ATO: BRIDGING THE DIVIDE

Dallas Officer Darron Lee Burks #12543 Memorial Remembrance: Never Stopped Teaching

Today we want to honor Dallas Officer Darron Burks on the one-year anniversary of his tragic death as he was ambushed in South Central Dallas while on patrol.

Darron’s brief Dallas Police service was cut short on August 29^th, 2024, but after this incident we all got to know the true incredible human being Darron Burks was. He had a lifetime of service as a teacher and mentor. After his death we heard story after story of the many lives he touched while on this Earth. He is the epitome of what we seek out as an officer and public servant.

I have no doubts that this great man would have touched so many more lives as an officer and mentored so many officers on this Department.

The City of Dallas lost a true gentle giant and amazing person.

Dallas Officer Karissa David and Jamie Farmer responded and were seriously wounded from gunfire.

Darron Burks #12543 EOW: August 29^th, 2024

 

Episode speakers:

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson

Retired Dallas Chief Eddie Garcia

Darron’s Mother, Cherie Jeffrey

Outro song: “The Goodness of God” - CeCe Winans (Fair Trade - 2021)

The Assist the Officer Foundation will be running in the Freedom Run on September 6th, 2025, in Dallas to honor Darron Burks.

 

A Message From the Hosts: Mr. Philanthropy Alan Helfman

Houstonian Alan Helfman, president of his family’s group of five Helfman Auto Dealerships (Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, RAM, and Fiat), giving back is in his DNA.

Today share his story with the listener and dive into his true “why” as he continually gives back to various charities and has a heavy presence in assisting the first responder community.

The Helfman Family has a legacy of giving and helping those in need, especially in the Houston area.

Alan holds the record for the highest leg kick as he is a regular in throwing out the ceremonial first pitch the start the Astros season. He just doesn’t write checks to organizations but he actually goes out and has a ball bringing his high energy and huge kind heart to spearhead these charity events.

For the past four decades Alan Helfman has raised millions of dollars for various causes and has touched so many lives and assisted people when they were at their darkest moments.

We are very happy to welcome Alan to Dallas Texas and onto the ATO stage.

Episode 119 (Ret.) Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Director of Public Safety for Chateau Brad Shepherd: Lead with Compassion

Today we sit down with Retired Oklahoma Highway Patrol Commander Brad Shepherd and guest cohost Courtney Runnels to pull back the curtain on a life and career of service.  No stories is without a lot of highs, lows, heartbreak, and successes. This episode will cover all of the above….and then some.

Captain Brad Shepherd (Ret.) is the Director of Public Safety for Chateau Health & Wellness, a national First Responder residential treatment facility that treats Trauma, Suicide, PTSD, Substance Abuse, Depression & Anxiety.  

Brad retired after 25 years from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol as a Commander and served in a variety of assignments including Tactical Team, Bomb Squad, Special Operations, Oklahoma Homeland Security as well as member and later Commander of the Agency Peer Support Unit.  

Brad is the founder and former CEO / Executive Director of 2 separate non profit organizations that served in the first responder wellness community.   Brad is an experienced national presenter and instructor in a variety of disciplines including ICISF Critical Incident Stress Management. 

Brad has faced his own challenges of stress, trauma, mental health, and alcoholism as well as significant levels of betrayal which gives him the passion to help others find the peace and joy they desire in their personal lives, their relationships, and their careers.

Chateau’s Wellness Mission

https://www.chateaurecovery.com/about

 

Episode 118 (Ret.) Drug Enforcement Administration Agent and Wake Up/Level Up Margaret Bedolla: Go Gently

Today we are honored to sit down with retired DEA Agent and Founder, lead facilitator of Wake Up/Level Up Margaret Bedolla.

Margaret walks us through her journey, growing up the daughter of an Agent, and living abroad and being exposed to true poverty and the excitement of the hidden dangers of her father’s work in a different country.

Starting the DEA at 24 she found herself working on the tragic and high profile case of the kidnapping and murder of DEA Agent Kiki Camarena.

Dedicating her life to the Administration and immersing herself in several long term cases she found a passion and knack for expanding investigations to hunt down the source of the drug trade.

As her career unfolded, she found another unique talent, which her natural compassion and empathy complimented, in working in the DEA EAP program. Like everything she does she puts her heart and soul into helping others on the Trauma Team to help her peers and their families that were struggling with the daily grind of the job and critical incident response.

After leaving the DEA she continued serving to provide education with Wake Up/Level Up leadership courses as she travels the country meeting with different organizations and first responder agencies to help them look at leadership through a different lens.

Margaret and retired DEA SAC, David Downing, are now presenting their unique leadership courses to the Dallas Police Command Staff.

She is extremely humble, extremely fierce, and still after over three decades, still leading with a servant’s heart.

Wake Up Level Up- Facilitated Leadership Conversations

 Investigation discussed:

Enrique "Kiki" Camarena Salazar was a DEA agent who was kidnapped and murdered by the Guadalajara Cartel in Mexico in 1985. His death sparked a major U.S. investigation and strained relations with Mexico. The case has been the subject of various media, including the miniseries "Drug Wars: The Camarena Story" and the docuseries "The Last Narc"

 

Episode 117 Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux: Let's Geaux!

We are honored to sit with the 31^st Police Chief in the Dallas Police Departments nearly 150-year history, Chief Daniel Comeaux.

Chief Comeaux is a 33-year law enforcement veteran, currently serving as Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Houston Field Division, overseeing 12 offices throughout Texas, including Houston, San Antonio, and Austin. His jurisdiction covers nearly 16,000,000 residents who live in 114 counties across 118,000 square miles, 645 of which are at the United States-Mexico border. His leadership has focused on intelligence-driven crime reduction, operational efficiency, interagency collaboration, and officer development.  

Chief began his law enforcement career in the Houston PD in 1992 and quickly gained a knack for enforcing narcotic investigations. In 1997 Chief Comeaux took dope chasing to a new level as he joined the United States Drug Enforcement Agency and went to the Compton area to work. He rose through the ranks and showed great innovation in intelligence led enforcement as well as educating the public, notably in the “One Pill Can Kill” campaign to curb the deadly fentanyl overdoses.

Chief Comeaux hung up his federal credentials and returned to his police roots in joining the Dallas Police Department in April of 2025.

Welcome to the ATO: Bridging the Divide stage Chief Daniel Comeaux.

Episode 116 Dallas Fire and Rescue Chief Justin Ball: The American Dream

Today we sit with the 18^th Fire Chief in the Dallas Fire Departments storied history.

Chief Justin Ball immigrated to the United States from England more than thirty years ago, joining the fire department in 1997.

Chief has a bachelor’s degree in Fire Administration from Texas A&M and maintains certifications as a Master Firefighter, Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF), Fire Officer II, Fire Instructor II, Incident Commander, and Incident Safety Officer. 

We are excited to have the opportunity to have the listener take a small peek into the unique path that Chief Ball took to command the sixth largest fire department in the United States. 

Former broadcast journalist and current Dallas Fire and Rescue Director of Communications Susy Solis sits in to cohost this episode to bring the new Dallas Fire Chief to the listeners. 

Notable Topics Discussed:

2 in/2 out procedure

Medic One Program

Quartermaster Program

Expanding the wellness and peer support program

Message From the Wellness Unit: Dallas Major Andre Taylor and Sgt Gordon Fulton

Today we sit down with three familiar voices to the show to address an ongoing problem in the Dallas Police Department and the first responder profession.

Welcome back on Sgt. Gordon Fulton and newly promoted Major Andre Taylor to have a discussion on the topic of alcohol use in the first responder community.

After some incidents over the last few months the Wellness Unit wanted to reiterate the Departments commitment to helping our own and putting our people in the best position to be the best versions of themselves.

In 2022 the alcohol leave policy was implemented and has been a successful tool to help our DPD family first seek help, then get help and continue their career and grow.

Assistant Chief Teena Schultz, Commander of the Wellness Unit, sits in as a cohost. 

For more information on the Dallas Police Wellness Unit and the Alcohol Leave policy email us atdpdwellness@dallaspolice.gov.

 

Episode 115 Dallas Fire Department Battalion Chief Greg Stoy: A Legacy of Dallas Fire

Today we sit down with one of the Dallas Fire Department’s true leaders in Chief Greg Stoy as he enters his 40^th year of service in the City of Dallas.  Dallas Fire and Rescue has an amazing national reputation as a world class fire department as it enters into its 153^rd year.

DFR is one of the few municipalities in the world to achieve the highest possible IOS rating, demonstrating its high-quality fire protection services.

Chief Stoy, starting his career in 1985, serves at Station 4 and has a reputation as a being a supportive leader in the field and mentor to many. His father spent over three decades himself serving this city and both men have a head full of amazing stories and a combined seventy plus years of firefighting history.  History is exactly what the listener will get in this episode, as well as hearing from a natural true leader that loves his Fire Department family.

We are honored to provide the platform for Chief Greg Stoy.

Critical Incident:

February 16th, 1964, Fire at the Golden Pheasant Restuarant in Dallas

On the morning of February 16, an alarm was transmitted on the Golden Pheasant Restaurant at 1417 Commerce. Ultimately, a fifth alarm was transmitted on the fire, both off-duty shifts were recalled, and four firemen had lost their lives. The first alarm was transmitted at 0233. About 0245, as the first alarm companies were attacking the fire, the first floor collapsed into the basement. James K. Bigham, Jerry T. Henderson, James R. Gresham, and Ronald E. Manley were unable to retreat or escape.

Episode 114 Healing our Heroes: ATO Counselor Confidential

“Change the changeable, accept the unchangeable, and remove yourself for the unacceptable”

To further this show’s mission to change culture in the first responder profession in the realm of mental health maintenance, we have a roundtable with some of our highly trained ATO counselors.

Conversations and education are key to normalizing and prioritizing our own mental health, especially in the very hardened world of the first responders. Police and fire are excellent at saving lives and helping others but are historically awful in asking for help for themselves.

Today we sit down with Amanda Noyes of Finding Freedom Therapy, Tempa Sherrill and Sasha Kim of the Brave Fight, and the great Cydney Frizzel.

Each of these hand-picked and highly trauma trained counselors will tell the listeners what to expect if they reach out to them.

 

Each offer their expertise on the following topics to educate our listeners:

• • Cognitive Processing Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • EMDR
  • Family Therapy
  • Children Therapy

All of our ATO counselors can be located in the Services section at atodallas.org.

If you would like to know more about how the ATO provides these services and who is covered reach out to ATOBRIDGING@GMAIL.COM or the Dallas Police Department Wellness Unit atDPDWELLNESS@DALLASPOLICE.GOV.

Never forget: You are NOT alone!

 

https://thebravefight.com

https://findingfreedomtherapy.com

 

 

Episode 113 Retired Braintree Massachusetts K9 Billy Cushing: In Remembrance of K9 Kitt

Today we are sitting with one of our East coast brothers in retired Braintree Massachusetts PD and founder of the KITT Foundation, Billy Cushing.

Billy was a 17-year veteran of the Braintree Police Department where he served as a patrol K9 Handler for 10 of those years. He is a two-time recipient of the Geroge Hannah Award for Valor among other honors. In this episode Billy tells the story of his K9 partner, Kitt, and the bond and partnership they shared.

 

On June 4th, 2021 Billy, Kitt, and backup officers responded to a domestic dispute at an apartment complex on McCusker Drive, in which the suspect fled to a wooded area. Billy and Kitt began their trek to locate the suspect when they were ambushed by the suspect, who was hiding.

Kitt, upon locating the suspect, advanced into the hail of gunfire. Kitt was struck by 3 fatal bullets and Billy was hit 5 times and Officer Donoghue was hit once during this gunfight. The suspect was eliminated during this gunbattle.

Billy was critically injured during this incident but recovered to start a new mission and journey to honor his hero partner Kitt.

In the wake of Kitts death Billy organized a Foundation, named the KITT Foundation, that would connect members of the public interested in providing support to K9 Teams across the country.

Dallas Police K9 Handler, Scott Jay sat in as a cohost.

 

HTTPS://K9KITTFOUNDATION.COM

 

Episode 112 Ianni's Nightclub Massacre: The Largest Mass Murder in Dallas History

On a hot summer day in Dallas Texas, in an upscale Dallas restaurant and bar, a failure of a man would commit the largest mass murder in the City’s history by shooting seven people, killing six. Just after midnight on June 29^th, 1984, Abdelkrim Belachheb took six lives at the Iannis Restaurant and Bar as he had an argument with one patron, Marcell Ford, as she turned away his advances. He then would leave the bar and return with a gun and committed an act that would rock Dallas, alter the victim’s families lives forever, and expose a legal loophole in the State of Texas.

This breakdown of these murders will detail the suspect’s life prior to entering the United States on a false Visa and show his lifetime of aggression and violence that would lead him from Morocco to a Dallas Texas nightclub.

In 1984 it was not a capital death penalty crime to murder one of more persons, a huge oversight in Texas State law.

Retired Dallas Police Officer Tom Hall was the first in the door at the club after the shooting and in this episode he gives us a firsthand account.

Fugitive Unit Sgt, Marcell Ford, was the niece of the suspects first victim and she bears her name in her aunt’s honor. Sgt. Ford sat with us to talk about this events impact on her family that would have a ripple effect through generations.

We want to dedicate this episode to the victims that lost their lives in Dallas Texas, 1984.

 

• Marcell Ford (deceased)
• Linda Lowe (deceased)
• Janice Smith (deceased)
• Ligia Koslowski (deceased)
• Joe Menasi (deceased)
• Frank Parker (deceased)
• John McNeil (wounded)

Sources used:

DPD case file

The novel, Worse than Death, by Gary M. Lavergne

 

Incident:

June 29^th, 1984, 12801 Midway Rd, Dallas Texas

Suspect would enter Ianni’s Restaurant and Club and shot seven patrons, six of that would die.

 

Episode 111 Dallas Police Financial Crimes Detective Justin Bowen #8522: Facing Evil in Dallas

Welcome back to ATO story time with our Treasurer, Detective Justin Bowen #8522.

Special guest cohost, NLLEO President, Juan Hernandez Jr. #8447 sits in to help tell this story. Juan and Justin rode together for years in the Southeast Division and continue their friendship to this day. This story will detail Detective Bowens career, their partnership and will highlight an awful night in March of 2009 at 700 Cliffview Dallas, Texas.

The very detailed, chilling facts of this case are laid out by both as they responded to a strong-arm takeover over a family in a trailer park in Pleasant Grove. What happened after they arrived on scene has been lost in history but both men still carry these awful memories of what was seen.

We also discuss the very complex financial crime investigations that can take years to solve and do involve true victims, especially the elderly.

 

Sit back and listen to a very deep behind the scenes look at a very quite and private servant.

Critical Incident:

March 17^th, 2009, at Cliffview Dallas Texas when two gunmen took a family hostage during a home invasion robbery that ended in cold blooded murder of two victims.

Dallas Police Sgt. Bronc Mccoy EOW: 11/16/2020

Dallas Police Officer Matt Bacon: EOW: 8/8/2023

Dallas Police Officer Horacio Quiroz: EOW: 4/22/2019

A Message from the Hosts: National Law Enforcement Officer Hall of Fame with Detective Tony Godwin

Welcome back for another message from the hosts as we sit down with a BTD alum in Garland ICAC Detective Tony Godwin. Tony is here to talk about an organization that is near and dear to his heart, the National Law Enforcement Officer Hall of Fame. Detective Godwin was inducted himself and now his mission is to give back to this great organization.

This message details this foundations origins and highlights the mission of Megan Stockburger and Adam Davenport to create this platform to honor the many men and women who have dedicated their body, minds, and souls to serving others.

Mark your calendars!

The next Hall of Fame induction is taking place right here in the DFW area on April 11^th at the Omni Hotel in Fort Worth Texas.

Fore more information go to the link below. Donations to keep this mission going is greatly welcomed and appreciated.

 

https://www.nationalleohalloffame.com/

 

Episode 110 The TMPA Blue Grit Podcast: Tyler Owen and Clint McNear

Today we do a podcast collaboration with our great friends at the TMPA, Clint McNear and Tyler Owen.

This is a long overdue episode as we sit with two men that represent a great organization, the TMPA, to talk about our mutual mission in being there for our law enforcement brothers and sisters.

We go behind the scenes in the Blue Grit podcast origins and also get to know the hosts and understand their “why” in their journey.

Special guest cohost, Plano PD Sgt. James Babb sit in to help tell this story.

They are the voice of Texas law enforcement….They are the Blue Grit Podcast.

 

Critical Incident:

April 29^th, 2008

The murder of Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Scott Burns

Episode 109 Barnstable Massachusetts Police Officer Brandon Sanders #324

Today’s episode will highlight one of this shows founding missions in truly connecting to people from all over.

This guest has traveled over 1,800 miles to join us for this show to tell his story.

Barnstable PD Officer Brandon Sanders has a unique story in his journey to policing as his childhood could have very well created a different path but it was a chance meeting of a young police officer that became a big brother and showed him what the brotherhood was about.

Brandon grew up in Hull Massachusetts and learned, at a young age, what domestic disturbances looked like, and he also had to “police” his home as child.

This upbringing created a divide in the family and set the tone for the next several years as Brandon has not had contact with a part of his family, and a grandmother he has never met.

Traveling to Dallas Texas wasn’t just about sitting to record a podcast but also to go on a journey of forgiveness and openness as he wanted to seek out the grandmother that he never met. At the time of this recording Brandon only told us his mission to finally met his estranged relatives but had not taken that trip south of Dallas to find his grandmother.

We are very happy to report that, after this recording, Brandon and his fiancé Chanelle went to the small town of Gun Barrell City and finally met his grandmother.

This shows platform to bridge divides and have connectivity is something that we will always strive to achieve….. This story is more than just a cop war story.

Enjoy!

Episode 108 Dallas Police Assistant Chief Samuel Sarmiento #7100 and Lieutenant Saul Sarmiento #7293: A Police Family Tree

This episode will feature twin brothers that have dedicated their lives to the city of Dallas and to the police profession. However, their family name started here in Dallas in 1988 when their brother, Israel, joined the Dallas Police Department and immediately become a recruiter for his family.

Next would be their cousin, Miguel, to join the PD and then these twin brothers. Saul and Sammy grew up in Progresso Texas in a family of fifteen siblings and learned the definition of work ethic early on.

As the family traveled the country to work the agriculture fields they learned to survive on hard work and family closeness that most do not get to experience.

 

Today we sit down with the twins, Sam and Saul, to talk about their lives, their blood family, and their blue family as we take the listener from Progresso Texas to Dallas Texas in telling their story.

ATO please welcome on the Sarmiento twins, Deputy Chief Samuel Sarmiento, and Lieutenant Saul Sarmiento of the Dallas Police Department.

****Update Sam Sarmiento will promote to Assistant Chief on 8/7/25 and will take over the investigative bureau.******

 

Critical Incidents Discussed:

Saturday April 14^th, 2001:

Dallas SWAT member, Israel Sarmiento #5803 was killed in a motorcycle accident in Dallas Texas.  His death greatly impacted the Dallas Police Department as he was a greatly respected leader and friend. More so it left a void in the Sarmiento family that can never be filled.

 

October 23, 2002:

Officer Patrick Metzler was killed when his patrol car was struck from behind by a drunk driver while he provided traffic control at a construction site.

March 23^rd, 2007:

Sr. Cpl. Mark Nix was shot and killed as he attempted to apprehend a murder suspect in Northwest Dallas.

 

October 12, 2022:

Dallas Police Officer Jacob Arellano was killed in a vehicle accident while on his was to work. A drunk driver caused this tragedy. He was survived by his fiancé Alyssa, his son Nolan, twin brother Joshua, Father Frank, Mother Rebecca, and sister Mia.

 

October 22, 2022:

Methodist Dallas Medical shooting occurred when a suspect opened fire on Katie Flowers and Jacqueline Pokuaa, resulting in both of their deaths. The suspect was later arrested after a brief standoff inside the hospital.

August 29^th, 2024:

Dallas Officer Darron Burks was murdered in the line of duty in Southwest Dallas.

Officer Burks was ambushed by a suspect as he pulled into an Oak Cliff Community Center. The suspect then waited to ambush responding Officers David and Farmer as they approached Burks vehicle, shooting Officer David in the face and Officer Farmer in the leg with a shotgun.

Episode 107 Retired Los Angeles PD Lt. Jeff Wenninger: To Protect and to Serve

Welcome back ATO Family

 

Today we bring you a story from a retired servant that served over three decades in Los Angeles County.

Jeff Wenninger grew up in Kent Ohio and was raised in a unique blended family during a time in this country that family diversity was rare. Jeff realized that his natural physical prowess led him to dominate hockey and set him on a path to learning a new type of resiliency and leadership style.

He hired on with the LA County Sheriffs office and worked there until he joined the historic Los Angeles Police Department where he served thirty years and retired as a Lt.

This will tell his story of how he grew into a natural leader and developed a style that garnered the attention of the command staff to trust him in leading high profile units.

Jeff took over the RAMPART CRASH Unit after the scandal that rocked the Department and the police profession from the late 90s to the early 2000s.

This event has been glamorized in tv and film and spurred movies like Training Day and the hit show, the Shield.

 

Today Jeff is the founder and CEO of Law Enforcement Consultants LLC and has a mission to assist department and assist agencies to be the best organization they can be to serve.

 

The release of this episode is timely due to the upcoming inauguration of President Donald Trump as Jeff shares his insight on the intricacies of dignitary protection in today’s world with constant threats in the United States and afar.

 

https://lawenforcementconsultants.com/

 

Critical Incidents:

 

November 22^nd, 1963: The assassination of President John F Kennedy in Dallas Texas.

 

Rampart scandal, official inquiry (1998–2000) into corruption among officers of the Rampart Division of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). More than 70 officers were implicated in misconduct, including unprovoked beatings and shootings, planting and covering up evidence, stealing and dealing drugs, and perjury.

 

July 13^th, 2024, in Butler Pennsylvania:

Attempt assassination of President Donald Trump during a campaign rally.

 

Episode 106 Dallas Police Tyler Remediz #9441: American Soldier

Today we get to hear from a guy that joined the Dallas Police Department but also served as a soldier in the United States Army.

This story begins with this guests journey from growing up as an Army brat to enlisting himself and joining the 10^th Mountain Infantry Division and on a path to fighting terrorist in Afghanistan.

Tyler fit in as soldier, and a leader and on July 5^th, 2006 all of his skills, resiliency, and faith were put to the test as his unit was ambushed in Afghanistan, and this day would change his life forever.

His path to DPD will be told in this episode as well as his passion to help and serve fellow first responders in buying their new homes.

Tyler and Frontline Realty started a program called Heroes Helping Heroes and this group has helped many military and first responders in making their life’s biggest purchase, their home.

Lt. Wade Dews sits in as a cohost to help tell this story.

 

www.frontlinerealestateteam.com

Critical Incident:

July 5^th 2006

Tyler’s unit was ambushed by Taliban fighters in Afghanistan that resulted in Tyler receiving life threatening injuries.

Episode 105 Dallas PD Forensics Supervisor Courtney Lozano: In Remembrance of Michelle Fletcher T256

Welcome back ATO Family

We finally get to discuss an integral function in law enforcement and the criminal justice system, the Crime Scene Response Unit.

Today’s guest has a Master’s degree in Forensic Science, currently working on Doctorate, and is a dedicated member of the Dallas Police Department’s Crime Scene Unit.

It is up to the trained crime scene investigator to take advantage of every scientific and technological development in forensic investigation in order to correctly analyze, retrieve and collect evidence from the scene of any crime.

Crime scene analysis combines the human factor with scientific procedures and methods to interpret what has occurred. While the scientific evidence may speak for itself, it requires human understanding and voices to translate that evidence into a court of law in order to ensure that justice is always served.

Today we are sitting down with one of Dallas Pd’s Forensic specialists and someone who supervises our great Crime Scene Response Unit. She will walk us through their functions and shed some light on some of the facts vs myths of the job……..and we will also show how vital this unit is to investigations and prosecutions…

Courtney Lozano welcome to the ATO stage…..

Critical Incident Discussed:

September 6^th, 2024

The tragic death of Dallas Crime Analyst Carmen Michelle Fletcher.

Michelle was killed in a horrific car crash in Fort Worth on 9/6/2024 at approximately 6:30 pm.

A Christmas Message from the Host: Santa Cops 40 Year Anniversary

2024 marks the 40th anniversary of its Santa Cops program, which has provided toys and food to over 10,000 families since 1984. The initiative supports families who have been victims of crime and those in need during the Christmas season.

Today we sat down with some of the elves behind the scenes that make this incredible program run so that so many families in need can have a merry Christmas.

Former Dallas PD legend Chuck Young, now Victoria Texas PD Chief, in 1984 and grew this program into the holiday event it is today.

the Santa Cop program that started back in 1984 basically out of the trunk of a squad car. Mounted unit Larry Abney, Jerry Rhodes, and Captain Walker , Lynn Albright, Deanna Stratman, Lori Tittle, Jason Kennedy, Angela Arrendondo, Chuck and so many others made this program evolve for 4 decades.

Crime Against Children Sgt. Kristin Alvarado, Detectives Stephen Prince, and Meagan Mulvihill join the podcast crew to document this history and provide the listener with a final message to warm your hearts and wrap up 2024.

Please follow or support this program at the links below.

Merry Christmas ATO Family!

Special thanks to Chrys Hawkins for this message idea.

 

Facebook:  @SantaCops

 

Twitter:  @SantaCops

 

GiveButter.com

https://givebutter.com/BqHyH5

 

Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1ZMROZDNUNBOM?ref_=wl_share

 

Email

Santa.cops@yahoo.com