PHIT PD

Behind every badge is a son, a daughter, a spouse, a parent, and a family whose lives are forever intertwined with the call to serve. In this deeply personal and emotional episode, we sit down with the mother of CHP Officer Alexander Guerra, who tragically died by suicide on September 12, 2019. Alexander was more than a law enforcement officer. He was a devoted son, brother, Marine Corps veteran,...

Natasha was just 19 years old when she was deceived, kidnapped at gunpoint, and forced into the world of human trafficking. In this powerful episode, Natasha shares her firsthand experience of survival, the psychological manipulation used by traffickers, and the long road to recovery and justice. She also discusses her appearance on America’s Most Wanted, which helped lead to the capture of her tr...

In this episode, we sit down with a retired San Diego police detective whose career spans one of the most transformative eras in modern law enforcement. Starting with the Los Angeles Police Department in 1988 and later joining the San Diego Police Department, he offers a firsthand perspective on how policing evolved in the wake of the Rodney King incident and its nationwide impact. With 11 years i...

In this episode, we sit down with a former California Department of Corrections officer and retired San Diego Police sergeant who spent years working patrol, gangs, and criminal investigations—operating in the environments where intelligence, trust, and timing can make or break a case. We get into the reality of cultivating informants—how relationships are built, the risks involved, and how critic...

Some stories aren’t just about survival—they’re about what you do after you should have died. In this episode, I sit down with a sheriff’s deputy who was shot in the face with a shotgun from just 18 inches away… and lived. But this isn’t just a story about an officer-involved shooting. It’s about preparation, pressure, and the kind of mindset you can’t fake when everything is on the line. Years ag...

What really happens when the police police themselves? In this episode, we sit down with retired Los Angeles Police Department lieutenant Marlon Marrache—an immigrant from Peru who grew up in California’s San Fernando Valley and built a career that took him from patrol to the inner workings of Internal Affairs, and ultimately to the Office of the Chief. With over two decades in law enforcement, in...

In this powerful episode, we explore the legacy behind the badge and the responsibility of training the next generation of peace officers to carry forward the stories, sacrifices, and lessons of those who came before them. From fallen officers whose names are etched into department history, to the quiet acts of courage rarely seen by the public, this conversation examines what it truly means to in...

Today’s guest is Hector Bravo from the podcast "Hector Bravo Unhinged" he brings a rare combination of frontline experience, leadership under pressure, and unfiltered perspective. He’s a former U.S. Army infantry soldier who served in Iraq, where the stakes were life and death decisions had real-time consequences. After his military service, he continued serving on another demanding fron...

In this powerful Season TWO recap of Line Up with phitPD, we revisit the unforgettable voices that shaped Season Two - stories of sacrifice, resilience, redemption and the human spirit behind the badge.  From a police captain's untold story of policing in the 1980s dealing with PCP, Crack and Cartels to a discussion with seasoned law enforcement defensive tactics trainer's who believe th...

In this gripping and unfiltered episode, we sit down with a former member of the Mexican Mafia who went from altar boy to prison gang enforcer—and from convicted hitman to law enforcement trainer. As a young man shaped by the California Youth Authority, he describes how trauma, violence, and survival instincts transformed him from a victim into a predator. He once dreamed of becoming a soldier in...

Physical fitness in law enforcement isn’t about looking good — it’s about survival. In this episode, 13-year Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy and founder of 9-1-1 Strong, Dru Mejico, joins us for a powerful conversation about what it truly means to be physically prepared for the job . With a background in strength and conditioning, Dru has helped thousands of first responders lose fat, build muscle,...

In this powerful and unfiltered conversation, we sit down with the President of the San Diego Police Officers’ Association, a seasoned sergeant with real-world experience on the street and in leadership. He breaks down the truth behind the badge — from employee rights and use-of-force realities to the brutal difference between being “fit” and being able to actually fight. This episode dives deep i...

What happens when the badge is taken away — but the warrior spirit remains? In this powerful episode, we sit down with a former law enforcement officer whose career was cut short by a devastating on-duty injury and shocking back pain that forced her into early retirement. After years of navigating broken systems, crime scenes, courtrooms, and the mental health crisis impacting both officers and co...

In this episode, we sit down with a former law enforcement officer turned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt who is transforming the way first responders, military personnel, and civilians approach self-defense and survival. Drawing from real-world street experience and years on the mat, he breaks down underrated but highly effective law enforcement control tactics like the Kimura and gift wrap, and w...

He spent decades rising through the ranks of law enforcement—working the streets, commanding units, carrying the weight that never clocks out. Now, as a retired police captain turned clinical psychologist, he’s on the other side of the badge, helping first responders survive the job after the shift ends. In this powerful episode, we talk about the truth most cops and firefighters never say out lou...

In this episode, we’re joined by Mike Vigil, former Chief of International Operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration, for an in-depth conversation about the reported death of cartel leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes — better known as “El Mencho” — and the wave of violence that followed. As the longtime head of global operations for the DEA, Mike managed offices around the world and...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with a Sheriff’s Lieutenant and Army National Guard Sergeant Major whose career spans the Marine Corps, military leadership at the highest levels, and modern law enforcement command. This is a raw, no-nonsense conversation about what it truly takes to survive, lead, and grow in today’s profession. We dive deep into officer safety and why being proactive—not re...

Today’s episode takes us behind the badge and into a story that few are willing to tell. Our guest is a young peace officer who, within just his first two years on the job, was involved in three officer-involved shootings—experiences that would profoundly shape his life both on and off duty. Like many officers, the trauma didn’t stay at work. It followed him home, manifesting as PTSD, emotional is...

In this raw, unfiltered episode, a former Marine Cobra pilot-now a Sheriff's deputy-takes us inside the mindset forged in combat and tested in life after war.  From earning his wings after early failure to flying gunships and executing missions in zero visibility along the Iraqi border, he shares the brutal truth behind compartmentalization as both a survival tool and a hidden threat.  He ope...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with a police chief who brings raw honesty, frontline experience, and deep insight into what truly shapes today's law enforcement professionals.  He opens up about peer accountability-why it's not just a leadership philosophy but a life line that fuels officer well being, trust and long-term support within the ranks. You'll hear the incredible s...

In this episode, we sit down with a former San Diego-based, Emmy-winning news anchor whose career has come full circle-from reporting on law enforcement stories to becoming part of the law enforcement family herself.  After years of delivering breaking news and community stories for local San Diego channels, she transitioned into a new chapter as the Public Information Officer for the San Diego Co...

In this gripping episode, we sit down with a former police captain whose decades-long career placed him on the front lines of some of the most dangerous and transformative eras in American law enforcement.  He takes us deep into the genesis of the Mexican Mafia, revealing how early prison-born networks evolved into powerful criminal enterprises-and how they later intertwined with drug cartels and...

In this episode, we sit down with two seasoned peace officers and defensive tactics trainers who are not afraid to be honest about their own journey.  One of them openly admits that early in his career he was tool dependent-relying too quickly on weapons instead of skill.  Together, we dive into the uncomfortable truth behind overreacting to physical aggression and why some officers escalate to us...

Two weekds before police academy graduation, tragedy struck - her apartment went up in flames, taking everything she owned with it.  yet, instead of letting it difine her, she stood tall replaced her uniforms and crossed that stage to earn her badge. Before joining the force, she worked at Starbucks and in theater, with no experience in defensive tactics or fighting.  But that didn't stop her...

A 15 year law enforcement veteran joins us to talk about the mental and physical injuries after getting shot in the line of duty.  She now serves as a lieutenant-a leader, mentor, and inspiration to those around her.  Beyond the badge, she's a mother of two young daughters, a proud college graduate and a 2007 Women's Volleyball Hall of Fame inductee. However, her journey hasn't been...