Cops and Writers Podcast Patrick O'Donnell

Life isn’t fair. We have all heard this and it is so true. But sometimes you come across a story that really pulls at your heart and you learn a new level of empathy for someone who was in a certain situation. This episode did that for me. This is a story of a person being treated unfairly and her resilience and eventually overcoming in her own way. This is the story of Bridget Truxillo.
 
 Bridget Truxillo was a Deputy Sheriff in Florida where she excelled in her job earning spots on the elite narcotics unit where she was primarily utilized in undercover operations and later joined the SWAT team as the only female to have worked in SWAT for her agency.
Unfortunately, Bridget was the victim of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation, forcing her to eventually resign from law enforcement. She then went to law school where she earned her Juris Doctorate. Bridget is now an attorney that has her own law firm that specializes in helping law enforcement officers and first responders fight back when facing the same issues. 
I believe this interview will surprise you in ways you never thought possible. Please enjoy this sometimes shocking and emotional interview with Bridget Truxillo. 
In today’s episode we discuss:
·      Why and where Bridget got interested in law enforcement?
·      What was the academy like? How many females were in her class? 
·      1st day on the job and field training.
·      Being assigned to narcotics and working undercover after only a year on the job. 
·      The dangerous aspects of working as an undercover narcotics deputy.
·      You went to the SWAT team. How much time did you have on? I’m guessing it was a part-time unit. Can you explain how that works?
·      Getting on the SWAT team and the special physical requirements to earn a position on SWAT.
·      Being the first female on the unit. How did that feel and what were some of the problems and challenges that came with that?
·      Politics and SWAT, the ugly truth.
·      The harassment, discrimination, and retaliation she faced during her time in law enforcement.

Visit Bridget at her law firm, Lady Law Shield.

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!
Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website. 
Only for Cops and Writers Podcast listeners! Get 50% off the audiobook version of the F.B.I. K-9 thriller, Avenging Adam by Jodi Burnett. Use code, https://jodi-burnett.com/copsandwriters/

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For today’s show, we are traveling to the West Coast and the home of Fisherman’s Warf, The Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, and of course, Alcatraz. On today’s episode, we will be chatting with the City of San Francisco Police Sergeant and Bestselling Author, Adam Plantinga. 
Adam Plantinga’s first book, 400 Things Cops Know, was nominated for an Agatha Award and won the 2015 Silver Falchion award for best nonfiction crime reference. It was hailed as “truly excellent” by author Lee Child and deemed “the new Bible for crime writers” by The Wall Street Journal. Adam’s debut novel, Ascent, is burning up the charts and has been optioned for the silver screen by Universal Studios.
Plantinga began his career in law enforcement in 2001 as a Milwaukee police officer. He is currently a sergeant with the San Francisco Police Department assigned to street patrol.   
This interview was near and dear to my heart because Adam started his LE career as a Milwaukee copper, just like me. We never worked together, but we sure have known the same characters and chewed the same dirt.
In today’s episode we discuss:
·      Why and where Adam got interested in law enforcement?
·      A special thank you to the “Cop Doc” Dr. Ellen Kirschman for introducing us.
·      From the land of Dirty Harry and The Streets of San Francisco. Are there any memorabilia from the shows in the San Francisco PD?
·      How long before Adam made the switch to SFPD from the Milwaukee PD?
·      Why did he switch departments? 
·      Biggest differences between MPD and SFPD, including rank.
·      Is there still the iconic rank of Inspector in the SFPD today?
·      His hot new novel, Ascent.
·      The use of popular thriller tropes in this novel.
·      How Ascent got picked up by Universal Television for a future television series.
Check out Adam's website with links to all of his socials and books.

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!
Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website. 
Only for Cops and Writers Podcast listeners! Get 50% off the audiobook version of the F.B.I. K-9 thriller, Avenging Adam by Jodi Burnett. Use code, https://jodi-burnett.com/copsandwriters/

Support the Show.

Welcome back to the conclusion of my interview with a former member of the Gambino Crime Family, now International Bestselling Author, Television Producer and Director Louis Ferrante.
Mr. Ferrante grew up in New York City and became entangled in the Gambino crime family. He was eventually arrested and served almost ten years in prison. While he was incarcerated, he taught himself to write, and he fell in love with books. He promised himself that he would someday become an international bestselling author, and he did!
Lou also created, wrote, produced, and hosted Inside The Gangster Code series for Discovery Channel about maximum security prisons and gang culture around the world.  
As a special treat to everyone, I’m bringing back my friend and colleague, Podcaster, Author, and Retired NYPD Detective Vic Ferrari. Vic spent most of his life in New York City and was assigned to the NYPD’s organized crime unit which specialized in stolen cars, the same area of criminal expertise that was Lou’s, just on the other side of the law.
Please enjoy this powerful and inspirational conversation with Lou Ferrante and Vic Ferrari.
In today’s episode we discuss:
·      Life in a maximum-security prison.
·      Lightbulb moment for you when you were in prison that it was time for a change. 
·      Did you have to do something to declare that you were no longer a member of the mafia? I thought it was a lifetime commitment.
·      Did you find God, or turn away from him when you were at your lowest in prison? “No atheists in foxholes.”
·      First thing Lou you did when he was released from prison.
·      Lou’s newest book, Borgata: Rise of Empire: A History of the American Mafia (Borgata Trilogy).
·      Why write this book?
·      Mob formed in Sicily. Sicily was an island in itself. Didn’t like rules or outsiders. 
·      How big of an influence is the mafia in Sicily today?
·      The mob and turning adversity into fortune?
·      Prohibition (Kennedy’s and other family’s made millions), the stock market crash of 2029, and World War 2, the U.S. military asking the mob for help.
·      What should we expect in book two?

Check out Lou's newest book, Borgata: Rise of Empire: A History of the American Mafia (Borgata Trilogy)
Visit Lou on his website.

Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website. 
Only for Cops and Writers Podcast listeners! Get 50% off the audiobook version of the F.B.I. K-9 thriller, Avenging Adam by Jodi Burnett. Use code, https://jodi-burnett.com/copsandwriters/

Support the Show.

Welcome to part one of my interview with a former member of the Gambino Crime Family, now International Bestselling Author, Television Producer, and Director Louis Ferrante.
Mr. Ferrante grew up in New York City and became entangled in the Gambino crime family. He was eventually arrested and served almost ten years in prison. While he was incarcerated, he taught himself to write, and he fell in love with books. He promised himself that he would someday become an international bestselling author, and he did!
Lou also created, wrote, produced, and hosted, Inside The Gangster Code series for Discovery Channel about maximum security prisons and gang culture around the world.  
As a special treat to everyone, I’m bringing back my friend and colleague, Podcaster, Author, and Retired NYPD Detective Vic Ferrari. Vic spent most of his life in New York City and was assigned to the NYPD’s organized crime unit and specialized in stolen cars, the same area of criminal expertise that was Lou’s, just on the other side of the law.

In today’s episode we discuss:
·      Why do you think we are fascinated with criminals, more specifically gangsters? Some examples are The Sopranos, Scarface, Sons of Anarchy, etc.…?
·      How do you keep these stories of the mob “the old days” fresh for today’s audience?
·      What parallels are there with the mob and the street gangs of today?
·      What was life in a maximum-security prison really like? What keeps someone who will never leave alive in line?
·      What is the attraction to being in a gang or mafia?
·      Is there a mafia today? If yes, where do they operate?
·      How did you go from stealing cars and joyriding to making money chopping a car and later being involved in armed highjackings?
·      How did the mob get interested in you?
·      Eventually you got arrested. What were the circumstances? By what agency? Did you get offered a deal to be a rat? What was the offer? 
·      Is there a code of honor in the mafia and how that has changed over the years?

Check out Lou's newest book, Borgata: Rise of Empire: A History of the American Mafia (Borgata Trilogy)
Visit Lou on his website.

Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website. 
Only for Cops and Writers Podcast listeners! Get 50% off the audiobook version of the F.B.I. K-9 thriller, Avenging Adam by Jodi Burnett. Use code, https://jodi-burnett.com/copsandwriters/

Support the Show.

Welcome back to the conclusion of my interview with Crime Scene Investigator and Author Rebekah Strong.
Rebekah Strong has served as an active member of law enforcement for over twenty years in a major metropolitan police department. She started in patrol and is now serving as a Crime Scene Investigator in her department's forensics unit where she is responsible for processing crimes from murders, robberies, burglaries, sexual assaults, and fatal vehicle crashes, to name a few.
Rebekah Strong, writing under the pen name of R.J. Strong is a popular author that weaves her real-life experiences into her fiction. 
In today’s episode we discuss:
·      Some of the biggest myths and misconceptions regarding CSI work.
·      What are some of the common error’s writers put into their stories regarding CSI work? When is it appropriate to distort reality to fit the story? 
·      The “CSI effect” for jurors making it tough on prosecutors to prove their case.
·      When did the writing bug bite you?
·      Are you self-published or do you have an agent/publisher? Why?
·      How much of your work experiences make it into your books? 
·      Tell us about your latest book, “Perimortem (Elloree Holt Forensic Crime Thriller Book 1).”

 Please visit Becky's website to learn more about her and her books!
Do you want to get your CSI facts straight? Check out Becky's Book, Write Like A CSI: A Forensic Reference for Crime Writers

Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website. 
Only for Cops and Writers Podcast listeners! Get 50% off the audiobook version of the F.B.I. K-9 thriller, Avenging Adam by Jodi Burnett. Use code, https://jodi-burnett.com/copsandwriters/

Support the Show.

Welcome everyone to part one of my interview with Crime Scene Investigator and Author Rebekah Strong.
Rebekah Strong is serving as an active member of law enforcement for over twenty years in a major metropolitan police department. She started in patrol and is now serving as a Crime Scene Investigator in her department's forensics unit where she processes crimes from murders, robberies, burglaries, sexual assaults, and fatal vehicle crashes, to name a few.
Rebekah Strong, writing under the pen name of R.J. Strong is a popular author that weaves her real-life experiences into her fiction. 
In today’s episode we discuss:
·      How she got interested in law enforcement at the tender age of nine.
·      Academy life as only one of four females in her academy class.
·      Equipment that was issued to her when she got out of the academy.
·      Her impressions of field training.
·      Her almost life ending on duty injury and how that shaped her life and career long after the incident.
·      PTSD and the effect it had on her professional and personal life.
 Please visit Becky's website to learn more about her and her books!
Do you want to get your CSI facts straight? Check out Becky's Book, Write Like A CSI: A Forensic Reference for Crime Writers

Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website. 
Only for Cops and Writers Podcast listeners! Get 50% off the audiobook version of the F.B.I. K-9 thriller, Avenging Adam by Jodi Burnett. Use code, https://jodi-burnett.com/copsandwriters/

Support the Show.