ATO: BRIDGING THE DIVIDE

Episode 64 Communications Supervisor for Fairfax County DPSC Gillian Ethridge: Heart Behind the Headset

The ATO is proud to welcome 911 Calltaker/Police/Fire/Teletype Dispatch Supervisor Gillian Ethridge to the stage to shed some light on one of the most crucial components to the first responder world: communications.

Gillian was born in Dallas in 1988 and she and her family moved to Fairfax, Virginia where she had dreams of becoming a firefighter as a teen and some of the best times of her life was when she was an explorer for the fire department.

Her dream was to be in the fire department but life, as it often does, takes you down several turns that you do not wish to take.  So, she started as a 911 call taker and fell in love with the faster pace and found her niche in problem solving and critical thinking behind the headset.

She applied for Dallas PD Communications as a police dispatcher in 2015 and thrived in the fast-paced city of Dallas, Texas.  But once again life took a different turn and Gillian and her new girlfriend decided to move back to Fairfax as both dove back into communications, and also dove into love as they married in 2017.

Gillian promoted to supervisor in 2020 and subsequently won an award for Excellence in Supervision for her agency her first year in.

Her story isn’t just about call taking and dispatching, the necessity for always being the quarterback for her officers when a “tone” comes out, an inaudible shriek calling for help, or being the one that calms the airwaves as chaos erupts. This story is also about resiliency….extreme mental and physical resiliency in professional and personal life.

She is dedicated to her profession, to her wife Jam, to her twin sister Dallas Detective Kristen Greene, and to the many first responders she assisted over her life.

Gillian Ethridge is truly the Heart Under the Headset.

What is MS? | National Multiple Sclerosis Society (nationalmssociety.org)

 

Episode 63 Dallas Police Dept. Joey Arvizu #10624 and his wife Cathy Arvizu

Episode 63 Dallas Police Joey Arvizu #10624

Today’s story time features a true warrior and an incredibly kind human being that also happens to be a Dallas Police Officer.

Jose Julian Arvizu hired on with the Dallas Police Department in 2013 and spent most of his time at the Southeast Division (God’s Country) and quickly gained a reputation as being a by the book officer and natural born leader.

This episode tells the story of a Marine, a Police Officer, and a dedicated husband whose life changed on April 18^th 2018 as he found himself within a whisper of death.

While training for a charity boxing match, known as Guns and Hoses, Joey began sparring and woke up in Baylor Hospital trying to figure out what happened to him.

His wife, Cathy, stood by his side through all of the fears and all of the unknowns as he fought for his life.

Cathy had always heard of the “Blue Family” but she witnessed, first hand, just how strong that thin blue line is when one of its family is in need of help.

ATO family welcome on the Arvizu family.

Critical Incident discussed:

On April 18^th, 2018 Joey Arvizu suffered a brain bleed while prepping for a charity boxing match.

Guns and Hoses event is an annual event that features local police and fire in boxing matches.

Episode 62 Dallas Police (Ret.) Gretchen Rocha #10942: Resiliency Defined

Episode 62 Ret. Dallas Officer Gretchen Rocha 

" Live Simple, Live Brave, and Live Kindly"

 Welcome back ATO Family today’s episode has a lot of moving parts and includes a lot of heartache, inspiration, healing and the survival.

Gretchen Rocha tells her unique story of growing up in Wisconsin as she was raised in the fundamental independent Baptist culture and learned resiliency at an early age. She chose to take a different path in her life as she experienced early trauma in family and in her religious upbringing that continues to stay with her.

 She hired on with the Dallas Police Department in 2016 and just three weeks into training the unthinkable happened as the City of Dallas was rocked by the most loss of police lives since the 9-11 attacks in NYC.  Gretchen found herself in the line of fire as she could hear the bullets whizzing by her ear and passing through her hair she had to take cover behind a car that was absorbing rounds from the sniper. After being struck, in two different places, she had to drive another downed officer to the hospital and seek medical attention herself.  July 7^th 2016 saw five officers murdered and several others wounded, including this guest.

Sit back and listen to the story of an interesting woman, officer, mother, wife and bad ass entrepreneur.

 

The ATO stage is given to  the domestic Goddess Gretchen Rocha.

 

Follow her on Facebook at Dolce Beauty Bar 

Critical Incidents discussed:

July 7^th 2016 in downtown Dallas at Lamar and Main St. that resulted in 5 Officers murdered and several others wounded.

November 16^th 2018, Arts Apartments on Ross Ave. Off Duty Incident that Gretchen encountered burglary suspects in her apartment parking garage.

A Message From The Host IX Kevin James Clayshoot Edition

Welcome back ATO family as we bring you the ninth Message from the Host.

This will be our Kevin James Clayshoot Edition as we sit down with one of the organizers of this great event in Dallas SWAT Lt. Kevin Campbell.

Lt. Campbell currently commands the SWAT Unit and has been instrumental in planning and organizing the annual KJ Clay Shoot that benefits the Assist the Officer Foundation.

To register for this event go to WWW.KEVINJAMESCLAYSHOOT.COM if you want to sponsor a team or come out and shoot.

 

The Event will be April 7^th at Elm Fork Shooting Range in Dallas. Registration begins at 8am and with a 9am shoot start.

Breakfast and lunch will be served and several kick ass items will be up for raffle.

We also always need volunteers to help run these events so please reach out atATOBRIDGING@GMAIL.COM OF YOU WANT TO COME SUPPORT US.

 

We are also raffling off a unique Peacock Bass fishing trip in the amazon that is all inclusive. The trip will be onboard Rio Negro Queen for two spots.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE PRESENT AT THE CLAYSHOOT TO WIN THIS FISHING TRIP.

Value of the trip is around 10K.

Big thank you to Wade Dews and Tyler Remediz at Frontline Real Estate Team for starting the Heroes Serving Heroes Program and will donate percentage of commissions to the ATO.

As always thank you for supporting us and be safe, keep listening and lets take care of each other.

Joe

Episode 61 Dallas PD SWAT ASL Matt Smith #7765: Don't Get Left in Virginia

Episode 61 Dallas SWAT Matthew Smith #7765

“Don’t get left in Virginia”

ATO friends, you are in for a treat.  We sat down with the not so ordinary man with an ordinary name.  Senior Corporal Matt Smith talks about how his East Texas upbringing helped forge the discipline that has defined him throughout his police career. 

Matt joined the Dallas Police Department in 1999.  He was assigned to the Northeast Patrol division after completing the Police Academy.  In 2005 he competed in a tryout for the Dallas SWAT Team and has not looked back.

Senior Corporal Smith was originally assigned to a sniper role but since that time, he has been trained in almost every discipline the SWAT team offers. Matt attacked each role with a determination that is difficult to match.  He has been an Assistant Squad Leader in the prestigious Dallas SWAT Team for 8 years and running. In that role he demands a lot from the officers in the unit and more of himself.  For almost 18 years he has crafted different ways to be even more prepared for any incident. 

Whether it is a hostage rescue, barricaded person, natural disaster, or a presidential dignitary protection assignment, you can count on Matt Smith to be ready in a pressed uniform with his equipment prepared and his ride clean.

Join us as we discuss preparation, operations, mindset, and training with a true professional.

 

Critical incidents:

Oak Park search warrant/shooting multiple officers hit by gunfire

July 7^th 2016

October 2007 search warrant in which Lieutenant Carlton Marshall was shot

 

 #SWATTRAINING

 #TTPOA

 #SWAT

#firstresponders

#mentalhealth

#policestories

#firefighters

#firstresponderpodcast

#wellness

#police

#policepodcasts

#coplife

#policecriticalincidents

#truecrime

#policedetectives

#SWAT

#DallasSWAT

#truecrimejunkie

#truecrimeobsessed

#crime

#murder

#truecrimefan

#truepolicestories

#podcasts

 

Special Bonus Episode: Dallas The Ticket’s review of Bob Sturm’s Episode

Bob’s World Segment 
This is special bonus episode so our ATO family can hear the Great Bob Sturm on his own show, The Hardline, discussing his experience on the ATO: Bridging the Divide Podcast.
The radio station, The Ticket, is iconic in the sports talk world and has won the top award for radio station of the year four times. Bob is a good friend and longtime first responder supporter as he comes from a long line of police family members.

In his episode we discuss some police ride alongs he did with us back in 1999 and 2007 and we may have been too candid with these stories but hey everything turned out great.

They aired this segment right after we released Bob’s episode and, being a longtime Ticket fan, it was entertaining to hear.

I want The Ticket and Bob to know how grateful we are to have joined us for an episode and go even further to give us some additional love with an entire segment.

You are about to hear a segment of Bob’s World from The Ticket.

Thank You Bob and Thank You Hardline for the support.

ATO friends……Enjoy this bonus clip and have an amazing and safe weekend.

Joe

Episode 60 Dallas Police Dept. Twins Bryan Candelaria #9294 and Gabriel Candelaria #9326

Episode 60

Dallas Police Department’s Bryan Candelaria #9294 and Gabriel Candelaria #9326

The Dallas Island Boys

The Assist the Officer Foundation welcomes on the Dallas Police Department’s identical twin brothers in Bryan and Gabriel Candelaria.

Hailing from the 305, Miami Florida, they do embody the flavor of South Florida as they grew up in the fast- paced post cocaine cowboy era of Miami.

They both gravitated to law enforcement as they grew up in a first responder family under the tutelage of the great Miami-Dade PD Legend Omar Carrillo.  (The ATO family will hear Omar’s story on a later episode)

In the true spirit of Greek mythology twin archers, Apollo and Artemis, they are identical yet very different in their approach to life and career.

They moved to North Texas to begin their law enforcement career and joined the Dallas Police Department and started the academy in the same academy class.

They hit the streets in different part of Dallas as Gabe went North and Bryan went South and both then truly began forming their own style of police work. Bryan chose “Chasing Dope” and Gabe gravitated to Intelligence led policing and finding his niche in undercover deployment.

Like Artemis and Apollo both had a passion for the “hunt” of policing as they quickly became effective in just taking bad guys off the street to make the neighborhoods safer.

 

After leaving the Southeast Division CRT Bryan joined the prestigious Dallas SWAT to fulfill a life-long dream, following in Omar’s footsteps and Gabe joined a team on the ground floor that would revolutionize the Dallas PD in ushering in the video age in the body worn camera program.

This story is about two brothers, different in many ways, but equally genuine as human beings that pursued a calling and both succeeding in every stop they’ve had with Dallas PD.  

Both are finally in leadership roles to be mentors and role models to help mold the future of the Dallas Police Department as Gabriel serves as the Lieutenant for the Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia and Bryan a Sergeant for the Violent Crime Task Force.

 

Sit back and enjoy laughter, inspiration, heartbreak and growth as we introduce the Candy Twins to the ATO stage.

 

Critical Incidents:

Officer involved shooting in the Dixon Circle Community 7/24/2012

Hostage rescue with children on 2/9/2020 at 6000 Abrams

Hostage Rescue Homicide/Suicide on 511 Highcrest 5/18/2020

George Floyd riots in downtown Dallas in 2020

 

Instagram: ato_bridging_divide

ATODALLAS.org

Contact us at atobridging@gmail.com

#firstresponders

#mentalhealth

#policestories

#firefighters

#firstresponderpodcast

#dallaspolice

#police

#dallaspolice

#SWAT

#305tillidie

#miami

 

Episode 59 Dallas Police Major Mark Harris #7877: Charlie Brown Effect

Episode 59

Dallas Police Department Major Mark Harris #7877

”The craziest rage I’ve ever felt in my life”

Today the ATO crew is sitting with a genuine individual and true professional to discuss the “Charlie Brown Effect”.

Dallas Major Mark Harris grew up in St Louis and found the love of his life Yvonne before joining the United States Marine Corp as he started his life of service.  From 1986-1989 he began his life in law enforcement as an MP for the USMC before he traveled to South Texas to work for the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office until 2000. 

In 2000 he joined the Dallas Police Department and has risen through the ranks up to Police Major and now commands the North Central Patrol Division. 

Mark has had several events in his life and career that have defined him and also strengthen him as he endured the “Charlie Brown Effect”. 

Every year at Thanksgiving Charlie would trust Lucy to hold the ball while he kicks it, and every year she would yank the ball away and Charlie would fall flat on his back. Yet Charlie still tries, every year, to kick that ball that Lucy holds. 

Life can be that way for all of us…..Falling flat on our backs. However getting back up and being persistent is what can define a person and establish growth.  Throughout his career Mark never stopped trying to kick that ball and he is now a Major in one of the largest Police Departments in the country. 

Even as a Commander he never lost his genuine kindness he has possessed his entire life as he always treats his troops with fairness, compassion, and support. 

You can travel the halls of Dallas PD headquarters and you will be hard pressed to find anyone to say something negative towards Major Mark Harris.

Special guest cohost Narcotics Detective Todd “T-Bone” Conway joins us as he is a longtime friend of Major Harris as well having a unique perspective as he was present when Mark was shot while running a Narcotics search warrant in the Pleasant Grove area of Dallas.

Critical Incident:

On 9/28/2006 at 9711 Pinehurst, Dallas Texas, Dallas Police Narcotics Division were involved in a shooting while they executed a search warrant. During this officer involved shooting Major Harris was hit with gunfire as his teammates returned fire at the barricaded suspect. 

#policenarcotics #criticalincident #fallenheroes #police #narcotics #narcos #policeresponse

Episode 58 Dallas Police Homicide Detective Andrea Isom #9272: Investigating Death in Dallas

Episode 58

Dallas Police Homicide Unit Detective Andrea Isom # 9272

The Dallas Police Department’s Homicide Unit is incredibly rich in history.

The Homicide and Robbery Unit, under Captain J.W. Fritz, was considered the elite unit of the Dallas Police Department as it investigated high profile crimes like the Texas Eyeball Killer, the pastor Walker Railey, and the murder of President John F. Kennedy in 1963.

Capt. Fritz created traditions and a standard in excellency that lives on today as they investigate the most egregious of crimes……taking another humans life.

Penal Code Chapter 19:

A person commits criminal homicide if he intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence causes the death of an individual.

Today’s guest continues the great tradition of putting together puzzle pieces and solving crimes that a victim does not get a chance to tell their side of the story.  She does this with her meticulous style and grace that has formed her reputation as being one of the best Detectives that works for the City of Dallas.

Hailing from the great city of Kansas City Missouri Andrea Isom hired on with Dallas PD in 2007 and began working the streets in North East Patrol Division as a rookie street cop.

After working as an Assaults Detective she fulfilled her dream of becoming a Homicide Detective. She hit the ground running as the City of Dallas has no shortage of violent crimes as she cut her teeth on training as she assisted on the high-profile Zoe Hastings and the murder of a local dentist.

This episode Andrea details cases she worked on as well as the victimology aspect of putting together pieces of the puzzle to bring these suspects to justice to give the families and friends some form of peace.

Detective Isom recently was awarded the Dallas Police Association Cop’s Cop Runner-Up Award for the 2022 Officer of the Year. This award is voted on and given by her peers on the Dallas Police Department.

She also is co-founder of the TAB7 non-profit organization that was designed to raise funds for the Homicide Unit for equipment and training that can be used for solving crimes.

ATO family sit back and soak in the story of a true professional that sees and investigates some of this City’s most horrific scenes and still makes time to bake her coworkers homemade cookies.

#firstresponders #homicidedetective #trauma #criticalincidentresponse #homicide

Episode 57 Texas Super Lawyer Bob Gorsky: Protecting First Responders Rights

Episode 57

Bob Gorsky of Lyon, Gorsky, & Gilbert LLP.

Texas Super Lawyer 

When Police are put into a position to use deadly force or they have incurred an injustice they may have to make a phone call for help. 

For over 45 years attorney Bob Gorsky has picked up the phone when first responders call in need of help.

Members of the Dallas Police Association, Dallas PD’s largest association,  and many other Texas Officer and Firefighter groups have had to make that call to Bob.

Mr. Gorsky grew up in Buffalo, New York and graduated from the famed Southern Methodist University School of Law in 1978 and quickly began getting involved with the defense of Texas peace officer in the Dallas Area.

He is the founding partner of Lyon, Gorsky, & Gilbert LLP and has responded to over 2000 critical incidents since 1983. He is believed to be the first attorney in Texas to regularly respond to officer – involved critical incidents.

In addition to the development of the attorney’s role in responding to critical incidents, he was the first to attorney to represent an officer at an Internal Affairs Division. (Circa 1985)

He has passionately fought for the rights of first responders throughout his career and continues to do so to this day.

 

In this episode we detail some of those historic fights like the Ron Iscaro case that occurred on August 25^th 1983 when Bob had to fight to create light duty positions for injured officers. Before this case there were no light duty positions for officers that were injured and unable to return to full duty.

There has not been a major fight for Officers against the City of Dallas or the Dallas Police Department that Bob’s expertise and true dedication hasn’t played a role in those fights.

 

Thank you, Bob for all that you do and being our guardian and protector for our first responders.

www.lyongorsky.com

 Critical Incidents:

On August 25^th 1983 Dallas Officer Ron Iscaro responded to 1960 Toronto St. and was shot in the temple with a shotgun. Officer Iscaro was only 23 years old at the time of this incident.  

A Message From The Host VIII with The Officer Next Door

Hello ATO family

On the eve of releasing the Great Bob Gorsky episode I want to drop our latest message from the host.

This is no ordinary message as we are proud to sit down with a true first responder supporter in the creator of The Officer Next Door Page.

The father of this page likes to remain anonymous so we will respect his wishes but his former Dallas PD friends and family know the real man behind the mask and know his true mission behind this great page.

I met him when he arrived to God’s Country, Southeast Patrol, and I saw that we were very like minded as we both loved putting away neighborhood terrorist. His work ethic and charisma helped him propel to the Dallas Narcotics Division and climb to the top of that unit to take on the “Lab Unit” which is still looked at as the cream of the crop in that Division.

This message tells a little more about why he created his page, The Officer Next Door, and why he is committed to standing along side his police peers as he enjoys a new adventure in life.

Sit back and enjoy this message as it just a “glimpse” of a great man,Officer, Detective, and incredible friend.

Who is this mysterious person that runs this page??  Tune in to try and figure it out.

And please wish him a HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY!!!

THEOFFICERNEXTDOOR@GMAIL.COM

If you would like to donate to the ATO please go to ATODALLAS.ORG. Any contribution will be greatly appreciated and it will go to our first responders.

Keep listening….Stay Safe and we will see you soon.

JK

Episode 56 Texas FOP President and Retired Garland PD Det. Clint McNear: Texas Tradition

Episode 56

TMPA Field Services Supervisor and Retired Garland Texas Detective Clint McNear

Today’s episode is with a third generation Texas Law Enforcement and a true voice and advocate for all police officers across the country. Clint grew up in Plano Texas and was the son of long time Dallas Police Department Homicide Detective Stan McNear. He joined the Marines and became an MP to begin his long career of service. Clint then dove into being a true Texas Peace Officer as he was hired by the Garland Police Department and he hit the ground sprinting working some of the most crime ridden parts of Garland.

He climbed to the rank of Detective and worked burglary Division, Child Crimes, and finishes in the Crimes Against Persons Unit as he retired in 2013.

Every long police career has a story of heartbreak and Clint was not immune to experiencing life’s tragedies as he had to hold his partner as he gave his final breath after a tragic accident.

Clint McNear now dedicates his life fighting for officers rights as a TMPA, The Voice of Texas Law Enforcement, representative. The TMPA started in 1950 and is the largest police association in Texas and represents over 30,000 local, state and county law enforcement officers.

Clint McNear and Capt. Tyler Owens host the TMPA’s new podcast Blue Grit Podcast: The Voice of Texas Law Enforcement as they also give first responders a stage to tell their stories of resiliency and give their listener a peek at the behind the scenes in this great profession

Clint’s academy classmate and longtime friend Garland PD ICAC Detective Tony Godwin sits in to roast his buddy. Tony is also one half of the hit podcast Catfish Cops.  Detective Godwin is an expert in online child crimes and uses his podcast stage to educate the public and provide awareness to the seedy world of Crimes Against Children. Tony also shows why he is still a loyal friend to McNear and has stood by his friends side for almost 3 decades.

This is the first time, and maybe the only time, the ATO: Bridging the Divide crew sits with a guest and guest cohost who also have their own podcasts.

Sit back and enjoy the story of Clint McNear.

https://TMPA.ORG

CatFish Cops

Episode 55 Dallas SWAT Dr. Alexander Eastman R298: SWAT Doctor

Episode 55 – Dr. Alex Eastman R298

The ATO brings you a different perspective today with an episode all about Doctor Alexander Eastman.

Oftentimes people find a level of success and become comfortable with their positions in life.  They rest on their laurels and allow their previous accomplishments to define them.  Alexander Eastman is not one of those people.

Growing up outside of Washington DC, Alex began a life of servanthood working as a firefighter/EMT/rescue worker and even spent time in the political arena of DC.  

Doctor Eastman navigated the education world of the University of Texas and George Washington University School of Medicine and achieved what few do, becoming the Chief of the Rees-Jones Trauma Center at Parkland Medical Center in Dallas.  He was also an Assistant Professor and trauma surgeon in the Division of Burns, Trauma and Critical Care at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

As if those achievements were not enough, a lunch with Lieutenant Owens led to Alex joining the Dallas Police Department in 2004 working alongside the Dallas SWAT team as the Lead Medical Officer, responding to every event the SWAT team would for years to come.  He and Doctor Jeffrey Metzger started the Tactical Medic program that has provided the SWAT team with an actual trauma surgeon on scene.  The Tactical Medic program has proven its worth time and time again saving lives in less than desirable conditions.

He is the Chief Medical Officer of the Dallas Police Department and has reached the rank of Lieutenant in the Dallas Police Reserve Officer program that allows volunteers to work hand in hand with active duty officers.

Doctor Eastman is now serving as the Senior Medical Officer at the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Health Security.

Listen as we reminisce through his distinctive journey of almost 20 years of service.

ATODALLAS.ORG

 

Critical Incidents:

Discuss Dr. Eastman’s involvement in the July 7^th 2016 ambush attack in downtown Dallas

 October 2007 in North Oak Cliff Dallas SWAT Lt. Carlton Marshall was shot and paralyzed while executing a federal search warrant.

Dr. Eastman and Metzger performed tactical field surgery on the side of the house to save Marshall’s life. The suspect received 45 years in prison for her actions.

A Message From the Host VII 2022 Year in Review

A MESSAGE FROM THE HOST VII  YEAR IN REVIEW

This will be our 7^th Message from the Host with Joe King and Kent Wolverton as we say farewell to 2022 and welcome 2023 with open arms.

We are extremely grateful for our loyal listeners. We want to say thank you to some of our day one listeners and also welcome our new members.

The Assist the Officer Foundation if proud to announce a sponsorship with the First Responders Coffee Company (FRCC)!

The First Responders Coffee Company was started by Brent Tucker, Delta Force operator and Green Beret, as a way to give back to the first responder community. FRCC believes in the ATO’s mission in assisting our officers with improving mental health.

Nick Wacker of Osceola County Sheriff’s Office SWAT contacted the ATO and introduced us to this great company.

To look up information on this company go to https://frccoffee.com and check out their products and read on their staffs mission. Use promo code ATO and all retail profits are sent directly to the Assist the Officer Foundation.

This message we will talk about upcoming episodes and projects we have in store for 2023. This podcast wants to hear from our listeners for suggestions and feedback, good and bad, to sharpen our knives to get better and put out a better product for you.

Please contact us at ATOBRIDGING@GMAIL.COM.

If you would like to donate to our cause and support both the Police and Fire Community please go to ATODALLAS.ORG.

Until next time…..Be safe and lets take care of each other.

 

Joe.

Episode 54 Dallas Police Sgt. Gordon Fulton #10785: Walking on a Razors Edge

Episode 54

Dallas Police Gordon Fulton #10785

“Walking on a razors edge “

Today’s story is a unique journey of heartbreak, darkness, accountability and redemption as this guest truly battled that demon in a bottle.

The Dallas Police recently created a policy to assist officers that are struggling with alcoholism to come forward and seek help and have full support from the Dept. More importantly, it was created to establish a culture to have a conversation, the brutally tough ones, to shine a light on the first responder worlds dark secret…..alcohol issues. The first responder community has a long culture of drinking to cope with the cumulative ptsd that occurs daily and throughout a long career.

The Assist the Officer Foundation is proud to sit down with one of these success stories and hear a courageous tale of divine intervention and a lot of dominos that fell perfectly into place to help this young man have a new lease on life in both mind and body.

This story is raw, candid and a peek inside the life of someone who is struggling in the shadows to cope with the rigors of this profession. Gordon said if his story can help one other officer come forward and get help then sharing his story is worth it. 

To the many other agencies across the country: 

Its not a matter of IF you have employees who are struggling…..THEY ARE.

Build it….. They Will Come. 

It Could Save a Life and Career. 

If you would like more info on the Dallas PD Alcohol Leave policy reach out to ATOBrIdging@gmail.com

Critical Incident:

The mass shooting in downtown Dallas Texas on July 7^th 2016 that resulted in the death of 5 officers.

Paul Miltenberger was struck by a vehicle and killed in April of 2015.

Dallas Police Dept. Sgt. Michael Smith End of Watch: 7/7/16

Dart Officer Brent Thompson End of Watch: 7/7/16

Episode 53 Shelby Houston: In Remembrance of Mesquite PD Officer Richard Houston #821

Episode 53

Shelby Houston

In Memory of Richard Houston

On December 3^rd 2021 Richard Houston, a 21 year Mesquite PD veteran, answered a domestic disturbance call and tragic events unfolded and he did not make it home that night.

Being a family member or a friend of a first responder can be very rewarding as you have a front row seat of a true servant, a role model, and a hero. However tragedy can watch from afar and show up and cause a loved to receive a life changing phone call that will shape everyone’s future.

Richard was a dedicated husband, incredible father to his children and a dedicated peace officer that left this world too soon.  Before he responded to that call and left this world he sent his daughter, Shelby, a sweet and reassuring text that he and her mom will aways have her back.

At her fathers funeral she gave a breathtaking eulogy that inspired so many as it truly showed the beautiful side of humanity as Shelby spoke of forgiveness. This is her story of resiliency, faith and the incredible journey she is now a part of.

The ATO is honored to sit down with this amazing young women as she tells her story of her new “Why” in life and how she honors her father. Here to help tell this story we also are honored to welcome on the Honorable Judge Rainey Webb and her husband, former Dallas SWAT member Chris Webb.

“If you are serious about your dream, surround yourself with people who love you well” -Bob Goff

 Mesquite Police Officer Richard Houston Badge #821

End of Watch December 3^rd,2021

www.shelbyhouston.org

WWW.BOBGOFF.COM

Episode 52 Bob Sturm of Sports Radio The Ticket in Dallas

Episode 52

Bob Sturm of the Ticket’s The Hardline

Welcome back to the show ATO family.

This episode the Assist the Officer Foundation sits down with the Sturminator himself, Bob Sturm of KTCK The Ticket.

Bob is a long time first responder supporter as he has a unique family connection with various types of law enforcement across the country.

Bridging the Divide host Joe has maintained a friendship with Sturm that goes back to 1999 as he had his first ride along with DPD and, admittedly, we flew a little to close to the sun that day with Bob’s safety as he was a passenger in the team’s “Trojan Horse” van.

Sturm’s big sports brain has fascinated Ticket fans since he was hired in 1998. His talents also caught a certain Dallas Legend’s eye as the great Troy Aikman summoned Bob for a visit that turned into a job.

This guest is much more than just a sports genius as Bob and his family discovered their true  “why” and purpose as they took a leap of faith and saved a life with an international adoption of an incredible young son.

Bob Sturm covers the Dallas Cowboys for The Athletic. He has written about the team for over two decades while also hosting talk shows for 96.7 The Ticket in DFW and can be heard on "The Hardline" from 3-7 p.m. M-F.

During his time in Dallas, he has also written about the Cowboys for The Dallas Morning News, D Magazine and Fox Sports.

Follow Bob on Twitter @sportssturm

WWW.THETICKET.COM

A Message From the Host VI from the Desperados Golf Tournament

Welcome back ATO fans as this message comes from the site of the 8th Annual Desperados Restaurant Golf Tournament benefiting the Assist the Officer Foundation. 
Today we are live from this incredible event and had on Desperados Mexican Restaurants Ameet Somaney who tells the listener why they support first responders with such passion. 
We also have on other supporters such as Legends Fit, Hoist hydration, the Dallas Homicide TAB7 founders and many more.  
The ATO loves all of our many supporters and volunteers that made todays event amazing. 
www.desperadosrestaurant.Com 

ATODallas.org

drinkhoist.com

legends.fit. 

Episode 51 Dallas SWAT Negotiator JD Byas #5282: The Art of Crisis Negotiations

Episode 51

Dallas SWAT Hostage Negotiator JD Byas

***Warning graphic content discussed involving suicide ***

The Assist the Officer Foundation gets many requests from across the country on guests and topics and one common topic we keep getting is to have on a hostage negotiator. The Dallas PD SWAT Unit has several members trained in hostage negotiations however they have on a very “seasoned” veteran in James “JD” Byas.

He Hired on with the Dallas Police Department in 1985 and spent five years working the streets in the North West Division and then was recruited to join the Mounted Unit. In 1993 JD found himself in the middle of downtown Dallas battling the mob during the Dallas Cowboys championship parade and helped clear the path, with his equine partner, to provide safety to the citizens and prevent the city from burning.

Shortly after this parade JD, again, was recruited to the Dallas SWAT unit and began mastering patience and precision as the role of a sniper, specializing in glass ballistics.

He became a hostage/crisis negotiator in 2000 and has completed over 700 hours of training with the Suicide/Crisis Center. His nearly 30 years of SWAT experience covers over 475 barricaded persons and suicide call outs, and several hundred high risk warrant operations. He travels the country instructing Police Departments in hostage negotiation while still remaining active with SWAT. JD was also featured in the A&E show Dallas SWAT.

 

ATO fans you asked for a hostage negotiator and we provided the best Dallas has to offer in this field…. so sit back and soak in the very cerebral topic of hostage negotiation with JD Byas.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Critical incidents:

Dallas Cowboys championship parade riot in February 1993.

 

Episode 50 Former Dallas Police SWAT Commander & Current Prosper PD Chief Doug Kowalski: 50 Years of Service

Episode 50

Chief Doug Kowalski

 Special THANK YOU to the ATO family and friends as we release our landmark episode in, fittingly, our Big 5-0.

The Assist the Officer Foundation is proud to release our 50^th episode and capture a true piece of Dallas Police and Texas law enforcement history in this story.

Doug Kowalski moved to Texas and joined the Dallas Police Department in 1977, where he advanced through the ranks of Officer, Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Deputy Chief.

Chief Kowalski tells the story of the growth of the Dallas PD Narcotics Unit that went from only eight detectives in 1977 to swelling to over 100 during the 1990’s bloody drug wars in Dallas, Texas. Chief helped sculpt this unit and saw incredible Dallas PD history, good and bad, as he witnessed unit success, corruption, and tragedy.

During his Dallas career he commanded the Dallas SWAT Unit and oversaw the enormous task of implementing the 911 system in Dallas, Texas.

His boots on the ground approach as a SWAT leader was evident when he found himself surrounded by a hostile crowd during the Dallas Cowboys championship parade, fighting for his life in the heart of downtown Dallas.

After leaving Dallas PD he traveled North and began a new career in Mckinney, Texas to lead their police department and witnessed the department grow to three times its size under his command in over a decade of being the Mckinney PD’s Chief.

Now Chief Kowalski commands the Prosper Police Department and , again, is leading a department that is seeing massive growth in both city and PD.

For this landmark episode the ATO crew welcomed back LT. Bob Owens, a 40-year Dallas PD veteran, to sit with his old boss and give his perspective on this incredible career. This duo has over 80 years of law enforcement service.

Special Thank You to Misty Vancuren, Danny Canete, Josh Hertel, Randy Aguilar and so many incredible guests and guest cohosts to make this podcast happen.

Critical incidents:

Dallas Cowboys championship parade riot in February 1993.

1999 story of former Dallas Chief Terrell Bolton’s demotion of 9 commanders.

Sept 1990 Former Dallas Police Chief MAck Vines was indicted on perjury charges.