ATO: BRIDGING THE DIVIDE

POLICE WARRANT SERVICE DEFINED… PART 2 FEATURING MATT SMITH OF DALLAS SWAT In this episode the Assist the Officer Foundation shifts gears from highlighting an incredible first responder career to taking on one of the most controversial and misunderstood topics in America today. This is part two of a two part episode that discusses NO KNOCK WARRANTS AND SURROUND AND CALL OUT tactics used in police...

POLICE WARRANT SERVICE DEFINED… PART 1 FEATURING Dallas PD Narcotics Detective MATT BANES AND Sgt JERRY GIRDLER In this episode the Assist the Officer Foundation shifts gears from highlighting an incredible first responder career to taking on one of the most controversial and misunderstood topics in America today.   This is part one of a two part episode that discusses NO KNOCK WARRANTS AND SURROU...

EPISODE 28 BASKETBALL HALL OF FAMER NANCY LIEBERMAN Born in Brooklyn New York, Nancy moved to Queens shortly after  and was raised by her single mother. She quickly started gravitating to basketball as she taught herself skills and began playing pickup basketball games with boys in Rucker Park. Nancy attended Far Rockaway High School in Queens and quickly established herself as one of the top bask...

Episode 27 Dr. Heather Twedell  “Silence isn’t always quiet” Please go to www. F1RST-tx.org for more info on Dr. T IG: @dr.t.f1rst Dr. Twedell, also known as Dr T, has a Doctorate in forensic psychology and is licensed in the state of California and Texas and specializes in treating first responders. She truly understands the first responder mindset as she comes from a first responder family. She...

Episode 26 Retired Dallas Police Dept Dottie and Dallas SWAT Steve Claggett “Do you know what your problem is?” This is a rare peek into the lives of two very distinguished careers of two true public servants that also happen to be partners in life.  Dottie and Steve Claggett are an amazing dynamic duo that their police careers, combined, spanned nearly 50 years as they served the city of Dallas....

Episode 25 Raul Martinez Jr "The Art of 4 Hands" Www.rogue-methods.com Honor to welcome on Army veteran, former Chicago PD and the Chief Operating Officer for Rogue Methods.   Raul is a proud first generation American and has dedicated his life to service as a combat veteran, undercover Chicago PD Narcs  and now dedicates his life to training officers and civilians around the country……making them...

EPISODE 24 "IF I DONT TEACH YOU HOW TO BE A GOOD PERSON....I FAILED" DALLAS FIRE AND RESCUE DAVID LINDSEY THE ASSIST THE OFFICER FOUNDATION CROSSES THE BRIDGE TO SPEAK WITH A MEMBER OF OUR RED FAMILY AS DAVID SPEAKS ON HIS NEARLY 4 DECADES WITH THE DALLAS FIRE DEPARTMENT. FROM STORIES OF STARTING IN THE 80S DURING THE ONSET OF THE AIDS EPIDEMIC TO SPEAKING ON THE REALITIES THAT MANY FORMER AND CUR...

Episode 23 Dallas Police Lt. Mark Rickerman “Everybodys going to need help....you might need a little, you might need a lot” One of Dallas’s finest Mark Rickerman’s story of survival from a unique on duty shooting in December 2005 shaped him as a person and as a professional.  The perspective gained from this incident stays with Mark as he is committed to promoting first responders mental health a...

“Not on my watch” Hear newly appointed Dallas Police Deputy Chief’s path from small town Louisiana to serving his country to joining the best PD in America. Foys career growth and direction was changed from an event on Jan 6th 2009 as the Dallas Pd lost a legend in the Gang Unit. Chief Foys firsthand account will tell the listener why this event shaped him as a leader and helped formed his unique...

“Geronimo Geronimo “ Episode 21 U.S. Navy SEAL WILL CHESNEY ST-6 Part 2 This episode is the continuation of Navy SEAL Will Chesney as he discusses the daring mission Operation Neptune Spear that resulted in eliminating the most wanted man in the world, Osama bin Laden.  After a decade long manhunt the led ST-6 to Pakistan to conduct a mission that is arguably one of the most daring and successful...

Episode 20 U.S. Navy SEAL Will Chesney ST-6 Part One This humble warriors tale is truly the Navy SEAL version of Marley and Me as Will is dedicated to honoring his military K9 partner Cairo. Will details the grueling BUD/S training that is designed to produce the greatest warriors in the world.  Will and Cairo both participated in the daring 2011 Operation Neptune Spear that killed the most wanted...

“I just heard what sounded like three automatic gunshots….” Episode 19 Dallas PD Gang/Swat/Intelligence Darian Loera Detective Loera has succeeded in every high profile position he’s worked in. Starting with the Gang Unit as he learned from one of the legends in Norm Smith. He then joined Dallas Swat and was involved in two critical incidents and nearly lost his life twice. He now investigates thr...

“Eyes are windows into the soul” FORMER DALLAS PD MOUNTED/SWAT JT CURTIS Raised by a single mom in Kirbyville Texas he joined Dallas Police Department in 1984 at 20 years old. He spent 6 years in the Mounted Unit and finished up 26 years in Swat. This SWAT legend's leadership and mentor skills help mold several young officers become incredible officers and SWAT operators.  He is the epitome of bei...

"Accept the fact that when we wear this badge that we wear so proudly that it didn't always shine so brightly." The story of Chief Garcia is beyond inspiring as he grew up in Puerto Rico….started the San Jose police Department as a 21-year-old rookie cop who worked undercover Narcs, Special Operations and as a Homicide Investigator. Chief then climbed the ranks to become the Chief of Police of San...

Episode 16 Hear Dallas Police Association Randy Aguilar’s story of patrolling the streets of South West Dallas to working Operation Disruption to working at the Dallas Police Association. The career of law enforcement is very rewarding but ,sometimes, can be unforgiving.  This story involves a topic that many in the first responder world have faced in their careers and Randy faced it and is now gi...

“ I wanna do Real Police work in a big Department “ Retired Dallas Police Tom Popken Listen to this true DPD trailblazer as he discusses coming to Big D from Sleepy Eye Minnesota to embark on a police career that his footprint and legacy still exists. Tom was one of the cofounders of the Assist the Officer Foundation and created the Dallas Police Association Cops Cop Award. Former VP of the Dallas...

Episode 14  Former Dallas Police Homicide Detective Elmer “Sonny” Boyd badge #840.  Sonny started DPD in 1952 and eventually joined Captain Will Fritz’s elite Dallas Homicide unit. On November 22nd, 1963, he lost a friend and the nation lost a President as he found himself immersed into one of the most controversial dates in world history.  Sonny reflects on handling Lee Harvey Oswald and his role...

“We’re not dealing with Johnny gang banger…we’re dealing with terrorists” LT Dan is known throughout the SWAT world as being and incredible instructor and leader.  His leadership skills are legendary as he strives to make officers harder to kill.  Lt Dan recounts the events from 2015 in Garland Texas as he was the commander over security at the Curtis Culwell Center when two suspects arrived to ca...

“Congratulations you’re not a sociopath “ Dr Tania Glenn has dedicated her life to helping military and first responders to conquer PTSD.  Author of several books, including First Responder Resilience Caring for Public Servants, Tania Glenn specializes in the complex world and mind of a first responder.  www. Taniaglenn.com  

Frazier for Texas One of the busiest men in the Dallas Police Department as he is currently assigned to the DPD/Marshal Fugitive Task Force, Vice President of the Dallas Police Association, Vice Chair of the ATO, and a city council member for the city of McKinney. Listen to the incredible career of Frederick Frazier as he faced down a highly trained fugitive escapee to running the ATO to writing T...

“Wonder Woman” This episode is dedicated to Dallas Dart Officer Brent Thompson who tragically gave the ultimate sacrifice on 7/7/2016.  Misty McBride’s story is one of true grit and determination to stay alive. Misty was shot several times on 7/7/2016 as she ran towards the X. She gives her first hand account of her experience that night, losing a dear friend, and the long road to recovery she fac...

“If it sucks we’ll do it” was the motto of this exceptional former Dallas Swat operator. Chris Webb worked over 20 years with Dallas PD and now works for the Texas Attorney General’s Fugitive Unit. You will not hear a more genuine story of perseverance, spirituality and the highest display of being a team player in the high stakes world of Swat in a major city. Sit back and listen to the great Chr...

“Scarred but not scorned” Listen to the career and courageous story of survival of Dallas Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief of Arson Investigations Eric Beal. Chief Beal was badly burned as a rookie firefighter, persevered, and fought to rise through the ranks to command arson investigations in Dallas, Texas.  Terms used in this episode: CRT-Crime Response Team

This episode is our first sit down with a true first responder supporter on an epic scale. Betsy Orton is the Executive Director of the Dickey Foundation and leads a Foundation that raises funds for protective gear and trauma equipment for police and fire departments across the country. Dickey’s BBQ is an American staple as they are celebrating their 80th anniversary.   Betsy tells why matriarch M...

  Facing the Dragon  Continuation of Dallas Police Detective Matt Banes as he discusses 7/7/2016 in Dallas, Texas and his actions as he responded to the active scene as a member of Dallas SWAT that day. This day was one of the most horrific and tragic days for policing in America with the City of Dallas losing five great men that day along with others being physically wounded. To this day, the emo...