The Detectives Podcast

One year after launching The Detectives Podcast, we’re using this July 2026 Squad Meeting to look back at everything that made our first year more than we ever expected. We talk about launching the show in July 2025, breaking into Apple’s Top 100 True Crime chart, building our Patreon Squad, attending conventions, winning three podcast awards, and welcoming some incredible guests along the way. We...

“Come back with a warrant.” Don't worry, we already got one. In this episode, Dave and Steve take listeners behind the scenes of the warrant process, from where it begins and how probable cause is built, to judicial review, execution, and what happens after a warrant is served. They break down the differences between search and arrest warrants, tackle common myths about police authority, and expla...

When a case goes cold, it doesn’t mean detectives stop caring or that the victim has been forgotten. In this episode, Dave and Steve discuss what actually causes a case to lose investigative momentum. They look at exhausted leads, limited evidence, uncooperative witnesses, technology limitations, and sometimes, simple bad luck. They also talk about the emotional weight these cases carry, the diffi...

Leadership and rank are not always the same thing, but both matter in law enforcement. In this episode, Dave and Steve discuss the people who shaped them throughout their careers, from supervisors and command staff to veteran officers and detectives whose influence extended far beyond their job titles. They also talk about why leadership has to change with the situation, the challenges that can co...

A viral traffic stop involving a woman accused of holding a cellphone in a hand she doesn’t have raises a much bigger question: what happens when an officer realizes their original assessment may have been wrong? In this episode, Dave and Steve discuss why admitting mistakes can be difficult in a profession built around confidence and decisiveness, how ego can interfere with good judgment, and why...

In this month's Squad Meeting, we share a few podcast updates, including a scheduling change to our live stream this month, and preparations for our upcoming one-year anniversary. We also introduce CrimeSCENES , a new monthly series where we review police movies through the perspective of experienced, active detectives. We explain the Patreon voting process, listener participation, and the evidenc...

When people hear the phrase "circumstantial evidence," they often assume it means investigators don't really know what happened. In reality, circumstantial evidence plays an important role in many criminal investigations and prosecutions. Crimes frequently occur without eyewitnesses, and confessions are less common than many people think. Instead, investigators piece together timelines, forensic f...

Note: We experienced some audio corruption during the first several minutes of this episode. We apologize for the rough audio quality at the beginning. It clears up shortly afterward. This week, Dave and Steve release a special edition of Cross Examined , a Patreon series where listeners join the show and ask questions directly. This episode features Angela, one of the show's Lead Detectives on Pa...

In policing, there are moments where an officer may be legally justified, backed by department policy, and tactically correct, but still ask themselves: just because we can, does that mean we should? The episode explores the tension between procedure and empathy, and how experience changes the way officers view enforcement, suffering, and the people they encounter. Connect with The Detectives Podc...

Dave and Steve take an honest look at why conversations about police mental health continue to repeat themselves year after year. During Mental Health Awareness Month, they break down the reality that most officers already know these struggles exist, yet many departments and individuals still feel stuck in the same cycle. From emotional suppression and command presence to trust gaps, surface-level...

In this May 2026 Squad Meeting, we break down our full weekend at PopCon Indy 2026 from Friday through Sunday. We talk about the convention, the PopCon Podcast Awards, and the incredible conversations we had throughout the weekend. We also share some funny stories, memorable moments, and some of the great food we tried while we were in Indianapolis. Most importantly, we want to thank all of you. N...

Dave and Steve tackle a listener-requested episode on the differences between investigative units. They walk through units like homicide, violent crimes, property crimes, narcotics, cyber, and financial investigations, explaining who handles what and how cases are divided. Speaking from their experience as generalist detectives, they break down the difference between generalist and specialized uni...

In this episode of The Detectives Podcast , Dave and Steve are joined by Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Alex and Josh as part of the First Call to Final Verdict series, focusing on the juvenile justice system from the prosecution side. They walk through how these cases are handled, what factors drive decisions, and what it really means to certify a juvenile to adult court. The conversation covers th...

Dave and Steve sit down with Patience Smith, a Social Service and Crisis Response Specialist embedded with a police department, responding to calls alongside officers. Together, they explore the reality behind dual response policing, where mental health, addiction, and crisis situations intersect with traditional law enforcement. From dispatch to arrival, Patience shares what these calls actually...

Dave and Steve sit down with criminal defense attorney Mike Cunningham as part of their First Call to Final Verdict series. Board certified as a Criminal Trial Specialist through the National Board of Trial Advocacy, Mike has built his career defending constitutional rights in some of the highest-stakes criminal cases. While detectives and defense attorneys usually meet on opposite sides of the co...

In this episode of The Detectives Podcast , Dave and Steve explore what they call “no win decisions.” These are the moments in policing where every available option carries risk and criticism. Drawing on real world experience, they explain how officers often have to choose between imperfect outcomes while balancing public safety, legal limits, and incomplete information. Using examples involving u...

Welcome to our April 2026 Squad Meeting. We talk about our latest Cross Examined episode with Kevin and Áine from The Murder Sheet, a conversation that means a lot to us since they helped inspire this podcast in the first place. We preview upcoming episodes, talk about what we’ve been working on behind the scenes, and share a few thoughts on where the show is headed next. We also talk about our ne...

In this episode, Dave and Steve tackle one of the most frustrating questions in criminal investigations: if law enforcement knows who did it, why has no one been arrested? From the outside, delay can look like failure, incompetence, or a lack of urgency. But inside an investigation, the difference between strongly believing something and legally proving it is everything. They break down the gap be...

Probable cause is one of the most misunderstood concepts in criminal investigations. People often assume it has a clear definition or a strict formula. In reality, it’s based on facts, experience, and the totality of the circumstances. In this episode, Dave and Steve explain what probable cause actually means, how it differs from reasonable suspicion, and why it sits between suspicion and proof. T...

In this episode, Dave and Steve sit down with Dr. Kelly Dardeen to break down the reality of adrenaline. It is the body’s built-in survival system that can sharpen focus, enhance performance, and help officers respond in life-threatening moments. But what happens during and after that surge is often misunderstood. From tunnel vision and time distortion to decision-making under stress, they walk th...

In their previous episode, Dave and Steve broke down what happens immediately after an officer involved shooting, from the officer’s perspective to how detectives begin investigating the case. In this follow-up episode, they explore what happens after the investigation is completed and prosecutors determine the officer acted lawfully. Drawing on their experience investigating these cases, they dis...

In this Squad Meeting, we talk about some of our recent episodes and a couple of shows we were invited to appear on. We joined Headline Crime with Susan Hendricks, where we discussed the Nancy Guthrie case and how active investigations are handled. We also appeared on The FOURensic Room for a conversation about the CSI effect, armchair detectives, and why some people become deeply invested in defe...

Officer involved shootings are some of the most scrutinized incidents in law enforcement. A short video clip can spread across social media in minutes, and opinions about what happened often form just as quickly. But a few seconds of footage rarely capture the full picture. In this episode, Dave and Steve walk listeners through the reality of how officer involved shootings are investigated. Drawin...

In this opening installment of the new series, First Call to Final Verdict , Dave and Steve explore what shapes a criminal case long before detectives ever receive the call. Joined by Zachary Stock, Legislative Counsel for the Public Defender Council, the discussion examines how legislation, policy, and constitutional guardrails influence investigations, courtroom standards, and the broader justic...

In Part V of The War We Owe Them , Dave and Steve sit down with Sean Wheeler, founder of Starfish Ministries Colorado and a survivor of child sex trafficking. Sean shares his story in his own words, including the grooming and abuse he endured as a young boy, his experience being exploited in child sexual abuse material, and the ritual abuse that shaped his early years. He offers a perspective that...