Welcome back ATO family. "You saved your partner's life" Today we are sitting down with former Los Angeles Police Department David Klinger as he tells us his story of starting in LA PD in the 80s and immediately being thrusted into a life in death situation as he had to take a life to protect his partners in the streets of LA. Following his shooting he continued his work in law enforcement and delved into the academic world to continue his research and studies to further serve law enforcement by...
Jul 02, 2023•2 hr 22 min•Ep. 72
Episode 71 Dallas Police Assistant Chief Reuben Ramirez #7345 From Idea to Implementation Welcome back ATO family and welcome on Dallas Police Assistant Chief Reuben Ramirez who commands the Tactical Support Division. The Units under his command include Dallas SWAT, Gang Unit, Narcotics Division, Fugitive Unit, Mounted, K-9, Traffic/Motors and the Helicopter Unit. He started Dallas PD in 1995 and went to the Southwest Division and quickly engaged in proactive policing with the amazing Southwest ...
Jun 12, 2023•2 hr 41 min•Ep. 71
Episode 70 Cedar Rapids Iowa Police Dept. Matt Jenatscheck “The Rolodex” ATO Family please welcome one of our blue family members that has traveled over 800 miles to take the stage for the listeners. Nearly a year ago the ATO received a heartfelt message of gratitude, and it formed a new friendship many states away. This rollercoaster of a story will touch on many topics and have many emotions but when we get to the “Never Give Up on You” exit music the listener will be reminded that Police work...
Jun 01, 2023•2 hr 8 min•Ep. 70
A Message from the Host XI with Rebecca Leppert of the Pro Players Foundation Very Special guest cohosts Dallas K9 Angela Arredondo and Sgt Andrea Shipp. Hello ATO Fam and welcome back for a quick message. Today we are sitting down with Chief Operating Officer Rebecca Leppert from the Pro Players Foundation that is dedicated to improving the quality of lives for the most in innocent in the world we live in……children. This organization endeavors to enrich the lives of kids in need across North Te...
May 26, 2023•40 min
Episode 69 Dallas Police Placed Network Investigations Task Force Brandon Dye #11015 Welcome back ATO friends as we welcome on a guest that proves that determination, desire and support can lead to a path of greatness no matter where you grow up. It about the people around you and that inner drive that can propel you to having the desire to being the human being that can help others and make your family proud. Dallas PD Officer Brandon Dye embodies these qualities. He grew up in one of the rough...
May 22, 2023•1 hr 50 min•Ep. 69
Episode 68 Documentary Photographer and Visual Mediator Richard Sharum “Obsession with Time” Welcome back ATO family as today we present the story of a true visionary in the documentary photographer Richard Sharum. Guest cohosts are Dallas Police Major Nathan Swyers and Dallas Police Homicide Detective Andrea Isom. Richard Sharum is a documentary and project-centered photographer based in the Dallas, Texas area. Mainly focusing on socio-economic or social justice dilemmas concerning the human co...
May 09, 2023•2 hr 7 min•Ep. 68
Episode 67 Dallas Police (Ret.) Major Leroy Quigg ”It took God to close his eyes in order for him to see…” Welcome back ATO family and please welcome on a piece of Dallas PD history in Leroy Quigg. Leroy, curly top, Quigg joined the Dallas Police Department in 1992 and quickly volunteered for the Dallas Gang Unit, during the height of the rise of gangs in Dallas Texas. From 1993 to 2004 he was an enforcement officer for the Gang Unit. In 1997 he formed a gang intervention project called GI COP t...
May 01, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 67
Episode 66 US Marshal Chris White Part Two: Electric Boogaloo ”You are not alone…..” Former Dallas PD turned U.S. Marshal - Chris White returns to the podcast for a second episode to talk about the US Marshal C.I.R.T (Critical Incident Response Team) that responds to critical incidents across the country for the Marshal Service. CIRT members are trained personnel and are peers that are of high character that respond to incidents to assist with the involved Marshal as well as their families. In t...
Apr 16, 2023•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 66
Welcome back ATO family as we bring you the Tenth Message from the Host. And today we sit down with a true patriot in Todd Boeding from the Carry the Load Podcast, Lessons from the Front. Their podcast can be heard on all streaming platforms as they have on service members from all branches of military and all first responders to tell their incredible stories of resiliency. The Carry the Load Foundation was created by Navy SEALS Clint Bruce and Stephen Holly as their mission is to restore the tr...
Apr 13, 2023•40 min
Episode 65 Dallas Police Department SWAT Sergeant Andre Taylor #7752 “Trust God, Clean House, Serve Others” The Assist the Officer Foundation sits down with an incredibly accomplished and unique individual today in Sgt. Andre Taylor of Dallas SWAT. As Dre grew up in the South side of Chicago, he regularly witnessed acts of violence but also witnessed an incredible community and family as his mother was ever present in his upbringing ensuring he didn’t fall prey to the many negative lifestyles of...
Apr 05, 2023•2 hr 47 min•Ep. 65
The ATO is proud to welcome 911 Calltaker/Police/Fire/Teletype Dispatch Supervisor Gillian Ethridge to the stage to shed some light on one of the most crucial components to the first responder world: communications. Gillian was born in Dallas in 1988 and she and her family moved to Fairfax, Virginia where she had dreams of becoming a firefighter as a teen and some of the best times of her life was when she was an explorer for the fire department. Her dream was to be in the fire department but li...
Mar 30, 2023•2 hr 6 min•Ep. 64
Episode 63 Dallas Police Joey Arvizu #10624 Today’s story time features a true warrior and an incredibly kind human being that also happens to be a Dallas Police Officer. Jose Julian Arvizu hired on with the Dallas Police Department in 2013 and spent most of his time at the Southeast Division (God’s Country) and quickly gained a reputation as being a by the book officer and natural born leader. This episode tells the story of a Marine, a Police Officer, and a dedicated husband whose life changed...
Mar 21, 2023•2 hr 23 min•Ep. 63
Episode 62 Ret. Dallas Officer Gretchen Rocha " Live Simple, Live Brave, and Live Kindly" Welcome back ATO Family today’s episode has a lot of moving parts and includes a lot of heartache, inspiration, healing and the survival. Gretchen Rocha tells her unique story of growing up in Wisconsin as she was raised in the fundamental independent Baptist culture and learned resiliency at an early age. She chose to take a different path in her life as she experienced early trauma in family and in her re...
Mar 13, 2023•2 hr 15 min•Ep. 62
Welcome back ATO family as we bring you the ninth Message from the Host. This will be our Kevin James Clayshoot Edition as we sit down with one of the organizers of this great event in Dallas SWAT Lt. Kevin Campbell. Lt. Campbell currently commands the SWAT Unit and has been instrumental in planning and organizing the annual KJ Clay Shoot that benefits the Assist the Officer Foundation. To register for this event go to WWW.KEVINJAMESCLAYSHOOT.COM if you want to sponsor a team or come out and sho...
Mar 10, 2023•36 min
Episode 61 Dallas SWAT Matthew Smith #7765 “Don’t get left in Virginia” ATO friends, you are in for a treat. We sat down with the not so ordinary man with an ordinary name. Senior Corporal Matt Smith talks about how his East Texas upbringing helped forge the discipline that has defined him throughout his police career. Matt joined the Dallas Police Department in 1999. He was assigned to the Northeast Patrol division after completing the Police Academy. In 2005 he competed in a tryout for the Dal...
Mar 02, 2023•2 hr 29 min•Ep. 61
Bob’s World Segment This is special bonus episode so our ATO family can hear the Great Bob Sturm on his own show, The Hardline, discussing his experience on the ATO: Bridging the Divide Podcast. The radio station, The Ticket, is iconic in the sports talk world and has won the top award for radio station of the year four times. Bob is a good friend and longtime first responder supporter as he comes from a long line of police family members. In his episode we discuss some police ride alongs he did...
Feb 25, 2023•16 min
Episode 60 Dallas Police Department’s Bryan Candelaria #9294 and Gabriel Candelaria #9326 The Dallas Island Boys The Assist the Officer Foundation welcomes on the Dallas Police Department’s identical twin brothers in Bryan and Gabriel Candelaria. Hailing from the 305, Miami Florida, they do embody the flavor of South Florida as they grew up in the fast- paced post cocaine cowboy era of Miami. They both gravitated to law enforcement as they grew up in a first responder family under the tutelage o...
Feb 21, 2023•2 hr 58 min•Ep. 60
Episode 59 Dallas Police Department Major Mark Harris #7877 ”The craziest rage I’ve ever felt in my life” Today the ATO crew is sitting with a genuine individual and true professional to discuss the “Charlie Brown Effect”. Dallas Major Mark Harris grew up in St Louis and found the love of his life Yvonne before joining the United States Marine Corp as he started his life of service. From 1986-1989 he began his life in law enforcement as an MP for the USMC before he traveled to South Texas to wor...
Feb 08, 2023•2 hr 15 min•Ep. 59
Episode 58 Dallas Police Homicide Unit Detective Andrea Isom # 9272 The Dallas Police Department’s Homicide Unit is incredibly rich in history. The Homicide and Robbery Unit, under Captain J.W. Fritz, was considered the elite unit of the Dallas Police Department as it investigated high profile crimes like the Texas Eyeball Killer, the pastor Walker Railey, and the murder of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. Capt. Fritz created traditions and a standard in excellency that lives on today as they ...
Jan 31, 2023•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 58
Episode 57 Bob Gorsky of Lyon, Gorsky, & Gilbert LLP. Texas Super Lawyer When Police are put into a position to use deadly force or they have incurred an injustice they may have to make a phone call for help. For over 45 years attorney Bob Gorsky has picked up the phone when first responders call in need of help. Members of the Dallas Police Association, Dallas PD’s largest association, and many other Texas Officer and Firefighter groups have had to make that call to Bob. Mr. Gorsky grew up ...
Jan 26, 2023•2 hr 4 min•Ep. 57
Hello ATO family On the eve of releasing the Great Bob Gorsky episode I want to drop our latest message from the host. This is no ordinary message as we are proud to sit down with a true first responder supporter in the creator of The Officer Next Door Page. The father of this page likes to remain anonymous so we will respect his wishes but his former Dallas PD friends and family know the real man behind the mask and know his true mission behind this great page. I met him when he arrived to God’...
Jan 25, 2023•54 min
Episode 56 TMPA Field Services Supervisor and Retired Garland Texas Detective Clint McNear Today’s episode is with a third generation Texas Law Enforcement and a true voice and advocate for all police officers across the country. Clint grew up in Plano Texas and was the son of long time Dallas Police Department Homicide Detective Stan McNear. He joined the Marines and became an MP to begin his long career of service. Clint then dove into being a true Texas Peace Officer as he was hired by the Ga...
Jan 15, 2023•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 56
Episode 55 – Dr. Alex Eastman R298 The ATO brings you a different perspective today with an episode all about Doctor Alexander Eastman. Oftentimes people find a level of success and become comfortable with their positions in life. They rest on their laurels and allow their previous accomplishments to define them. Alexander Eastman is not one of those people. Growing up outside of Washington DC, Alex began a life of servanthood working as a firefighter/EMT/rescue worker and even spent time in the...
Dec 30, 2022•2 hr 10 min•Ep. 55
A MESSAGE FROM THE HOST VII YEAR IN REVIEW This will be our 7th Message from the Host with Joe King and Kent Wolverton as we say farewell to 2022 and welcome 2023 with open arms. We are extremely grateful for our loyal listeners. We want to say thank you to some of our day one listeners and also welcome our new members. The Assist the Officer Foundation if proud to announce a sponsorship with the First Responders Coffee Company (FRCC)! The First Responders Coffee Company was started by Brent Tuc...
Dec 27, 2022•35 min
Episode 54 Dallas Police Gordon Fulton #10785 “Walking on a razors edge “ Today’s story is a unique journey of heartbreak, darkness, accountability and redemption as this guest truly battled that demon in a bottle. The Dallas Police recently created a policy to assist officers that are struggling with alcoholism to come forward and seek help and have full support from the Dept. More importantly, it was created to establish a culture to have a conversation, the brutally tough ones, to shine a lig...
Dec 09, 2022•1 hr 54 min•Ep. 54
Episode 53 Shelby Houston In Memory of Richard Houston On December 3rd 2021 Richard Houston, a 21 year Mesquite PD veteran, answered a domestic disturbance call and tragic events unfolded and he did not make it home that night. Being a family member or a friend of a first responder can be very rewarding as you have a front row seat of a true servant, a role model, and a hero. However tragedy can watch from afar and show up and cause a loved to receive a life changing phone call that will shape e...
Dec 03, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 53
Episode 52 Bob Sturm of the Ticket’s The Hardline Welcome back to the show ATO family. This episode the Assist the Officer Foundation sits down with the Sturminator himself, Bob Sturm of KTCK The Ticket. Bob is a long time first responder supporter as he has a unique family connection with various types of law enforcement across the country. Bridging the Divide host Joe has maintained a friendship with Sturm that goes back to 1999 as he had his first ride along with DPD and, admittedly, we flew ...
Nov 29, 2022•1 hr 51 min•Ep. 52
Welcome back ATO fans as this message comes from the site of the 8th Annual Desperados Restaurant Golf Tournament benefiting the Assist the Officer Foundation. Today we are live from this incredible event and had on Desperados Mexican Restaurants Ameet Somaney who tells the listener why they support first responders with such passion. We also have on other supporters such as Legends Fit, Hoist hydration, the Dallas Homicide TAB7 founders and many more. The ATO loves all of our many supporters an...
Nov 22, 2022•52 min
Episode 51 Dallas SWAT Hostage Negotiator JD Byas ***Warning graphic content discussed involving suicide *** The Assist the Officer Foundation gets many requests from across the country on guests and topics and one common topic we keep getting is to have on a hostage negotiator. The Dallas PD SWAT Unit has several members trained in hostage negotiations however they have on a very “seasoned” veteran in James “JD” Byas. He Hired on with the Dallas Police Department in 1985 and spent five years wo...
Nov 17, 2022•2 hr 8 min•Ep. 51
Episode 50 Chief Doug Kowalski Special THANK YOU to the ATO family and friends as we release our landmark episode in, fittingly, our Big 5-0. The Assist the Officer Foundation is proud to release our 50th episode and capture a true piece of Dallas Police and Texas law enforcement history in this story. Doug Kowalski moved to Texas and joined the Dallas Police Department in 1977, where he advanced through the ranks of Officer, Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Deputy Chief. Chief Kowal...
Nov 10, 2022•2 hr 18 min•Ep. 50
