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PODCAST

Reasons We Serve

Reasons We Serve

Do you ever wonder why people go into law enforcement? Does being in law enforcement change your views of the public over time and how does being an officer affect your family? This podcast explores these questions as well as discusses different careers and the functions of various law enforcement agencies including local, state and federal agencies. The episodes include interviews with retired and active-duty law enforcement officers.

society & culture documentary

All Episodes

110:17

Episode 94 Diplomatic Security Service Agent Steve Silva

Reasons We Serve ·

2025/02/02

Years of Service: 1986-PresentSteve 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 these domestic assignments, Steve has served internationally in hotspots in Algeria, Pakistan and

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99:17

Episode 93 Boise Fire Department Captain Jim Walker

Reasons We Serve ·

2025/01/26

Interview with Boise Fire Department Captain Jim WalkerYears Of Service: 1999-PresentDuring 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 well as the downside of being a college football player and life after college. The episode features

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88:58

Episode 92 retired Miami-Dade Homicide Detective...

Reasons We Serve ·

2025/01/19

Interview with retired Miami-Dade Homicide Detective Ramesh NybergYears of Service: 1979-2006Ramesh 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 become a professional musician.At 19 years old, Ramesh was listening to his roommate's police scanner and

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86:33

Episode 91 retired United States Customs Special...

Reasons We Serve ·

2025/01/12

Interview with retired United States Customs Special Agent Bob StarkmanYears of Service: 1980-2018Bob 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 being promoted to Special Agent. Bob was in Miami during the Cocaine Wars and investigated high-level drug

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129:22

Episode 90 retired DEA Assistant Special Agent in...

Reasons We Serve ·

2025/01/05

Interview with retired DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Dante SorianelloYears of Service: 1987-2022In 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 deployed to South America where he served under Operation Snowcap destroying cocaine laboratories and clandestine

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120:33

Episode 89 retired NYPD Detective Vic Ferrari

Reasons We Serve ·

2024/12/29

Interview with retired NYPD Detective Vic FerrariYears of Service: 1987-2007Vic 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 about what it was like to be on ground zero following 9/11. During his career, Vic was part of the anti-crime

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152:46

Episode 88 retired San Diego Police Department...

Reasons We Serve ·

2024/12/22

Interview with retired San Diego Police Department Sergeant Detective David ContrerasYears of Service: 1985-2015Born 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 enforcement as a way to protect others who were being preyed upon.As a young man, David became the founder and

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120:21

Episode 87 retired ATF Special Agent Roland Ballesteros

Reasons We Serve ·

2024/12/15

Interview with retired ATF Special Agent Roland Ballesteros. Years of Service: 1987-2018Roland 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, ultimately, the NSA.As Roland was searching for what to do with his life, one brother took him for a ride

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147:38

Episode 86 retired Army Apache and Customs and Border...

Reasons We Serve ·

2024/12/08

Interview with Dan Flores, retired United States Army, Customs and Border Protection and EMS pilot.Years of Service: 1985-2022Daniel 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’s special operations unit; Company G. 143rd Infantry LRRP (Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol). In 1990 Mr

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139:04

Episode 85 retired DEA Special Agent in Charge Steven...

Reasons We Serve ·

2024/12/01

Interview with retired DEA Special Agent in Charge Steven WhippleYears of Service: 1985-2021Steve 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 unhappy to hear the news that he was being assigned to the New York Field Division and thought about

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111:04

Episode 84 retired FBI Special Agent Ann Kirkland

Reasons We Serve ·

2024/11/24

Interview with retired Special Agent Federal Bureau of Investigation Ann Kirkland.Years of Service: 1996-2022Growing 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 Attorney for Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, handling minor and major criminal cases. In 1996, she achieved her

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120:36

Episode 83 retired CIA Officer Jerry O'Shea

Reasons We Serve ·

2024/11/17

Interview with CIA Officer Jerry O'SheaYears 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 this interview, Jerry discusses why and how he began working for the CIA and discusses some interesting

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93:40

Episode 82 retired U.S. Customs Special Agent Chris...

Reasons We Serve ·

2024/11/10

Life on the Front Lines: Chris Hastings' Journey Through Drug Wars and Personal BattlesYears of Service: 1980-2013In 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 his career. From surviving near-fatal encounters to navigating deep-rooted corruption, Chris opens up about

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70:38

Ep 81 Part 3 NYPD Detective Ralph Friedman

Reasons We Serve ·

2024/11/03

Interview with the most decorated NYPD Detective Ralph Friedman Years of Service: 1968-1984Detective 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 on and off duty, quickly earning a reputation as someone who got things done. He was eventually promoted

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58:04

Ep 81 Pt 2 - retired NYPD Detective Ralph Friedman

Reasons We Serve ·

2024/10/27

Interview with the most decorated NYPD Detective Ralph FriedmanYears of Service: 1968-1984Detective 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 on and off duty, quickly earning a reputation as someone who got things done. He was eventually promoted to

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69:59

Ep 81 Pt 1 - retired NYPD Detective Ralph Friedman

Reasons We Serve ·

2024/10/20

Interview with the most decorated NYPD Detective Ralph FriedmanYears of Service: 1968-1984Detective 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 on and off duty, quickly earning a reputation as someone who got things done. He was eventually promoted

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81:43

Episode 80 retired NYPD Detective John Staistny

Reasons We Serve ·

2024/10/13

Years of Service: 1985-2002John 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 included in the interview.John discusses working in downtown New York during the 1980s when Times Square was

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70:55

Episode 79 William Zalman Colorado Department of...

Reasons We Serve ·

2024/10/06

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 role of Senior Corrections Advisor. In his capacity, he traveled all over the world evaluating and providing

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76:07

Episode 78 retired Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office...

Reasons We Serve ·

2024/09/29

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 deputy for the Shelly Police Department and knew he had found his calling. Karl took a substantial pay cut to

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4:34

Episode 23 I didn't touch it

Reasons We Serve ·

2024/09/27

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

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