalvo — LASD (Ret.) 👮 Lynwood Station Field Training Officer 🔎 Detective And behind these two careers is a name that longtime members of the department will recognize… Their uncle — East Los Angeles Station LEGEND, Ernie “The Ernie Barlow” Barlow. This family didn't just wear the badge. They lived it. 🎙️ In this episode, Eric and Marc take us back to the early 1980s — an era when Los Angeles was changing rapidly and deputies were working some of the most dangerous and violent streets in the county. They talk about what it was REALLY like out there. 🚔 The calls. 🔫 The danger. 👊 The street encounters. 🕵️ The investigations. 🤝 The brotherhood. 🔥 And the lessons that could only be learned by being there. But there's another side to the story. The Giambalvo story goes far beyond the badge. Both Eric and Marc talk about their fight against cancer, adding another chapter to a family legacy defined by resilience, perseverance, and the determination to keep moving forward.  🎧 No fluff. No agenda. Just firsthand stories from the people who were there. #ProperScoundrel #TrueCrime #LASD #LosAngelesSheriffs #LASDHistory #LawEnforcement #PoliceStories #TrueCrimePodcast #PolicePodcast #BehindTheBadge #OSS #GangUnit #Narcotics #Detective #FieldTrainingOfficer #LosAngeles

  2. Sep 21

    EP-59 / Deputy Dave Elsasser, San Bernardino Sheriff's Dept

    SEE THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/sb27IhZlCrc⁠ 🚨TWO ELITE AGENCIES. ONE CAREER BUILT ON SERVICE. This week on The Proper Scoundrel, law-enforcement veteran Deputy Dave Elsasser joins us to take us behind the badge and tell the story of a career forged in some of Southern California’s most demanding assignments. 👮‍♂️ 22 YEARS — LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT Dave's journey began in the jail, before moving into patrol at Industry Station, where he became a Field Training Officer (FTO)—helping shape the next generation of deputies while carrying forward the traditions, standards, and hard-earned lessons of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. 🎖️ A NEW CHAPTER After more than two decades with the agency he had devoted his career to, Dave made a major decision. In 2022, he left the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and lateraled to another major Southern California law-enforcement agency: 🔵 SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT What was it like leaving a department he loved? What surprised him about making the move? And what are the real differences between working for LASD and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department? 🔥 Dave gives us an inside look at the transition, the culture, the training, the expectations—and what it means to start over at another agency after decades in law enforcement. No Hollywood version. No sugarcoating. Just experience from someone who lived it. 🎙️ THE PROPER SCOUNDREL PODCAST Behind the badge. Behind the headlines. Real cops. Real stories. Real experience. #vadle621 #TrueCrime #LawEnforcement #Police #Sheriff #LASD #LosAngelesSheriff #SanBernardinoSheriff #DeputySheriff #PoliceStories #BehindTheBadge #TrueCrimePodcast #TheProperScoundrel #LawEnforcementStories #FieldTrainingOfficer

  3. Sep 17

    EP-58 / Det. Angel Rodriguez & Sgt. Ruben Nava, Los Angeles Sheriff's Dept (Ret)

    SEE THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE- ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/7u2eHB7Vk-4⁠ 🚨 EAST LOS ANGELES STATION IS IN THE HOUSE! 🚨 This episode brings TWO of Station 2 — East Los Angeles’ best to the Proper Scoundrel: Sgt. Ruben Nava and Det. Angel Rodriguez. These are the kind of guys their fellow Deputies call FRONT LINE GUYS — men who spent their careers working some of Los Angeles County’s toughest streets and earning assignments in some of the Sheriff’s Department’s most respected units. 💪 SGT. RUBEN NAVA A competitive bodybuilding champion 🏆 who brought that same discipline to a distinguished LASD career — including OSS (Operation Safe Streets) Detective, Narcotics Unit Sergeant, and East Los Angeles Station Detective Sergeant. 🚔 DET. ANGEL RODRIGUEZ Angel began his rise through Norwalk Station Patrol → East Los Angeles Station Patrol → East Los Angeles Station Detective, eventually earning an assignment to the elite Major Crimes Bureau S.A.T. Team. Together, they represent more than 65 years of law-enforcement experience — working patrol, investigations, gangs, narcotics and major crimes on the front lines of Los Angeles. And the call to duty didn’t end with retirement. ⛪ Ruben Nava continues serving the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department as a Chaplain, supporting the men and women who continue to wear the badge. 🔥 IN THIS EPISODE: 👊 Brotherhood forged on the streets 🔎 OSS gang investigations 💊 Narcotics enforcement 🚔 East Los Angeles policing 🏆 Competitive bodybuilding & discipline 👮 Detective work & leadership ⚡ Major Crimes & S.A.T. ⛪ Life after retirement & serving as an LASD Chaplain No fluff. No agenda. Just the stories, experiences and perspective from the men who lived it. 🎙️ THE PROPER SCOUNDREL PODCAST Real cops. Real stories. Real Los Angeles. #Rcnava10 #TheProperScoundrel #Properscoundrel #Aproperscoundrel #Copline__ #LawEnforcement #LASD #FirstResponders #Police #SheriffsDeputy #Brotherhood #ThinBlueLine #SupportOurFirstResponders #TrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast #LawEnforcementFamily

  4. Sep 10

    EP-57 / Sgt. Bryan Moreno, Los Angeles Sheriff's Dept

    SEE THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE- ⁠https://youtu.be/4dsPVLBBV6Q⁠ 🚨 “1033… GIVE ME THE PATCH!” 🚨 When the call comes in… you answer.  THE PROPER SCOUNDREL — PRIORITY EPISODE This week, veteran Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Sergeant Bryan Moreno answers that call: 📻 “Deputy needs assistance.” But this time, the emergency isn’t unfolding in the streets. It’s a battle being fought by one of our own. 💙 Sgt. Mike Chea courageous fight against cancer. And when a brother or sister is in need, you don’t ask why. You ask: “How can I help?” 🔥 In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Sgt. Moreno shares a career forged through tragedy, triumph, sacrifice, and service — beginning at Twin Towers Correctional Facility, moving through Lakewood Station, Compton Station, the Sheriff’s Information Bureau, and ultimately to his current assignment as an Industry Station S.A.O. Sergeant. Along the way, he witnessed the realities of the badge few people ever see. 👮‍♂️ Deputies lost. 🤝 Deputies found. 💔 Tragedy. 🙏 Faith. 💪 Commitment to the troops on the front line. This isn't just another law enforcement story. It's about brotherhood. It's about standing shoulder-to-shoulder when one of our own is down. It's about remembering that the badge represents more than a job — it represents a commitment to those who wear it. 🚨 THE CALL TO ACTION We humbly ask current and former first responders — and citizens alike — to answer this selfless call for Sgt. Mike Chea. 🙏 Watch. Share. Support. And help get the word out. #Morenito_fam13 #TheProperScoundrel #Properscoundrel #Aproperscoundrel #1033 #GiveMeThePatch #LawEnforcement #LASD #FirstResponders #Police #SheriffsDeputy #Brotherhood #ThinBlueLine #CancerAwareness #SupportOurFirstResponders #TrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast #LawEnforcementFamily

  5. Sep 4

    EP-56 / Sgt. Michael Harding, Los Angeles Sheriff's Dept (Ret)

    SEE THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE- ⁠https://youtu.be/Nk5HYYoi-4Y⁠ 🚨 35+ YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT — TRAINING THE DEPUTIES WHO ANSWER THE CALL 🚨 What happens when a law enforcement veteran spends decades studying the moments that can mean the difference between life and death? In this episode of the Proper Scoundrel Podcast, we sit down with Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (Ret.) Sergeant Michael Harding, a veteran with more than 35 years of law enforcement experience — including 5½ years assigned to the Training Unit and 17 years supervising one of the country’s premier law enforcement training programs: Tactics and Survival (T.A.S.). 🎯 TACTICS. SURVIVAL. REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE. Sergeant Harding takes us behind the scenes of what it really takes to prepare deputies for the unpredictable situations they may encounter in the field. From low-light operations and active-shooter response to intensive scenario-based training, Laser Village exercises, and realistic real-world intensity, the mission was simple: 🔦 LOW-LIGHT TRAINING 🚨 ACTIVE-SHOOTER RESPONSE 🎯 SCENARIO-BASED TRAINING 🧠 DECISION-MAKING UNDER STRESS ⚠️ OFFICER SURVIVAL 📚 LESSONS FROM INCIDENTS AROUND THE WORLD One of Harding’s responsibilities was staying ahead of emerging threats and identifying current trends, tactics, and circumstances that could place deputies in life-threatening situations. That meant researching incidents from around the world, breaking down what happened, identifying lessons that could be learned, and turning those lessons into training for both new and veteran deputies. Because on the street, there are no retakes. There is no pause button. 🔥 FROM LASD TO STAR CONSULTING GROUP After retiring from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Sergeant Harding continued his career in training and tactical education with the Star Consulting Group. Today, he brings decades of law-enforcement experience to training civilians and law-enforcement agencies, with an emphasis on weapons training, tactics, safety, preparedness, and practical application. The mission remains remarkably similar: A CAREER BUILT AROUND PREPARATION. 👇 WATCH • LISTEN • SUBSCRIBE • COMMENT 🔔 Subscribe to the Proper Scoundrel Podcast for more conversations with current and retired law-enforcement professionals, first responders, investigators, and the people who have lived the stories behind the badge. #star.consulting.group #ProperScoundrelPodcast #properscoundrel #LASD #LosAngelesSheriffsDepartment #LawEnforcement #PoliceTraining #OfficerSurvival #TacticsAndSurvival #TAS #PolicePodcast #TrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast #LawEnforcementPodcast #ActiveShooter #PoliceTactics #DeputySheriff #BehindTheBadge #OfficerSafety #CopStories #PoliceStories

  6. Aug 25

    EP-55 / Sgt. Ruben Nava, Los Angeles Sheriff's Dept (Ret)

    SEE THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE- https://youtu.be/VCEXnQHbz8Q 🚔🔥 TRADITION RUNS DEEP | Sergeant Ruben Nava Returns Tradition runs deep—and some traditions can't be erased by politics, political pundits, or changing administrations. Retired LASD Sergeant Ruben Nava returns to the Proper Scoundrel Podcast to talk about tradition, brotherhood, leadership, and life on the front lines of Los Angeles County law enforcement. Ruben is a division-winning competitive bodybuilder, developing the discipline, determination, and mental toughness that would later define his law enforcement career. 🚨 OSS — OPERATION SAFE STREETS As a Detective with the elite OSS gang unit, Ruben worked the streets of Los Angeles County, investigating gangs, narcotics, violence, and the criminal activity confronting Deputies every day. 🚔 EAST LOS ANGELES STATION #2 Ruben later became Sergeant in charge of East Los Angeles Station Detectives. East LA Station holds a unique place in LASD history and is now recognized as the oldest Sheriff's station in the Department. 💊 NARCOTICS BUREAU Ruben went on to serve as a Sergeant with the Narcotics Bureau, bringing years of street and investigative experience to another demanding assignment. ⛪ RETIREMENT DIDN'T END THE MISSION Today, Ruben continues serving the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department as a Chaplain, supporting the men and women who still wear the badge. 🔥 IN THIS EPISODE: 👊 Brotherhood forged on the streets 🔎 OSS gang investigations 💊 Narcotics enforcement 🚔 East Los Angeles policing 🏆 Competitive bodybuilding & discipline 👮 Leadership and detective work ⛪ Life after retirement The traditions passed from one generation to the next The work speaks for itself. Politics change. Administrations change. But the bonds forged on the front line don't disappear. Real stories. Real experience. Real law enforcement. #TrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast #LASD #LawEnforcement #EastLosAngeles #OSS #OperationSafeStreets #GangUnit #Narcotics #PolicePodcast #CopStories #Bodybuilding #ProperScoundrelPodcast

  7. Aug 23

    EP-54 / Deputy Brandon Corum, Los Angeles Sheriff Dept (Ret.)

    SEE THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE- https://youtu.be/Q9Zo7Qrz8TI 🚔 THE MOST RIGOROUS FIELD TRAINING, BAR NONE | INSIDE THE L.A. SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT PATROL TRAINING PROGRAM  What is it really like working the streets of Los Angeles County? Retired Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Brandon Corum joins the Proper Scoundrel Podcast for a candid conversation about modern law enforcement, street policing, training, sacrifice, and the realities that officers face long after the cameras are gone. Brandon worked in the field as recently as 2024, serving at City of Industry Station, an area of Los Angeles County with a long and well-documented history of gang activity and violent crime. This isn't a conversation based on headlines or secondhand stories. This is firsthand experience from someone who was there.   👮‍♂️ FIELD TRAINING. STREET EXPERIENCE. REAL-WORLD LESSONS. One of the most important responsibilities of a veteran deputy is preparing the next generation of officers. During his career, Brandon did his part personally training 11 trainees, giving him a unique perspective on what it takes to develop a young officer from a rookie into a confident and capable street deputy.   Brandon discusses the rigorous field training process, the lessons that can't be learned in a classroom, the importance of experience, officer safety, decision-making under pressure, and the challenges faced by today's law enforcement professionals. 🌎 LEAVING LASD — AND SEEING IT DIFFERENTLY After leaving the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to work for another law enforcement agency in the Pacific Northwest, Brandon gained a perspective that can only come from experiencing two very different law enforcement environments. Sometimes you don't truly appreciate where you've been until you've left. Brandon explains how his experience outside of Los Angeles gave him a new appreciation for his time with LASD, the people he worked alongside, the training he received, and the unique challenges of policing Los Angeles County. 🕯️ REMEMBERING DEPUTY GEORGE MEZA This episode also takes a deeply personal turn as Brandon remembers Deputy George Meza, whose life and service left a lasting impression. Behind every badge is a person. Behind every uniform is a family, partners, friends, and a community. Through personal memories and stories, Brandon pays tribute to George Meza's life, service, and the impact he made during his time in law enforcement. The Proper Scoundrel Podcast goes beyond the headlines to hear directly from the men and women who experienced these events firsthand. 🔥 WATCH THE FULL EPISODE. If you enjoy true crime, police interviews, law enforcement history, officer stories, behind-the-badge experiences, and firsthand accounts from the people who lived it, make sure to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔, and SHARE the Proper Scoundrel Podcast. 🕯️ In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. 🚔 REAL STORIES. REAL EXPERIENCE. NO SCRIPT. #brcor87 #properscoundrel #TrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast #LASD #LosAngelesSheriff #LawEnforcement #PolicePodcast #RetiredDeputy #PoliceStories #BehindTheBadge #LawEnforcementStories #PoliceTraining #LosAngeles #Crime #PoliceHistory #DeputySheriff #FirstResponder

  8. Aug 12

    EP-53 / LAPD vs LASD #2 / Lieutenant Leonard Perez, Los Angeles Police Department (Ret)

    SEE THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE- ⁠https://youtu.be/tSepwIyfqMI ⚔️ LA SHERIFFS vs. LAPD #2 | The Rivalry Continues ⚔️🚨 Two legendary badges. Decades of history. The rivalry continues as retired Lieutenant Leonard Perez returns to The Proper Scoundrel Podcast for an unfiltered discussion about the two largest and most recognizable law enforcement agencies in America. What separates the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department from the Los Angeles Police Department? Is one agency tougher? Does training differ? How do tactics, leadership, culture, and assignments shape the men and women behind the badge? From gang-infested neighborhoods and violent crime hot spots to narcotics investigations, murder scenes, foot pursuits, and officer survival, Lt. Perez draws on decades of real-world experience to explain what life was truly like policing the streets of Los Angeles. 🎯 In this episode you'll hear about: 🚔 The origins of the LASD–LAPD rivalry 👮 Academy training and field training differences ⚡ Patrol tactics under pressure 💀 Murder investigations and violent offenders 💊 Narcotics enforcement and gang suppression 🤝 Working together during major incidents 🎙️ Stories from the streets that never made the headlines No television scripts. No political spin. Just firsthand experience from someone who lived it. Whether you're a current or former officer, considering a career in law enforcement, or simply fascinated by the realities behind the badge, this episode offers an inside look at the challenges, decisions, and traditions that shaped generations of Los Angeles policing. 💬 Who had the tougher job—LASD or LAPD? Tell us your thoughts in the comments. 👍 If you enjoy authentic law enforcement conversations and true crime content, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Turn on Notifications so you never miss a new episode. #makana7722 #properscoundrel #LASD #LAPD #TrueCrime #PolicePodcast #LawEnforcement #Sheriff #PoliceStories #GangUnit #Detective #Crime #LosAngeles #CriminalJustice #BehindTheBadge #aProperScoundrel

See All (55)

Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Veteran law enforcement officers share behind-the-scenes accounts of some of the most famous crime stories in history. Their unscripted firsthand insights reveal untold details, investigative challenges, and personal experiences rarely seen by the public, offering a gripping and authentic perspective on landmark cases that shaped criminal justice and captured national attention.

Information

  • Creator
    Adam Cordova
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Proper Scoundrel

You Might Also Like