National Police Association Podcast

Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith (Ret.) sits down with Antoine Thomas, a law enforcement veteran, podcaster, and Christian conservative, to discuss the challenges and triumphs of policing in today’s America. Antoine shares his journey into law enforcement as a personal calling, reflects on the highs and lows of his career, and explains how faith, resilience, and dedication kept him grounded in one of the...

In this gripping episode of the National Police Association Podcast , Sergeant Betsy Brantner Smith sits down with former Marion County, Florida Deputy David Ur and his wife, Dr. Lana Krichevsky-Ur , to share their harrowing journey from public service to personal and professional devastation. What began as David’s midlife dream to serve in law enforcement turned into a nightmare of alleged retali...

Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith (ret.) sits down with former police sergeant and investigative trailblazer Christine Burke to explore the groundbreaking world of forensic genetic genealogy . Christine shares her compelling personal journey from banking to law enforcement, her passion for solving complex investigations, and how a surprising DNA discovery changed the trajectory of her life and career. Tog...

Episode Overview: In this powerful and emotional episode, Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith sits down with Tim and Chelsea Putney, a courageous Texas couple whose life was forever changed when Tim, a police officer, suffered a catastrophic on-duty injury. What follows is a deeply personal conversation about trauma, resilience, family, and the life-saving importance of peer support in law enforcement. Key...

Guest: Jim (James) Walden – former federal prosecutor, private‑practice attorney, and 2025 independent candidate for Mayor of New York City. Quick‑Listen Summary Former U.S. prosecutor Jim Walden explains why New York City is “fighting for its life,” how political mismanagement and anti‑police rhetoric have undermined public safety, and the specific reforms he believes can rebuild the NYPD, protec...

From barber‑shop beginnings in Brooklyn to presidential protection on the White House grounds, Rich Staropoli has lived the “E‑ticket” ride of elite law enforcement. In this candid conversation he and Sgt. Smith examine: Why passion—not quotas—makes or breaks a police recruit The Secret Service’s unforgiving firearms & scenario training (and how “woke” shortcuts dilute it) Walking the West Win...

In this episode, Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith welcomes Mike Fadden, CEO of Galls—the premier supplier of uniforms and gear for first responders across North America. As the son and grandson of police officers, Fadden brings a deeply personal passion to his leadership, which has helped transform Galls into one of the most law enforcement-supportive companies in the nation. From reviving the iconic Gal...

A wide‑ranging, fast‑moving conversation between Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith and retired Mesa, AZ Police Lieutenant Daniel Byram,an officer, instructor, Homeland‑Security textbook author and prolific novelist. From patrolling hundreds of rural square miles as a 20‑year‑old deputy in 1970s Ohio to supervising an exploding police force in one of America’s fastest‑growing cities, Lt. Byram shares lesso...

In this inspiring episode of the National Police Association Podcast , Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith speaks with Daniel Marquardt, Illinois businessman, father of ten, and founder of the nonprofit We Love Police . Born out of a deep sense of calling and faith, We Love Police was created in response to growing hostility toward law enforcement, particularly during the 2020 "defund the police" movement....

Dr. Yates explains how Department of Justice consent decrees have cost cities hundreds of millions of dollars, depressed staffing, and, according to his independent review, were built on evidence that was mostly inaccurate or misleading. The conversation details the constitutional problems with federal oversight of local police, the political dynamics that drive which departments are targeted, and...

In this episode, Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith sits down with Chief Joel F. Shults, Ed. D., a retired police chief turned author and trainer, to explore the human side of policing and the challenges officers face today. Drawing on decades of experience leading law enforcement agencies and writing extensively on topics ranging from compassion in policing to officer well-being, Chief Shults shares perso...

In this episode of the National Police Association Podcast, Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith sits down with congressional candidate Christian Maxwell—a straight-talking Chicago resident determined to revive her home city and state. From battling skyrocketing crime to defending the Second Amendment, Maxwell lays out a candid, data-driven plan to make Illinois safer for law-abiding citizens and more accoun...

In this episode Betsy Brantner Smith sits down with U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX)—litigator, author, and host of Verdict with Ted Cruz —for a wide-ranging conversation on his lifelong mission to “fight to defend freedom,” Texas’s uniquely decentralized policing model, and the national battle against anti-police activism. From personal stories of his father’s fight against tyranny in Cuba to hard-hi...

Join Sergeant Betsy Brantner Smith as she speaks with Kate Klasen, founder of Bishop's Mission, and her remarkable Dalmatian companion, Bishop. Kate shares how her personal journey as a first responder led her to create an organization dedicated to supporting law enforcement and first responders through PTSD recognition and peer support, aided by specially trained service dogs. Key Highlights: Mee...

In this compelling episode, Sergeant Betsy Brantner Smith speaks with Janeen Baggette, a former combat aerovac medic, veteran law enforcement officer, and expert canine handler. Janeen founded K9s for Freedom, an innovative organization utilizing highly-trained dogs to support first responders dealing with trauma, stress, and critical incidents. Key Topics Discussed: Janeen's Background: Janeen sh...

Episode Overview Barbara Oldrati details the night her son, Corporal Sal Oldrati, responded to a 911 burglary-in-progress call on September 21, 2021 —a volatile encounter that ended in a fatal, officer-involved shooting. Cleared internally and returned to duty within weeks, Sal was indicted 20 months later (May 23, 2023) for reckless manslaughter after New Jersey’s Office of Public Integrity &...

Sergeant Betsy Brantner Smith sits down with Commander Dave Case —cop, author, and lifelong Midwesterner—to unpack four decades of frontline experience. From patrolling in the 1980s crack era to policing the vertical combat zone of Cabrini‑Green, Case explains how multigenerational gangs, heroin‑to‑fentanyl trafficking, and politicized prosecution reshaped public safety in America’s third‑largest...

Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith welcomes longtime law enforcement professional and outspoken advocate Jim Hill—known on X as Mr. Thin Blue Line —to the National Police Association Podcast. With decades of experience from Maryland to Pennsylvania to Arizona, Hill brings an unfiltered, street-level perspective on gangs, policing standards, law enforcement leadership, and public safety policy. From confron...

Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith welcomes longtime friend and special guest Dr. Trevor Wilkins , also known as The Angry Viking Therapist . Once a high-performing state officer, Dr. Wilkins shares his transformative journey from the front lines of law enforcement to becoming a nationally recognized mental health advocate and trauma therapist for first responders. Dr. Wilkins opens up about the cumulative...

In this episode, Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith speaks with U.S. Representative Michael Cloud about pressing issues surrounding law enforcement, immigration policy, and border security. As a representative from a border state and a strong supporter of law enforcement, Rep. Cloud offers insight into legislation designed to help local police agencies work with federal immigration authorities—most notably...

Episode Summary: In this powerful episode, Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith sits down with Deputy Matt Swartz—an officer whose life story is a true testament to grit, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to service. From growing up in a law enforcement family to surviving two devastating vehicle crashes—one of which left him a below-the-knee amputee—Matt shares how he fought his way back not just to...

Episode Overview: In this episode of the National Police Association Podcast, Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith welcomes Jess Flores, a former police officer who transformed her career-ending injury into a mission to help others transition out of law enforcement. Jess shares her personal journey, the challenges of leaving the profession, and how she found new purpose through fitness, community, and person...

🔹 Episode Summary: In this episode of the National Police Association Podcast , Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith welcomes investigative journalist and former Border Patrol agent Randy Clark from Breitbart News. With over 32 years of experience in border enforcement, Randy offers a frontline perspective on the evolution of the U.S. Border Patrol, the ongoing border crisis, and the impact of current immig...

Episode Summary: In this compelling episode of the National Police Association Podcast, host Sergeant Betsy Brantner Smith sits down with one of law enforcement’s most renowned homicide experts—Vernon Geberth. Known as the “Godfather of Homicide,” Geberth has trained thousands of investigators, authored seminal works on homicide investigation, and played a key role in the advancement of forensic t...

In this compelling episode of the National Police Association Podcast , host Sergeant Betsy Brantner Smith speaks with retired detective Heidi Chance, a veteran investigator and expert in human trafficking awareness. Detective Chance shares her journey in law enforcement to undercover work in vice and human trafficking investigations, shedding light on the stark realities of sex trafficking, onlin...