Cops and Writers Podcast

Patrick O'Donnell

Cops and Writers is a podcast hosted by retired police sergeant and author, Patrick O'Donnell. The podcast provides valuable insights and humor for crime writers who want to create accurate and believable police stories. O'Donnell conducts in-depth interviews with members of law enforcement and civilian experts, discussing police procedures and culture. He also interviews crime fiction writers and writers from different genres, discussing what works in the ever-changing landscape of book sales and publishing. The podcast offers candid stories told with cop humor and technical details about the world of law enforcement. 

  1. 1d ago

    Behind the Scenes of House, Law & Order & Homicide with Writer Matt Witten (Part 2)

    Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered what it takes to write for a hit television show? I think it’s safe to say many of us dream of our work appearing on a weekly TV show that millions of viewers can enjoy. Welcome back for the conclusion of my conversation with Author, Screenwriter, and Playwright Matt Witten. He takes us on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of how it’s done.   Matt has had a career of ups and downs until he hit it big as a writer on the hit TV shows Homicide: Life on the Street, JAG, CSI: Miami, Law and Order, my favorite, House, and many other high-profile shows.  It was a pleasure chatting with someone who has written scripts for shows that I have enjoyed so much and having him share his expertise with all of us. I hope you find this episode entertaining, informative, and maybe it gives you the inspiration to never give up and write what you love.  In today’s episode, we discuss: ·      How much ad-libbing do actors do on set? ·      How does he balance creative license with reality? ·      His novel, The Necklace, being optioned for the movies by Appian Way and Cartel Pictures, with Leonardo DiCaprio attached as producer.  ·      NBC hiring him to co-write a TV adaptation of 51% and having AI as the antagonist. ·      His advice for someone who wants to break into writing for TV or movies?   ·      Common mistakes rookie writers make and how do we fix them? ·      What is the best way to market your book? ·      How do we create ‘superfans’?  ·      What was the best and/or worst piece of writing advice he ever received? All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast. Go to Matt's website to learn more about him and his work. Visit the Cops & Writers Website! Most people call 911 on the worst day of their lives. For a street cop, that’s every shift. For twenty-five years, that was mine. Police Stories: Street Cop to Sergeant is the unfiltered story of my years as a Milwaukee street cop. The dark calls. The dark humor. The partners who became family. And the price Support the show

    Behind the Scenes of House, Law & Order & Homicide with Writer Matt Witten (Part 2)
  2. Oct 11

    Behind the Scenes of House, Law & Order & Homicide with Writer Matt Witten (Part 1)

    Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a writer for a hit television show? I think it’s safe to say that many of us dream about our work being on a weekly T.V. show where millions of viewers get to enjoy it. Well, on today’s episode Author, Screenwriter, and Playwright Matt Witten takes us on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of how it’s done.   Matt has had a career of ups and downs until he hit it big as a writer on the hit TV shows Homicide: Life on the Street, Law and Order, my favorite, House, and many other high-profile shows.  It was a pleasure chatting with someone who has written scripts for shows that I have enjoyed so much. I hope you find this episode entertaining, informative, and maybe it gives you the inspiration to never give up and write what you love. Part Two will go live next Sunday.  In today’s episode, we discuss: ·      When Matt was 17 years old and facing a life-threatening illness, he made a promise to himself. ·      How he knew he would be destined to be a writer. ·      The support and positive influence of his wife, Nancy. ·      How he never gave up during the lean years.  ·      How can writers and other creatives get away from the “starving artist” mentality? ·      How he landed an agent.  ·      What was it like teaching playwriting at a prison, and what it taught him. ·      How he wound up writing freelance episodes of Homicide and Law & Order? ·      How Matt dealt with rejection being in an over twenty-year career in Hollywood? ·      What was a typical day in a Hollywood writing room, and how much influence did the actors have on the scripts?  All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast. Go to Matt's website to learn more about him and his work. Visit the Cops & Writers Website! Most people call 911 on the worst day of their lives. For a street cop, that’s every shift. For twenty-five years, that was mine. Police Stories: Street Cop to Sergeant is the unfiltered story of my years as a Milwaukee street cop. The dark calls. The dark humor. The partners who became family. And the price Support the show

    Behind the Scenes of House, Law & Order & Homicide with Writer Matt Witten (Part 1)
  3. Oct 8

    Bonus Episode! Police Stories: Street Cop To Sergeant: 15th and North.

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, retired Milwaukee Police Sergeant Patrick O’Donnell reads Chapter 6, 15th and North, from his upcoming book: Police Stories: Street Cop to Sergeant — True Crime, Chaos, & Life as a Big City Cop These are true stories from Patrick’s years working the streets of Milwaukee as a veteran officer, FTO, and eventual sergeant — stories of chaos, dark humor, tragedy, and survival that don’t make it onto TV shows. All stories are real. Names and locations have been changed where necessary. 🎧 This episode includes: A shooting outside a tavern, where the bartender was already sweeping up the brass casings when police arrivedThe woman in the white dress — a heartbreaking portrait of life on the streets of MilwaukeeOne of the most disturbing crime scenes Patrick encountered in twenty-five years on the jobThe street corner that never let him forget what the job really was📘 About the Book: Police Stories: Street Cop to Sergeant is the second book in Patrick O’Donnell’s true crime memoir series chronicling his twenty-five-year career as a Milwaukee police officer and sergeant. The book goes live on October 13th, 2026. 🔗 Preorder now and save! Link below.   https://a.co/d/04dS56ie 📘 Police Stories: The Rookie Years is on Kindle Countdown for just $0.99 until October 13th. Grab book one at the lowest price it will ever be. Link below. https://a.co/d/0arfcIz9 👍 Like, comment, and share if this story resonated with you. Visit the Cops & Writers Website! Support the show

    Bonus Episode! Police Stories: Street Cop To Sergeant: 15th and North.
  4. Oct 4

    NYPD Detective Marique Bartoldus and I Breakdown: The Outrage Over Flock Cameras & The Lindsay Clancy Trial (Part Two)

    Send us Fan Mail What the Flock is going on? Thanks for joining me and my partner in crime, retired 20-year veteran detective of the NYPD, podcaster, and author, Marique Bartoldus, for the conclusion of our discussion on Flock cameras and our thoughts on the Lindsey Clancy case.  A little bit about Marique. Monz attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where she graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Police Science. Shortly after graduating, she was sworn into the NYPD. She was assigned to multiple units within the Precinct, including Patrol, Conditions, SNEU, Anti-Crime, and Field Intelligence, then left the 105th Precinct and became one of the first detectives assigned to the Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad, where she investigated dog fighting and animal cruelty complaints throughout New York City. She returned to the 105th Precinct, where she ended her career assigned to the Intelligence Bureau, investigating illegal firearm and narcotics sales and possession. She effected 400 arrests and executed hundreds of search warrants during her distinguished twenty-year career.  Monz hosts the popular “Monz on the Mic” podcast and recently published Twenty and Out: A compilation of chaos experienced while serving 20 years in the New York City Police Department, and I can’t recommend this book enough.   Please enjoy this informative look at the Flock hype and misinformation and stick around for our dive into the Lindsey Clancy debacle.  In today’s episode, we discuss: ·      How police used Flock cameras to track down the suspect in the mass shooting at Brown University. ·      Albuquerque PD (using its own in-house ALPR system, not Flock) says the readers have helped solve 13 murder cases so far in 2026. ·      After a police officer in Oklahoma was shot, agencies mobilized across state lines, and Flock cameras in Grants, New Mexico confirmed the suspect's vehicle had entered the area, letting officers make an arrest. ·      November 2022 an officer at a real-time crime center got a hit on a missing woman's vehicle within 30 minutes of entering her plate — a camera captured the plate, letting the officer locate the vehicle live and direct patrol units to her location, safely reuniting her with her family. ·      Flock says its system supported roughly 1 million law enforcement investigations last year and helped locate more than 10,000 missing persons, and its CEO has argued the tech was a "big part" of the recent nationwide decline in crime.  ·      Recently in Oconomowoc, Flock cameras were instrumental in solving a fatal hit-and-run.  ·      Chicago getting rid of ShotSpotter. ·      The remarkably ignorant remarks from the jurors in the Lindsey Clancy trial. ·      The dangerous precedent this case can have for women in future cases and how they will be treated in the workplace. All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast. Check out Marique's Amazon Author Page. Head on over to Monz on the Mic Podcast! Visit the Cops & Writers Website! Most people call 911 on the worst day of their lives. For a street cop, that’s every shift. For twenty-five years, that was mine. Police Stories: Street Cop to Sergeant is the unfiltered story of my years as a Milwaukee street cop. The dark calls. The dark humor. The partners who became family. And the price Support the show

    NYPD Detective Marique Bartoldus and I Breakdown: The Outrage Over Flock Cameras  & The Lindsay Clancy Trial (Part Two)
  5. Oct 1

    Bonus Episode! Police Stories: Street Cop To Sergeant. A Good Judge Of Character!

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, retired Milwaukee Police Sergeant Patrick O'Donnell reads Chapter 5, A Good Judge of Character, from his upcoming book: Police Stories: Street Cop to Sergeant — True Crime, Chaos, & Life as a Big City Cop These are true stories from Patrick's years working the streets of Milwaukee as a veteran officer, FTO, and eventual sergeant — stories of chaos, dark humor, tragedy, and survival that don't make it onto TV shows. All stories are real. Names and locations have been changed where necessary. 🎧 This episode includes: Meet Boris — Patrick's new partner, a Bolivian-Croatian rugby coach who bore a striking resemblance to Vince LombardiA cop knocked unconscious mid-sentence who springs back to life like a scene straight out of Pulp FictionA biker who kicks out the rear window of a squad car from the insideA sixteen-year-old with a baseball bat who wants justice for his momA pompous deputy inspector who tries to connect with a teenager and gets absolutely destroyed📘 About the Book: Police Stories: Street Cop to Sergeant is the second book in Patrick O'Donnell's true crime memoir series chronicling his twenty-five-year career as a Milwaukee police officer and sergeant. The book will be released on October 14th, 2026. Two weeks away. 🔗 Preorder now and save! Link below.   https://a.co/d/04dS56ie 📘 Haven't read book one yet? Police Stories: The Rookie Years — True Crime, Chaos, & Life as a Big City Cop is available now. Link below. https://a.co/d/0arfcIz9 👍 Like, comment, and share if this story resonated with you. Visit the Cops & Writers Website! Support the show

    Bonus Episode! Police Stories: Street Cop To Sergeant. A Good Judge Of Character!
  6. Sep 27

    NYPD Detective Marique Bartoldus and I Breakdown: What The Flock Going On With The Outrage Over Flock Cameras ? (Part One)

    Send us Fan Mail What the Flock is going on? Thanks for joining me and my partner in crime for today's show: retired 20-year NYPD detective, podcaster, and author Marique Bartoldus! On today's show, Marique (Monz) will break down the hysteria, misinformation, and the good, bad, and ugly regarding Flock cameras. Next week we conclude our Flock conversation and jump into the travesty of justice known as the Lindsey Clancy case.  A little bit about Marique. Monz attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where she graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Police Science. Shortly after graduating, she was sworn into the NYPD. She was assigned to multiple units within the Precinct, including Patrol, Conditions, SNEU, Anti-Crime, and Field Intelligence, then left the 105th Precinct and became one of the first detectives assigned to the Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad, where she investigated dog fighting and animal cruelty complaints throughout New York City. She returned to the 105th Precinct, where she ended her career assigned to the Intelligence Bureau, investigating illegal firearm and narcotics sales and possession. She effected 400 arrests and executed hundreds of search warrants during her distinguished twenty-year career.  Monz hosts the popular “Monz on the Mic” podcast and recently published Twenty and Out: A compilation of Chaos Experienced While Serving 20 Years in the New York City Police Department, and I can’t recommend this book enough.   Please enjoy this informative look at this hot topic through the lens of people who actually see the overwhelming good these cameras do in catching criminals and helping victims of crime. Make sure you join us next week when we wrap up the Flock camera’s hype and dive into the Lindsey Clancy debacle.  In today’s episode, we discuss: ·      Why are people losing their minds over Flock cameras? ·      The Flock camera issue uniting the left and right. ·      Law enforcement has been using this technology for over 15 years; why the outrage now? What is fueling this? ·      Criminals celebrating the removal of Flock cameras. ·      There is no expectation of privacy for license plates attached to your car when you are driving down the street! ·      What the Flock system is and how it works.  ·      Your smartphone and TV are tracking you. ·      People complaining about Flock tracking them and volunteering to allow aps track adult children, spouses, and themselves.  ·      Comical public ‘outrage.’ ·      The misuse of the few outweighs the good it has accomplished in helping solve major crimes. Check out Marique's Amazon Author Page. Head on over to Monz on the Mic Podcast! Visit the Cops & Writers Website! Most people call 911 on the worst day of their lives. For a street cop, that’s every shift. For twenty-five years, that was mine. Police Stories: Street Cop to Sergeant is the unfiltered story of my years as a Milwaukee street cop. The dark calls. The dark humor. The partners who became family. And the price Support the show

    NYPD Detective Marique Bartoldus and I Breakdown: What The Flock Going On With The Outrage Over Flock Cameras ? (Part One)
  7. Sep 24

    Bonus Episode! Police Stories: Street Cop To Sergeant. Not The Villages!

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, retired Milwaukee Police Sergeant Patrick O'Donnell reads Chapter 4, Not the Villages, from his upcoming book: Police Stories: Street Cop to Sergeant — True Crime, Chaos, & Life as a Big City Cop These are true stories from Patrick's years working the streets of Milwaukee as a veteran officer, FTO, and eventual sergeant — stories of chaos, dark humor, tragedy, and survival that don't make it onto TV shows. All stories are real. Names and locations have been changed where necessary. 🎧 This episode includes: A senior housing project that was nothing like the retirement communities you see on TVA crack pipe that disappeared the moment a paramedic mentioned the police were comingA dead on entry call that takes an unexpected and jaw-dropping turnTwo daughters fighting over a $200 Pontiac while their father is still warm📘 About the Book: Police Stories: Street Cop to Sergeant is the second book in Patrick O'Donnell's true crime memoir series chronicling his twenty-five year career as a Milwaukee police officer and sergeant. The book releases on October 14th, 2026. 🔗 Preorder now and save! Link below.  https://a.co/d/04dS56ie 📘 Haven't read book one yet? Police Stories: The Rookie Years - True Crime, Chaos, & Life as a Big City Cop is available now. Link below.  https://a.co/d/0arfcIz9 👍 Like, comment, and share if this story resonated with you. Visit the Cops & Writers Website! Support the show

    Bonus Episode! Police Stories: Street Cop To Sergeant. Not The Villages!
  8. Sep 20

    Lindsay Clancy: Criminal Responsibility on Trial, with Author and Defense Attorney Kerrie Droban

    Send us Fan Mail I wanted to start today’s episode with a warning. Today’s episode went down some very dark roads and the subject matter is sensitive. We discussed the vicious murders of Cora, Dawson, and Callan Clancy at the hands of their mother, Lindsay.  January 24, 2023, at the family's home of Patrick and Lindsay Clancy on Summer Street in Duxbury, Massachusetts Lindsay Clancy brutally and savagely murdered her three children, Cora Clancy (5), Dawson Clancy (3), and Callan Clancy (8 months) by taking them into the basement and strangling them one by one with an exercise band. There's a lot of misinformation surrounding this case. It's time for conversations grounded in facts rather than feelings or bias. Helping me tackle it today is bestselling author, defense attorney, and expert on the pathology of the criminal mind, Kerrie Droban. Kerrie is an award-winning author and criminal defense attorney in Arizona. She holds a master's degree from the Johns Hopkins University Writing Seminars and a Master of Fine Arts and Juris Doctorate from the University of Arizona. She has keynoted gang task force conferences and national writing conferences, and has appeared on CNBC's American Greed, A&E's Gangland, the American Heroes Channel's Codes and Conspiracies, Investigation ID, and the Discovery Channel's Deadly Devotion. We recorded this conversation on September 14, 2026, after the trial ended in a mistrial. The killings aren't in dispute. The question at trial was whether Lindsay was criminally responsible, and prosecutors argued she acted deliberately. After hearing our conversation, decide for yourself. In today’s episode we discuss: ·      The lack of outrage for the three innocent and defenseless children who were murdered by their mother. ·      The “Team Lindsay” movement throwing money and support at a mom who viciously and meticulously killed her three children.  ·      Gender bias: would a father who did this be seen as sick, or as a monster? ·      Aurora, which Kerrie co-wrote with Dr. Lynne Fenton, and how public opinion of blaming health care providers has shifted. ·      Postpartum depression is real and common ([verified stat, source]). Postpartum psychosis is rare, and Lindsay's diagnosis came only after the killings, from a forensic psychiatrist.  ·      Flaws in the mental health system: per the prosecution, about 30 prescriptions for 13 psychiatric medications in the four months before, taken sporadically. ·      Five clinicians and two hospitals saw her in that window, and none diagnosed psychosis or bipolar disorder ·      The evil that is in the world today and the monsters who can’t be helped. ·      Prosecutors focused on the vagueness of the voice Clancy claimed to hear: she had to choose where — the basement; she had to choose how — strangulation. ·      Lindsay’s preparation and premeditation before she killed her children. ·      Jurors who have raced to get their five minutes of fame. This quote from a juror sums it up. “He had the hardest time getting off the fact that Lindsay viciously killed her children.”  ·      “Team Clancy” is doing no favors for the feminist movement. This is setting a precedent. Do we have to test mothers who are coming off maternity leave with jobs that might harm others before we let them back into the workplace? Surgeons, cops, pilots, military- all jobs that were, and still are, male-dominated. Do you want a woman who is postpartum and potentially has postpartum psychosis with the launch codes to the nukes? All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast. Visit Kerrie Droban on her website! Please visit the Cops and Writers website. Most people call 911 on the worst day of their lives. For a street cop, that’s every shift. For twenty-five years, that was mine. Police Stories: Street Cop to Sergeant is the unfiltered story of my years as a Milwaukee street cop. The dark calls. The dark humor. The partners who became family. And the price Support the show

    Lindsay Clancy: Criminal Responsibility on Trial, with Author and Defense Attorney Kerrie Droban
4.9
out of 5
58 Ratings

About

Cops and Writers is a podcast hosted by retired police sergeant and author, Patrick O'Donnell. The podcast provides valuable insights and humor for crime writers who want to create accurate and believable police stories. O'Donnell conducts in-depth interviews with members of law enforcement and civilian experts, discussing police procedures and culture. He also interviews crime fiction writers and writers from different genres, discussing what works in the ever-changing landscape of book sales and publishing. The podcast offers candid stories told with cop humor and technical details about the world of law enforcement. 

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