Reasons We Serve: Police Careers & Officer Experience

Years of Service: 1987-2002 In the world of law enforcement, there are many careers other than police officers, sheriff deputies, and Special Agents that play a crucial role during investigations leading to the arrest and prosecution of criminals. One of those careers is as an intelligence analyst, where information is gathered and put together in conjunction with on-ground street enforcement. The...

Years of Service: 1986-Present Steve has had a long line of service, starting in 1986 when he joined the United States Army. He eventually found his way to the Diplomatic Security Service in 1999 where he was assigned to the Washington D.C. Office. Steve has had a long career with assignments domestically to include D.C., Orlando and Miami Florida, Glynco, Georgia, and Honolulu, Hawaii. In between...

Interview with Boise Fire Department Captain Jim Walker Years Of Service: 1999-Present During this episode, Jim discusses his journey to becoming a fireman and his path to becoming a Captain with the Boise Fire Department. During this entertaining episode, Jim talks about his early life in Idaho and why he turned down attending two military academies after being accepted. Jim discusses the fun as...

Interview with retired Miami-Dade Homicide Detective Ramesh Nyberg Years of Service: 1979-2006 Ramesh grew up in South Miami, with a mom from India who would later become a Principal and a father who was a Swedish boat-builder. Much like other kids, Ramesh initially had aspirations to become a professional football player but later at Miami Dade College as a music major, he decided he was going to...

Interview with retired United States Customs Special Agent Bob Starkman Years of Service: 1980-2018 Bob began his career in law enforcement in 1980 as a correctional officer at Greenhaven State Prison in New York. From there he worked for the NYC Sheriff's Office that he described as the worst job he ever had. In 1982, Bob was hired as a U.S. Customs Patrol Officer before transferring to Miami and...

Interview with retired DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Dante Sorianello Years of Service: 1987-2022 In 1987, Dante was hired by the DEA. After graduating from the DEA Academy, Dante was assigned to the San Diego office where he investigated clandestine methamphetamine laboratories, money laundering including the Green Ice initiative, and was assigned to the gang task force. Dante was deploye...

Interview with retired NYPD Detective Vic Ferrari Years of Service: 1987-2007 Vic was born in New York and from a young age always wanted to be an NYPD police officer.   During this episode, Vic talks about growing up in New York and what led him to a career in law enforcement. He tells very entertaining stories about his time on patrol and his work as an auto crimes detective. Vic also talks abou...

Interview with retired San Diego Police Department Sergeant Detective David Contreras Years of Service: 1985-2015 Born in Tijuana, Mexico, David came to the United States and, as a young child, knew he wanted to become a police officer. As David explains, he always had a sheepdog mentality and was always looking to defend the weaker kids who were getting picked on by bullies and saw law enforcemen...

Interview with retired ATF Special Agent Roland Ballesteros.  Years of Service: 1987-2018 Roland grew up in Texas in a large family with a history of law enforcement going back to the 1800s to his great, great, great grandfather, who was a deputy sheriff. That service history continued through his family, with one brother becoming an ATF Special Agent and another working for the Air Force and, ult...

Interview with Dan Flores, retired United States Army, Customs and Border Protection and EMS pilot. Years of Service: 1985-2022 Daniel Flores is a lifelong Texan. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1985, attending Infantry training at Ft. Benning Ga. He then served in the 4th Infantry Division in Colorado Springs, Colorado.   After his active-duty time, he then served in the Texas Army National Guard...

Interview with retired DEA Special Agent in Charge Steven Whipple Years of Service: 1985-2021 Steve grew up in Texas but spent some of his formative years living in Iran while his stepfather worked in the oil industry. In 1985, Steve was hired by the DEA in the Dallas Field Division and arrived in Quantico, VA, for training at the DEA Academy by December 1985. Being a native Texan, Steve was very...

Interview with retired Special Agent Federal Bureau of Investigation Ann Kirkland. Years of Service: 1996-2022 Growing up in Pennsylvania, Annie knew from an early age that she wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement. With encouragement from her father, she sought a goal to become a Special Agent with the FBI. After college, she received her law degree and became an Assistant District Attorne...

Interview with CIA Officer Jerry O'Shea Years of Service: 1984-2017  Jerry was recruited into the CIA in 1984. During that time, he worked undercover as an operations officer for over three decades. He served in Europe, Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East, as well as numerous war zones. He was a four-time Chief of Station running some of CIA’s largest and most critical missions abroad. During...

Life on the Front Lines: Chris Hastings' Journey Through Drug Wars and Personal Battles Years of Service: 1980-2013 In this compelling episode, we sit down with Chris Hastings, a former customs patrol officer turned USCS Special Agent who shares his gripping experiences from the cocaine wars in South Florida, his role in high-stakes undercover operations, and the personal challenges that shaped hi...

Interview with the most decorated NYPD Detective Ralph Friedman  Years of Service: 1968-1984 Detective Friedman began his law enforcement career with the NYPD in 1968 as a fingerprint technician. He was later assigned to the 41st Precinct, also known as “Fort Apache,” as an officer on foot patrol. Right from the start, Detective Friedman was a proactive police officer who sought out criminals both...

Interview with the most decorated NYPD Detective Ralph Friedman Years of Service: 1968-1984 Detective Friedman began his law enforcement career with the NYPD in 1968 as a fingerprint technician. He was later assigned to the 41st Precinct, also known as “Fort Apache,” as an officer on foot patrol. Right from the start, Detective Friedman was a proactive police officer who sought out criminals both...

Interview with the most decorated NYPD Detective Ralph Friedman Years of Service: 1968-1984 Detective Friedman began his law enforcement career with the NYPD in 1968 as a fingerprint technician. He was later assigned to the 41st Precinct, also known as “Fort Apache,” as an officer on foot patrol. Right from the start, Detective Friedman was a proactive police officer who sought out criminals both...

Years of Service: 1985-2002 John began his career with NYPD in 1985 on foot patrol in Midtown. When John started working he was told that he would have a grandstand seat to the greatest show on earth which turned out to be true. Every day John interacted with the public and met people from all over the world and all walks of life. John talks about his interaction with David Letterman which is incl...

Years of Service: 1977-2009   Bill began his career as an educational release specialist in Nebraska and eventually worked as a prison guard.   In 1980, Bill moved to Colorado and began a long career with the Colorado Department of Corrections where he finished his career as the Director of Offender Services.   After he retired, he was then hired by the Department of State where he served in the r...

Years of Service: 1996-Present   Karl had always been fascinated with law enforcement but when he was attending college, he found that he had a knack for chemistry and math and decided that getting a degree in chemical engineering was the smart way to go. Karl worked at the Idaho National Laboratory for several years but was not fulfilled in what he was doing.   In 1996, Karl became a reserve depu...

Short police stories with Officer Fox Coffee Time with Officer Fox guest starring Detective Walker.

Years of Service: 1991-Present In 1991, Sam began his career as a sheriff deputy with the Madison County Sheriff's Office. After gaining a little experience, Sam transferred to the Clark County Sheriff's Office where he learned what law enforcement was about. Being a small department, Sam was thrown into every experience including dealing with livestock, working as an EMT, part firefighter, and de...

Short police stories with Officer Fox Coffee Time with Officer Fox guest starring Detective Walker.

Interview of Gooding County Sheriff's Office Detective Alex Boyer Years of Service: 2001-Present Alex had studied to become a music teacher, but along the way decided that his greater calling was to go into law enforcement. Alex explains that it was a combination of wanting to serve his community and growing up with his father and uncle in law enforcement that ultimately drove him to pursue a care...

Coffee Time with Officer Fox Short stories with Officer Fox guest starring Detective Walker