Épisodes

  • Message to the listeners

    Message to the listeners
    Jan 22 2026
    A brief message from the creator of Reasons We Serve, Niles Gooding, a retired DEA Agent.
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    2 min
  • Deep Undercover: Ken Larson’s Motorcycle Gang Takedowns & Badge Bonds

    Deep Undercover: Ken Larson’s Motorcycle Gang Takedowns & Badge Bonds
    Jan 18 2026
    🎥 Episode 144
    Uncover the shadows with retired Fairfax County PD Detective Ken Larson (FBI 12 years), whose journey began in 1983 with the Secret Service Uniform Division—fueled by a Youngstown steel-town kid's obsession with True Detective mags and "Walking Tall" heroism, no family LE legacy. From blue-collar roots to deep undercover infiltrating motorcycle gangs, Ken reveals the grind: Building informant trust through genuine empathy ("I see people as people, not handcuffs"), the "good vs. evil" pull, and wisdom's shift from black-and-white rookies to life-changers mentoring at-risk kids like "Joe" (now Virginia Tech-bound).

    Welcome to our Channel Reasons We Serve, a podcast dedicated to exploring the motivations, challenges, and realities of working in law enforcement. We dive deep into the personal stories of officers, discuss different career paths, and break down the roles of various agencies—from local police departments to state and federal law enforcement.

    Please give us a 5-star review, subscribe, and share to stay updated on more inspiring law enforcement stories!

    To watch more interviews with retired and active duty cops and law enforcement, watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonsweserve
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    2 h et 10 min
  • NYC Corrections Deputy: Phil Billik's 25-Year Rikers Hell – Riots, Stress Wins & Family Sacrifices

    NYC Corrections Deputy: Phil Billik's 25-Year Rikers Hell – Riots, Stress Wins & Family Sacrifices
    Jan 11 2026
    🎥 Episode 143
    Step into the unyielding world of retired NYC Department of Corrections Deputy Warden Philip Billik (25 years, 1983-2008), who traded Wall Street publishing for Rikers Island's chaos—starting as a 23-year-old recruit bused straight to Bronx House of Detention amid 1970s civil service tests and civil servant dreams. From six-week Rikers training (classroom law to Bronx firearms drills) to commanding 500-inmate units through riots, stabbings, and escapes, Phil reveals the "my house, my way" mindset that kept stress at bay: No domestics, no bars, no drugs—just care, custody, control. As a native New Yorker from Inwood's Irish-Italian-Jewish trades hub, he shares stories of acclimation, holiday skeleton crews, and the wife who "kept him intact" through 38 years of marriage, missed birthdays, and schedule-shifting Thanksgivings.

    How did "hell" forge heaven? Phil's skeptical eye sizes up subway crowds but fears nothing—nothing he can't endure after 25 years of the unimaginable. A raw blueprint for corrections pros, aspiring officers, and families navigating the badge's shadows.

    Welcome to our Channel Reasons We Serve, a podcast dedicated to exploring the motivations, challenges, and realities of working in law enforcement. We dive deep into the personal stories of officers, discuss different career paths, and break down the roles of various agencies—from local police departments to state and federal law enforcement.

    👍 Like, Subscribe, Comment, and Share to stay updated on more inspiring law enforcement stories!
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    1 h et 19 min
  • St. Louis County PD Sgt. Adam Kavanaugh on Child Exploitation Cases and the Cost of a Police Career

    St. Louis County PD Sgt. Adam Kavanaugh on Child Exploitation Cases and the Cost of a Police Career
    Jan 4 2026
    🎥 Episode 142
    Trace retired St. Louis County PD Sgt. Adam Kavanaugh's 25-year badge odyssey—from a poverty-stricken childhood idolizing his grandfather's heroism amid violent home beatings to a lifelong "policeman" fixation sparked by a homemade jean-car toy. Drawn to protect the weak, Adam's career peaks in the gut-wrenching Child Exploitation Unit, sifting through unimaginable abuse footage that fueled hyper-vigilance—scanning crowds at daughter's cheer games, phone-glued vacations, and a post-retirement escape to 8-acre isolation. He bears the toll: Savior complex from abuse, trust shattered ("I don't trust anybody"), and family strains eased by therapy, yet a forever changed worldview.

    Welcome to our Channel Reasons We Serve, a podcast dedicated to exploring the motivations, challenges, and realities of working in law enforcement. We dive deep into the personal stories of officers, discuss different career paths, and break down the roles of various agencies—from local police departments to state and federal law enforcement.

    👍 Like, Subscribe, and share to stay updated on more inspiring law enforcement stories!
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    1 h et 12 min
  • Baltimore Drug Wars: Retired Cop Maurice Hicks on Kingpin Hunts and His Memoir

    Baltimore Drug Wars: Retired Cop Maurice Hicks on Kingpin Hunts and His Memoir
    Dec 29 2025
    🎥 Episode 141
    Dive into the raw streets of 1980s-90s Baltimore with retired Prince George's County PD detective Maurice Hicks (20 years total, including Baltimore PD narcotics as well as a homicide detective), who traded a heroin-plagued backyard for a badge—not once, but twice—after reluctant recruiter tests hooked him despite zero interest in policing. From high-speed pursuits and foot chases to dismantling a drug kingpin linked to 12 murders on his beat, Maurice shares unfiltered tales of uniform patrols, undercover ops, and FBI task-force twists that inspired his Amazon-bestselling memoir, Looking for Trouble (International Impact Award winner, March 2023). As a Black officer navigating the "sellout" stigma and community distrust, he reveals how humanizing interactions built trust, solved cases, and humanized the badge—plus post-retirement life as a PI, adjunct professor at University of Maryland Global Campus, and dad of five.

    Essential for true crime fans, aspiring cops, and Baltimore history buffs—grab Maurice's book on Amazon! LIKE if street stories grip you, SUBSCRIBE for retired cop memoirs, COMMENT: What's your wildest pursuit tale?

    Welcome to our Channel Reasons We Serve, a podcast dedicated to exploring the motivations, challenges, and realities of working in law enforcement. We dive deep into the personal stories of officers, discuss different career paths, and break down the roles of various agencies—from local police departments to state and federal law enforcement.

    👍 Like, give us a 5-star review, and share to stay updated on more inspiring law enforcement stories!
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    1 h et 11 min
  • AI in Policing: How CLIPr Cuts Report Time in Half and Boosts Officer Productivity

    AI in Policing: How CLIPr Cuts Report Time in Half and Boosts Officer Productivity
    Dec 28 2025
    🎥 Episode 140
    In an era where patrol officers spend half their shift buried in paperwork, discover how CLIPr.ai is transforming law enforcement with AI that auto-generates 90% of police report drafts from body cam audio or interviews—slashing documentation time and freeing cops for street duty. Co-founder Humphrey Chen shares the origin story sparked by a homicide detective's 3-hour interview miracle, the pushback from command staff on "too thorough" AI, and strategies for objective, bias-free narratives. From pilots proving 110% thoroughness to legal safeguards ensuring officer review, this eye-opening chat explores AI's role as a "productivity multiplier" without replacing human judgment. Plus, Chen's advice for aspiring AI pros: chase "hair-on-fire" problems over trendy tech. A game-changer for chiefs, recruits, and tech-savvy departments eyeing the future of smarter policing.

    Welcome to our Channel Reasons We Serve, a podcast dedicated to exploring the motivations, challenges, and realities of working in law enforcement. We dive deep into the personal stories of officers, discuss different career paths, and break down the roles of various agencies—from local police departments to state and federal law enforcement.
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    1 h
  • Lt. Rob Pfarr: 27-Year Cop Journey DUI Busts, Homicide Shocks & Mental Health Wins in Small-Town MD

    Lt. Rob Pfarr: 27-Year Cop Journey DUI Busts, Homicide Shocks & Mental Health Wins in Small-Town MD
    Dec 21 2025
    🎥 Episode 139
    Join active-duty Bel Air Police Lt. Rob Pfarr (27 years in, Harford County, MD) for an unfiltered ride through small-town law enforcement—from 1998 cadet days dodging dad's Vietnam anti-military veto to night-shift DUI hunts that nabbed drunks, drugs, and guns with instant gratification. In a quiet 3-sq-mile dept (33 sworn) that snapped a 30-year homicide drought with 3 killings in 6 months, Rob reveals the badge's evolution: sleepy bedroom community to hospital-bustling hotspot, blending patrol thrills with family pivots (blended clan of 5 kids) and the "Emotional Survival for LEOs" book that saved his marriage.

    From prepping for change ("Job changes you—handle it") to rookie wisdom ("Work first 15 years for the job, next 15 for yourself"), Rob stresses decompression reads like Dr. Gil Martin's guide for spouses and first responders. A blueprint for recruits eyeing MD policing or vets battling burnout—love the job, but plan the exit.

    Welcome to our Channel Reasons We Serve, a podcast dedicated to exploring the motivations, challenges, and realities of working in law enforcement. We dive deep into the personal stories of officers, discuss different career paths, and break down the roles of various agencies—from local police departments to state and federal law enforcement.

    👍 Subscribe, and give us a 5-star review to stay updated on more inspiring law enforcement stories!
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    1 h et 47 min
  • Confession Game: Nassau PD's Patty Scalzo on Interrogations, Psychology & Policing's Hidden Toll

    Confession Game: Nassau PD's Patty Scalzo on Interrogations, Psychology & Policing's Hidden Toll
    Dec 14 2025
    🎥 Episode 138
    Step into the mind of Patty Scalzo, a trailblazing female detective who served 19.5 years with the Nassau County Police Department, rising from uniform patrols in high-crime Elmont to mastering the "mental chess" of confessions that cracked even hardened suspects. Discover her unfiltered tales of leveraging psychology over force—why suspects confessed to please her, the good cop/bad cop dynamics with partner Tony, and the raw realities of domestics, car chases, and vehicle theft busts fueled by her lifelong car obsession. From a reluctant recruit pushed by her mom at 19 to early retirement after injury, Patty reflects on eroded officer discretion post-OJ Simpson, the emotional scars on families, and essential advice for rookies: study psych, not criminal justice, and listen before you act. A must-watch for true crime buffs, aspiring cops, and anyone unpacking the human side of the badge in 1980s-2000s Long Island.

    Welcome to our Channel Reasons We Serve, a podcast dedicated to exploring the motivations, challenges, and realities of working in law enforcement. We dive deep into the personal stories of officers, discuss different career paths, and break down the roles of various agencies—from local police departments to state and federal law enforcement.

    If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review.
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    1 h et 10 min