ATO: BRIDGING THE DIVIDE

Episode 49 Dallas Fire and Rescue Firefighter Zack Talent Dallas Fire Department is so rich in history and on July 4th 2022 it celebrated its 150th year anniversary. The ATO is happy to sit down with one of their young, rising firefighter stars, Zack Talent, to honor this department and give the listener some more insight into this job and the toll it can take. Zack and his beautiful wife, Meagan,...

Episode 48 ”Fight Well” Barbara and David Crump The ATO is proud to sit down with another dynamic duo in Barbara and David Crump as they let the listener take a peek behind the curtain of a true first responder couple. Barbara, a Licensed Professional Counselor and specializes in first responders and marriage therapy.  She wrote and taught curriculum for the Catalyst PHP program and was trained in...

Episode 47 Dallas Police Department Wellness Unit OWL episode “Stay the Course “ ~Dr. T Officer Wellness Longevity is the OWL This story is a different type of episode as the ATO is happy to sit down and give the listener a look behind the curtain of Dallas PD’s brand new wellness unit. In 2021 Chief Eddie Garcia tasked Assistant Chief Reuben Ramirez with creating a new robust unit to take a proac...

EPISODE 46 ”everybody deserves a second chance “ Today the ATO is proud to present our “rookie” episode as we sit down with young Dallas Police Officer Rodney Harrison. We wanted a rookies perspective in starting this profession in today’s climate of culture change as well as public perception in law enforcement. However we got more than we bargained for in booking young Rodney as he has an intere...

Hello ATO friends. This will be our fifth message from the host with special guest cohost Dallas PD Sgt. Kent Wolverton. Kent was a SWAT supervisor, K9 Sgt, and currently assigned to the Narcotics Division and more Importantly……he’s just an incredible human being that genuinely cares about his officers. Today we talk about upcoming episodes with the lifesaver Dallas SWAT Dr. Alex Eastman. Dr. East...

Episode 45 Dallas PD SWAT Dr. Jeffery C. Metzger The Assist the Officer Foundation is sitting down with a “white coat” in this episode as our guest is Dr. Jeffery Metzger. Dr. Metzger went to UC Riverside for his undergraduate, majoring in Biomedical Sciences, finishing a 7 year Bachelor/MD program at UCLA School of Medicine. Dr. Metzger then went to Duke University for Emergency Medicine training...

Episode 44 Dallas Assistant District Attorney Michelle Shughart The ATO is excited to bring the listeners the story of one of Dallas’ most respected and accomplished prosecutors, A.D.A Michelle Shughart. Michelle, an SMU Dedman School of Law grad, hired on with the Dallas District Attorney’s office in June of 2005 and remains there to this day.   From 2015-2017 she investigated and prosecuted the...

Hello friends we are recording from the beautiful Riverwalk in San Antonio Texas   This is our fourth message from the  hosts to talk about the Assist the Officer Foundation and we very proud to sit down with the great Clint McNear.  In this message we talk about upcoming episodes and projects, including Clint’s upcoming episode.  We also tell the story of Deputy Inspector General Richard Hale.  D...

Episode 43 Texas Officer Jackie Q and Dr. Tania Glenn In this episode the ATO traveled to Cedar Park Texas to sit down with with Officer Jackie Q and the great Tania Glenn. Jackie’s journey of struggle, courage and recovery takes the listener through her early teen years, time on as an EMT to becoming a police officer in Texas. This story is unique as the guest cohost, Tania Glenn, is the person t...

FOCUS - INSPIRE - TRANSFORM The ATO is honored to sit down with the owner, the great Aaron Conner, of Legends Fit Gym in Rockwall, Texas. Aaron is owner of this true first responder gym and they are dedicated to providing a welcoming haven to all walks of life and especially the military and first responder community.  From the moment you walk in the door you see Police, Fire, every branch of the...

Hello friends This our third message with the great Misty Vancuren and Joe King We want to give the listener a heads up on more upcoming episodes and say Thank You.  In this message we preview our “rookie” episode with Rodney Harrison. There will be singing involved with this guest.  We speak on the Dallas SWAT Dr. Metzger episode in which he discusses several critical incidents as well as the cit...

Episode 41 Lance Crawford #5818 ”learned how to turn the squad car into a learning environment “ The Assist the Officer Foundation is proud to sit down with a true Dallas PD legend in Sr. Cpl Lance Crawford. Lance hired on Dallas PD in 1988, one of Dallas PD’s most deadliest years, in which the Dept lost seven officers in a 12 month period. Crawford was the epitome of what a field training officer...

On July 7th 2016 five Officers were killed and nine others were wounded during a protest in downtown Dallas Texas. Two civilians were also injured during this cowardly attack as it was the deadliest incident for law enforcement since the September 11th 2001 attacks. This event has affected so many lives in so many ways as wives were made widows, friends had to salute the flag draped caskets, child...

  Episode 40 ”Command, Control, Communication “ The History and Evolution of Dallas SWAT: Part 2 This episode is the conclusion to the history of Dallas SWAT. We touch on the failed February 1993 Dallas Cowboys’ Championship parade. This incident magnifies mob mentality as a celebratory day turned to rioting when agitators swayed Cowboys fans. We also tell the story of a car jacker from January 24...

EPISODE 39 “Once the threshold is breached…we push on” THE HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF DALLAS SWAT: PART 1 The Assist the Officer Foundation is proud to sit down and tell a story of one of the most recognized units in the history of law enforcement. The acronym SWAT is known worldwide as it has been romanticized in tv as well as movies since the 1960’s. However real life is not pretty and the world o...

Hello friends This our second message and we have a new guest cohost…. We want to give the listener a heads up on more upcoming episodes and say Thank You.  Special thank you to Surah for her incredible feedback and supporting us. If you have an idea…..gripe…..guest or topic suggestion let’s us hear from you at Atobridging@gmail. Com .  Also if you want to look up information on the ATO and donate...

Episode 38 The Assist the Officer Foundation sits down with one of the most genuine human beings that Dallas PD has to offer. Kevin was born in Orange County Texas and grew up in Houston and became a die-hard Astros fan. Living a fans dream in becoming a Houston Astros batboy then climbing that sports fan ladder and becoming an Assistant Equipment Manager for the Houston Rockets.  Kevin finally pu...

Hello friends This is just a little message from our hosts to talk about the Assist the Officer Foundation and some podcast projects we have in the hopper.  This is also an opportunity for us to talk directly to the loyal listeners and tell you thank you and we want to hear from you.  If you have an idea…..gripe…..guest or topic suggestion let’s us hear from you at Atobridging@gmail. Com .  Also i...

EPISODE 37 The Assist the Officer Foundation is honored to sit down with the Texas Radio Hall of Famer Mike Rhyner as he shares his many stories on the history of Dallas, Texas that span seven decades of change, tragedy, and reform. Born in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas in 1950 Mike observed so many changes from the Civil Rights Movement, the Kennedy assassination, the birth of the Dallas Cowboys,...

Episode 36 Dallas Police Department Assistant Chief Teena Schultz ” We have tomorrow….” Straight from Council Bluffs Iowa Teena always has had a passion for helping others and being a protector for those who could not protect themselves. Teena had a childhood hero….a person that grew up in a small town, was raised by parents of high character, had impervious skin, was faster than a speeding bullet...

EPISODE 35 DALLAS PD SEXUAL ASSAULT DETECTIVE ALAN HOLMES ”Show me the survivor, I’ll show you the suspect “ IN 1887 SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE INTRODUCED THE WORLDS GREATEST DETECTIVE IN SHERLOCK HOLMES. HOLMES WAS KNOWN FOR HIS USE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE, DEDUCTIVE REASONING THAT BORDERS ON THE FANTASTIC. THE CITY OF DALLAS HAS THEIR VERY OWN DETECTIVE HOLMES….ALAN HOLMES. GROWING UP IN BROOKLYN NEW YO...

EPISODE 34 OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE DEPT BRIAN “PICK” PICKLO “ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SURVIVE” The Assist the Officer Foundation welcomes on one of Oklahoma City PD’s finest in Brian “Pick” Picklo. Brian’s story in becoming a lawman took a much different path as he also is a 2 time All American wrestler for the Michigan State Spartans and was the Big Ten Champion in the 190 pound weight class in 1996.  ...

EPISODE 33 DR. CHASE TWEDELL AND NATE BORUNDA OF F1RST& SPORTS ACADEMY “Your body IS your job” Chase@F1RST.org PERFORM-ENDURE-RECOVER Today the bridging the divide crew sits down with Dr. Chase Twedell and Nate Borunda of F1rst and Sports Academy. F1rst and Sports Academy have teamed up as partners to commit to care for the first responder community. they take a unique and holistic approach to tre...

“Just don’t give up….”  Dallas Officer Rogelio Santander End of Watch: April 25th, 2018 On April 24, 2018, two rookie officers responded to police call for service at a nearby Home Depot to begin their shift. This call had no detailed information and most likely was a shoplifter detained by a loss prevention officer.   These two officers were classmates in the academy, the best of friends, and par...

"Your reputation isn't what you think of yourself, it's what others think of you."   At the request of many people, the guest microphone is turned around on the founder of the "Bridging the Divide" podcast:  Joe King.  The 2010 Patrol Officer of the Year the 2017 Police Officer of the Year, and the 2025 Police Officer of the Year for the Dallas Police Department, Joe King is asked to share details...