That LEO Guy

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Let's get into the meat and potatoes of the five subjects covered by TF70.  If you're in the 30% that have access to regular training and career development, I'm confident they can still offer you something - again - free of charge.

At the very least, if you have an agency with 10 people, one of them should be venturing out and learning what the rest of the world is doing.  Then take that knowledge and those skills home, and provide the best serv...

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Homicide is a simple and objective term that is a combination of two things - homo & cide. Homicide is not a crime. Let me say it louder. Homicide is not a crime!!  

Murder is a crime. Manslaughter is a crime. These crimes have varying degrees depending on the details of what happened, including how it was done and the level of criminal intent. 

If someone comes to your house today and puts a gun to your...

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70% of LEOs are with local law enforcement that serve communities of

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I've sat on both sides of the table - interviewee dozens of times, interviewer / board member several.  I'd like to help you succeed in your career, and this is a cog in the wheel.

You can expect to interview for multiple positions over the next few decades as a LEO:  Investigations, new agency, Task Force Officer position, and on and on and on.  

Today I'll get into how to prepare, how to execute, and how to bounce back and win n...

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May 2023:  Rick Chow, Columbia South Carolina gas station owner, chases down and shoots to death 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton following a suspected (and disproven) shoplifting incident.

June 2026:  Chow is found NOT GUILTY of Murder.

The video will be on That LEO Guy Facebook and Instagram.

Here's my analysis of the investigation, prosecutorial strategies (and perhaps mistakes) and what led to Chow walking free.

-LEO

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Anthony was convicted today of murdering Metcalf and is awaiting his sentence.  Tune in for my take, as someone involved with the US justice system for many, many years, on what this means.

-LEO

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Please follow on FB and Substack at links below!  Substack contains true stories from my perspective.  Follow / subscribe on your favorite platform to continue to get my perspective and those of my interviewees!!!

THANK YOU!

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Let's apply the 7 Deadly Sins to our careers and LEO lives.  Are we doing any of these?  Because it only takes one of them to derail your career and life.

PRIDE, ENVY, WRATH, SLOTH, GREED, GLUTTONY, LUST.

-LEO

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Please follow on FB and Substack at links below!  Substack contains true stories from my perspective.  Follow / subscribe on your favorite platform to continue to get my perspective and those of my interv...

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There is a video floating around of a recent police / citizen encounter.  

Woman gets pulled over.  Cop informs her she was stopped for holding her cellular device in her right hand.  She holds up her left arm - no hand at the end.  Just a nub.

Let's discuss how to go with the flow of the investigation instead of deciding immediately what happened and going with that, and the pitfalls of failure to adjust.

-LEO

PS - v...

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One year down!

"Introduction to That LEO Guy" came out one year ago today.  I was on a digital recorder, rambling on about who I am and why this podcast is great.

Since then I've conducted a multitude of interviews and covered dozens of important law enforcement and military topics.

Thank you for your continued listenership and support, and I'm looking forward to a razzle-dazzle FY27 of interviews and more!

-LEO

Suppo...

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When I had my first interview to be a cop, the Captain over recruiting asked me a simple question:  You gonna wreck my cars?  Your driving record is terrible.

Vehicle shortages are a real concern as we all know.  Everywhere I've been, if you consistently crash cars that belong to the government, you'll be in the hot seat.

I hope you enjoy this short on how to not end up in a ditch or deep puddle, floating awkwa...

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After close to two decades of being a LEO, I've got some opinions on what could be done better at the most fundamental levels of law enforcement.  I see a bigtime "us vs them" mentality.

As simple as a kid saying "mommy, are you going out to catch bad guys?"

Some joker when you're at Chipotle saying "oooh, it wasn't me!"

You describing a neighborhood in court as a "gang neighborhood" or "high-crime area."

I swe...

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Search Warrants are another individual tool that each investigator should have in their box.  A few episodes have released recently covering individual items that every investigator should have:  CI Management, SWs, Stationary and Mobile Surveillance, UOF Knowledge, Use of Deadly Force Understanding, Trash Pulls (barf).

This is one of the more important ones.  Develop your understanding of what a SW is, what is expected in the different parts of the SW packet, and how to develop what you need to do what...

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As a patrol cop, narc, SWAT operator and more, I made multiple trips to Internal Affairs for various allegations.  All were unfounded (no discipline administered).  I've been sued in federal court (unfounded and dismissed).

As a supervisor, I was the sole investigator of my shift's Use of Force incidents.  I reviewed BWC, spoke with witnesses, reviewed third party video, took "victim" statements, and more.  I collected facts and made determinations on policy application and if the UOF was appropriate.

Tune i...

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I already had all releases scheduled out through the end of July.  However, yesterday's interview with Packy felt fitting to cut the line and release on Mother's Day.

Packy and I had a great conversation about the fastest four seconds of his life.  A simple citizen encounter transitioned into a brawl, his service pistol being taken, and an attempt on his life.  Packy discusses the incident itself and what followed in both the short and longterm.

Thank you Packy for y...

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Trash Pull!

All police and military units are comprised of individuals that require two things:

1. Individual Skills

2. Team Cohesion

Trash pulls need to be a tool in your investigative toolbox to retrieve facts from your target.  Tune in for a down and, literally, dirty, on the legality and tactics to be successful dumpster diving!

I hate them, but I do them, because they work.

-LEO

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A good friend asked me to provide an episode on what I consider to be the most REALISTIC law enforcement shows and movies.  

It's hard to capture the transitions from boring / mundane to life changing excitement and back, but I'll try to name the ones I like best in this category!

Enjoy the weather!

-LEO

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The police academy will give you the barebones to be a cop:  Law, tactics criminal procedure.

Field training will indoctrinate you into the culture of the agency you chose.

This episode will provide realistic, day-to-day best practices that I adopted over years of patrolling and supervising a patrol shift.  These practices will lead you to success and great fortune!

-LEO

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Confidential Informants.  CIs.

Sources of Information.  SOIs.

Rats.  Police.  Snitches.  12.

On today's episode I will discuss how to utilize CIs to make your career and not break it.  Google "Whitey Bulger" for a great example of how to ruin a career and an agency's reputation through CI mismanagement.

I've had many lessons learned, and today I will turn them all over!  

Run your CI, don't let your CI run you.

-LEO

Sup...

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LEO speaks again with Kevin Grogan - former homicide detective, combat veteran and author of three published books.  Kevin provides his opinions on modern policing and what methods worked for him.

Kevin admits he did not do everything perfectly, but he did give many years to the badge.  We can learn more from mistakes than someone that comes on here telling stories of their own glory.

Tune in!

-LEO

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Kevin Grogan started his career just like the rest of us - bright eyed, ambitious, curious.  After some years, some time wearing a yellow shirt, investigating homicides and working in the Savannah Gang Unit, it all came crashing down.

Tune in for Kevin's account of his sudden fall during his climb.  

We've all made mistakes, we've all had close calls, and Kevin opens up about the errors of his ways and what he would've done differently.

-LEO

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If you're back, you're not reading this.  If you're not returning from last episode, read the last description first.

Eric will go further into what ROCIC offers and what you can expect from training / intel analysts.

-LEO

ROCIC - A Proven Resource for Law Enforcement

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Please follow on FB and Substack at links below!  Substack contains true stories from my perspective.  Follow / subscribe on your favorite platform to continue to get m...

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Meet Eric with ROCIC!  This non-profit is built to serve the active LEO.  Whether you need training or intel, whether your agency is large or small, they can provide you free or low-cost services.

Mid and Upper Management cannot cry about departmental issues if they do not push training and intel-driven policing.

LEOs cannot cry about career stagnation if they do not attend training consistently.

Listen here to what they have to offer, locations, and everything in betw...

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Any LEO I know will accept intervention dealing with mental health consumers.  Drew has studied and experienced this extensively and will continue to explain the points in the CJ system when his team can effectively get involved.

Every point of contact after arrest has potential for intervention.  If a mental health consumer gets help, the hope is that he or she stops committing crimes.  Then all of our lives are better.

-LEO

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Drew Taylor has extensive education and experience in what most of us cops call CIT - Crisis Intervention Training.  Tune in to hear the innovative techniques that Lehigh County, PA is using to manage mental health issues as they fall within the criminal justice system.  Drew will delve into their system of intervention and how they shift some responsibility from law enforcement / courts to different areas.

All of you cops and prosecutors will agree that not everyone needs to be charged with...

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Surprise bonus episode, and the most exciting yet!  

US Attorney General Pam Bondi came through my city, and I had the pleasure of meeting her and, of course, blabbing about my podcast!  After talking for a few minutes, she agreed to knock out an episode and answer some difficult questions!  I didn't get a lot of time (apparently, she's a busy lady), but we shared some laughs and some awkwardness.  

I hope you enjoy, and you're next Bongino!

-LEO...

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Over the last few weeks, I spoke with five career investigators and three career prosecutors.  My question to them:  What are the top five mistakes you see from investigators that lead cases to failure.  Dismissals.  Acquittals.  Problems.

There was heavy overlap, and the most repeated phrase was not to be a lazy BLEEP!

Luckily, they provided about 15 other points between them.  They'll be coming on to hash it out in the future, but for now, enjoy the 11-minute...

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"Oh you can't set up in there.  They do counter."

"How can I set up out there in the country?  Stick a car on an empty dirt road?"

"That neighborhood is gated and they'll call my target."

You can do stationary surveillance anywhere.

Stop believing the hype.  You can work the problem, get eyes on your target location, get your search warrant, make your arrest, whatever you need.

Being skill...

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All jobs have group and individual skills.  Last month, I released Narcotics.

Narcotics is riddled with both of these.  Surveillance is both individual and team.

If you suck as an individual, you'll be a worthless team member.  If all 8 of you are great but you have no flow together, you'll be a low-functioning team.

Today's episode will focus on how to follow cars and people that are moving.  At times this will include transitions to and from station...

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Christy Barker's first interview dropped months ago.  She discussed her ideas of the ideal prosecutor / investigator relationship prior to arrest.

Post-arrest, that relationship needs to (and will) change.  Today she discussed what she, as a prosecutor of violent crime for three decades, would like from the investigators after they arrest a killer.

The short version is this:  If you're an investigator, you do not prosecute cases.  It's not your decision to prosecute, or to decide the strategy of that prosec...

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In last Friday's episode, Danny discussed his career - USMC Sniper, Police Officer, Coroner.

In today's episode, he will go into the nitty gritty of hitting rock bottom.  

The path there, the moment of truth, and the path back out of the dark.

Whether you were a member of Uncle Sam's Misguided Children (USMC), Army, Navy, Air Force, Coastie, Police, Deputy, Corrections, Investigations, or just a man or woman who's been through some shit, this epi...

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Danny Baker is a Scout-Sniper in the United States Marine Corps turned police officer, turned deputy coroner.  Following eight years active duty (including multiple combat deployments and four years of training new Scout-Snipers), Danny was hired to police the streets of Greenville, SC.  After 14 years of this, he moved on to something more peaceful (?), working as a deputy coroner.  

In the first of a two-part segment, Danny will discuss his background, his preparation and training in the USMC Special Operations community, and w...

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The title in in jest (hopefully).  

Female police officers deal with things that I never have.  In this episode I will briefly touch on some of the struggles I've seen friends and co-workers deal with, and how I've seen successful cops overcome!

I kept it short because I'm going to go into greater details with someone more genetically qualified to speak on the subject.

Welcome to March!

-LEO

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As a city police officer I attended multiple training events on FLETC (Federal Law Enforcement Training Center).  I worked, as I've said, on the USMS Regional Fugitive Task Force.  I also worked quite a bit with DEA and ATF while in narcotics, and had some workings with FBI and US Secret Service. 

During training to become a fed, our class was mixed with other agencies and shared living quarters and the cafeteria with thousands of people from dozens of other agencies.  If you...

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Some of you, like me, are little quitters.  I've resigned from corrections, policing, federal agencies and two branches of the military.

The variety has developed me, but would it have been nice to find the right home 20 years ago?  Sure.

In this episode I will explore what different types of law enforcement agencies are out there and some potential red flags that should make you run!

I want the listeners happy at work, and if they're not, I wa...

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Once I hit the streets a lifetime ago, I quickly realized my strengths and weaknesses.  One thing I could do consistently was spot in progress crime.  Whether that means a car out of place, a guy changing how he walks when he sees me or an open window in January, I noticed change.  This allowed me to regularly stop the "right" people - those doing crime - and put them in jail.

I was called almost daily by our city narcotics unit...

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If you've been on patrol 20 years, how many fraudsters have you caught?

0, right?

How many have you met?

More than that I bet.

I attended multiple fraud classes (against my will) while serving as a city police officer.  As a fed (don't judge me please) I've investigated major fraud - 10s of millions stolen without the use of a gun.

I also found that "normal" criminals - robbers, shooters, burglars - are thrilled to d...

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Welcome back!

This is a noble profession and all, but most of us also like the money that comes from it.  Let's get back into how to make the money you get go further.

Whether you are paycheck-to-paycheck despite your last raise, not quite at your financial goal, or just want to learn more about money management, give Coty a listen.

He understands how it works, and is willing to work with LEO's on their personal situation.

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"If it don't make dollars, it don't make sense."

-Socrates

Meet Coty Barker!

CEO of Paladin Wealth Management and current police officer.  All of us probably have some kind of retirement plan with our agency, and that plan comes with options.  Most of us just pick the default.

Wait, so we're trusting the government with the decisions on how to manage our retirement fund?  What could go wrong??

Coty works exclus...

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"There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter."

-Ernest Hemingway

SERFT ruined law enforcement for me - nothing can compare to fugitive work.  

Enjoy this 17-minute episode on the bare bone basics of fugitive investigations.

Be safe!  I promise, if you're there or get there, it will be the highlight of your care...

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Lt. Col. Grossman believes that our troops are not victims.  He believes that reframing traumatic experiences as an opportunity for growth will allow returning heroes to have happy and healthy lives.  The same mindset goes for law enforcement officers.

LEOs experience frequent trauma at work - I don't need to explain all the types.  This can make you, or this can break you.  Let's become stronger instead of breaking.  Dave Grossman is on our side, and wants to see us do well da...