Episodes

  • From Deep Undercover Missions To Rescue's On The High Seas Battling Somali Pirates. FBI Special Agent / HRT Operator, And Marine, Rob D'Amico. (Part Two)
    Sep 7 2025

    Welcome back for the conclusion of my interview with Marine, FBI Special Agent, and HRT Operator Rob D’Amico.

    Rob D’Amico has over thirty-six years of federal government service—ten years in the United States Marine Corps and nearly twenty-seven with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He is the founder and principal consultant for Sierra One Consulting.

    Rob began a life of service when he enlisted as a US Marine during college at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, and, after obtaining his bachelor's degree, was commissioned as an officer and served his first overseas tour in the first Gulf War. His work on reconnaissance missions with the Marine Corps paved the way for Rob’s long and successful career with the FBI. After four years based out of the Bureau’s Miami, Florida field office, apprehending the most violent felons of South Florida as a member of a multi-agency violent crime fugitive task force, Rob transitioned into deep undercover work against the most notorious U.S. and Italian-based organized crime families.

    Rob was among the few selected to the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team, in which he served as a sniper and was first deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

    Rob’s career with and beyond the HRT team placed him at each pivotal step in the resolution of kidnapping and hostile detention matters. He has worked on every facet of operations—negotiating hostage releases and exchanges, operating under the highest pressure against pirates, negotiators, warlords, leaders of terrorist networks, as well as with ambassadors, generals, foreign ministers, and non-government organizations.

    From being deep undercover, going after the mob, to dealing with Somali pirates, Rob has had a career that movies are literally made of.

    Today’s episode, we go deep into a hostage rescue operation on the high seas, dealing with Somali pirates!

    In today’s episode, we discuss:

    · The difference between HRT and SWAT in the FBI?

    · What attributes should HRT operators have?

    · What does HRT training look like?

    · The hijacking of the American SV Quest by Somali pirates and Rob's mission as an FBI HRT operator embedded with Navy SEALs regarding this mission.

    · Four United States citizens on board and 19 pirates.

    · The ultimate conclusion to the kidnapping?

    · Jurisdiction issues and maintaining and processing a floating crime scene that was in danger of sinking.

    · Going onto Somali soil to investigate and make arrests?

    · The strain on his family during this and other operations like this. How did Rob deal with it? What is his advice to someone about to do something similar to this work?

    · Retirement, how difficult was it to walk away from all of this? How did he cope/adjust?

    All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

    Visit Rob at his website!

    Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!

    Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!

    Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.

    Please visit the Cops and Writers website.

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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • Author Spotlight! Jodi Burnett, Kathleen Donnelley, & Margaret Mizushima Writing Bestselling Police Thrillers Featuring K9s! (Bonus Episode)
    Sep 3 2025
    Welcome to a bonus episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast! This is something I will throw out there to you all once in a while. Today’s bonus episode will be a part of my author spotlight series, where I focus on the author side of the business to see what is working for them and what makes them tick as successful authors. So, as you can guess, today’s episode is for the authors out there who are looking to start, level up, or might need a tad bit of inspiration to keep going. Or, if you aren’t an author, maybe you are just curious to see how all of this book writing stuff actually works. Either way, I think the content is valuable, and we, of course, will have some fun as well. For today’s show, I have brought on three very successful authors who write crime thrillers with K9s as an integral part of their stories. Let’s meet our authors. Jodi Burnette is a bestselling self-published author who has published over 23 books. Before she was an author, she was busy raising four kids and pursuing other businesses. After the kids left the nest, she felt a void and began writing. She hit the ground running, pumping out bestselling thrillers, and has a loyal following that most authors would be envious of. Margaret Mizushima writes the award-winning and internationally published Timber Creek K-9 Mysteries, which feature Deputy Mattie Cobb, her German shepherd partner Robo, and veterinarian Cole Walker. Together they fight crime in the fictional mountain community of Timber Creek, Colorado. There are nine books in Margaret's series, and the tenth, Dying Cry, will be published on October 14th this fall. In real life, Margaret and her veterinarian husband recently moved from a small ranch in Colorado, where they raised two daughters and a multitude of animals, to a home in the Pacific Northwest. Award-winning author Kathleen Donnelly brings heart-pounding suspense and unforgettable K-9 heroes to life in her National Forest K-9 and Colorado K-9 series. A retired K-9 handler, she draws on her real-life experience and brings to life the powerful bond between humans and working dogs. Her upcoming release, Colorado K-9 Rescue, shines a light on crisis canines and their power to help victims recover. I had a lot of fun doing this interview, and I believe you will get a lot of useful information out of today’s show, and maybe a couple of chuckles! In today’s episode, we discuss: · Why and how they started writing books. · Best and worst writing advice. · What lessons they learned from writing their first book? · How they learned police procedure, more specifically K9 police procedure, being civilians. · Why are dogs so popular in movies and books? · Why did they choose to be traditional or self-published authors, and what are the pros and cons of both? · Best marketing advice to sell more books. · Artificial intelligence, how to use it, or not use it. All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast. Visit Jodi Burnett on her website to learn more about her and her books! Visit Kathleen Donnelley at her website to learn more about her and her books! Visit Margaret Mizushima at her website to learn more about her and her books! Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel! Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!! Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series. Please visit the Cops and Writers website.
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • From Deep Undercover Missions To Rescue's On The High Seas Battling Somali Pirates. FBI Special Agent / HRT Operator, And Marine, Rob D'Amico. (Part One)
    Aug 31 2025

    On today’s episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, I have with me Rob D’Amico for this special two-part interview that will conclude next Sunday.

    Rob D’Amico has over thirty-six years of federal government service—ten years in the United States Marine Corps and nearly twenty-seven with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He is the founder and principal consultant at Sierra One Consulting.

    Rob began a life of service when he enlisted as a US Marine during college at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, and, after obtaining his bachelor's degree, was commissioned as an officer and served his first overseas tour in the first Gulf War. His work on reconnaissance missions with the Marine Corps opened the door to Rob’s long and successful career with the FBI. After four years based out of the Bureau’s Miami, Florida field office, apprehending the most violent felons of South Florida as a member of a multi-agency violent crime fugitive task force, Rob transitioned into deep undercover work against the most notorious U.S. and Italian-based organized crime families.

    Rob was among the few selected for the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team, in which he served as a sniper and was first deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

    Rob’s career with and beyond the HRT team placed him at each pivotal step in the resolution of kidnapping and hostile detention matters. He has worked on every facet of operations—negotiating hostage releases and exchanges, operating under the highest pressure against pirates, negotiators, warlords, leaders of terrorist networks, as well as with ambassadors, generals, foreign ministers, and non-government organizations.

    From being deep undercover, going after the mob, to dealing with Somali pirates, Rob has had a career that movies are literally made of.

    Today’s episode, we do a deep dive into his beginnings and Marine career. We also dive into what goes on in the head of an FBI SWAT and HRT team member and brush on his undercover work. Next Sunday, we go deep into a hostage rescue operation on the high seas, dealing with Somali pirates!

    In today’s episode, we discuss:

    · Thank you, Jerri Williams, over at the FBI File Review Podcast, for the intro.

    · What were Rob’s influences that led to his life of service to his country?

    · Marine Recon, the best of the best. Not just FBI, but high-risk undercover operations and HRT, high-speed operators, again, the best of the best. What instilled that in him?

    · What drove him to be the best of the best? What continues to drive him today?.

    · How does Rob deal with rejection?

    · What are the biggest misconceptions people have of the Marines and or combat?

    · What steered him towards the FBI?

    · When did he start doing undercover work?

    · What’s most important to the mob?

    · How soon into his career was he doing undercover work?

    · The difference between HRT and SWAT in the FBI. Who should be doing this work? What attributes should they have?

    All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • 238 Sisters in Crime & Behind The Badge W/ Milwaukee PD Sgt. Patrick O'Donnell, NYPD Det. Marique Bartoldus, Chicago PD Lt. Richard Rybicki, & Milwaukee Fire Dept. Cpt. Greg Renz
    Aug 24 2025

    On today’s episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, we have something special for you all. I was approached by the Wisconsin Sisters in Crime author group to be the moderator for a group panel of cops and a firefighter. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity because of my experiences with the Sisters in Crime groups all over this country, which have been very positive.

    I want to give a special thanks to Denise Jendusa and Nicole Prewitt for making this happen. This is the recorded version of this presentation that about 100 people attended over Zoom.

    On the Behind the Badge presentation, I had retired NYPD Detective Marique Bartoldus, retired Chicago PD Detective Lieutenant Richard Rybicki, and retired Milwaukee Fire Department Captain Greg Renz.

    We shared a bunch of war stories I guarantee will make you laugh, and maybe shed a tear or two. We then opened the floor for questions and answers. This was one of my favorite appearances I have done in a long time. Please enjoy this entertaining and educational presentation with the Wisconsin Chapter of the Sisters in Crime.

    Check out Marique Bartolus's book, Twenty and Out: A compilation of chaos experienced while serving 20 years in the New York City Police Department

    Head on over to Richard Rybicki's website to learn more about him and his books!

    Check out Greg Renz's website to learn more about him and his books.

    Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!

    Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!

    Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.

    Please visit the Cops and Writers website.

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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • 237 Latin Gangs Infiltrating America, Blood Routes, And Heroism, With Author & DEA Special Agent Wes Tabor (Part Three)
    Aug 19 2025
    There was so much to unpack with Wes about his incredible career in law enforcement and his accomplishments off duty that this is my first three-part interview. Thanks for sticking around until the end! Honestly, I could have talked to Wes all day. I will definitely have him back on the show in the future. Here's a quick bio of just some of Wes’s accomplishments. Wes became a Hernando County Sheriff’s Deputy in 1988. As a deputy, Wes served as a S.W.A.T. lead, having completed the FBI S.W.A.T. school in 1995. Wes was a Defensive Tactics Instructor, anti-crime and property Detective, and earned the Florida Medal of Valor in 1996 for his heroism by disregarding his own safety, running into an apartment fire, saving multiple lives, and Mittens the cat. In 1998, he was hired by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Wes had a 23-year career with the DEA and has been stationed in Field Divisions such as: St. Louis, Miami, Chicago, D.C., Los Angeles, and internationally in cities such as Guatemala City, Guatemala, Caracas, Venezuela, Cartagena, Colombia, and Bogota, Colombia. During this time, he was representing the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in positions such as: supervisory special agent, country attaché, assistant country attaché, Deputy Section Chief, Assistant to the Global Deputy Chief of Operations, and Assistant Special Agent in Charge. Wes was paralyzed in an auto accident where a drunk driver and career criminal had been at fault. Fortunately, he recovered from his spinal cord injury (C5/6) fracture and went back to being a DEA agent. The suspect later absconded and was on the run for 23 years only to be captured in 2024. He was given probation for 6 months by a local judge in Minnesota. From 2012 to 2015, Wes was assigned to the Central Intelligence Agency as an Assignee to various locations in the Western Hemisphere, conducting various classified activities on behalf of the DEA while embedded with the CIA. He has worked with some of the most prestigious law enforcement and military agencies, conducting operations and training modules, with the FBI, Secret Service, Defense Intelligence Service, US Army Special Forces, and Navy Seals. As a DEA agent, rising through the ranks to Assistant Special Agent in Charge in Los Angeles, he was the division's Strike Force Commander, where he oversaw global money-laundering investigations, High Value Mexican Cartel Investigation, and led his teams in pursuit of some of the largest cases on the globe. Thanks again for sticking around for the conclusion of this amazing interview. I think we covered a lot of ground and went places that I didn’t foresee. But that’s the fun of running a podcast. Please enjoy the conclusion of my interview with Wes Tabor. In today’s episode, we discuss: · What was the motivation for informants working with the DEA in Venezuela? · Hezbollah and Hamas in Venezuela? · The TDA gang that started in Venezuela and them spreading. This gang and others are spreading into the United States, and the influence they have and how they gain traction in America. · What are the most dangerous gangs we should be the most aware of, and what can be done to stop them? · The U.S./Mexican border has been a hot button for a while now and is in the news all the time. What are his thoughts, and how easy has it been and is it for these gangs to come into our country illegally? · Gangs communicating and recruiting through encrypted social media. · International gangs using cryptocurrencies. · I don’t think the average American understands these gangs and what they are capable of. I think about the murder rates you had in your book in Jamaica and Central America, 2000-2017: 2.5 million murders, 2/3 of the world’s murders. Should we be worried that this will spill over into our country? · In Milwaukee, we had the Latin (Spanish Cobras, Latin Kings, Brown Pride, Mexican Posse, and La Familia) and Black gangs (Gangster Disciples, Black Gangster Disciples, Kia Boys, and Vice Lords). The Latin gangs were much more organized, and the OGs didn’t give up much to the cops. They were busted with RICO cases, but all that did was bring in the black gangs where there was a void. It feels like a war that never ends. What can be done to stop it? · His book, Infiltrate America - Blood Routes and the Rise of Latin American Gangs. Why write it? · How painful was it for him to write this book? From personal experience, I know this can put PTSD into overdrive, reliving some ugly stuff. · Post-retirement from the DEA. What does he miss the most/least from LE? All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast. Check out Wes's newest book, Infiltrate America: Blood Routes and the Rise of Latin American Gangs Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel! Check out my ...
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • 236 Latin Gangs Infiltrating America, Blood Routes, And Heroism, With Author & DEA Special Agent Wes Tabor (Part Two)
    Aug 17 2025
    On today’s episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, I have with me Author and Retired DEA Agent Wes Tabor. There was so much to unpack about his incredible career in law enforcement and his accomplishments off duty that this is my first three-part interview. Part three of the interview will go live tomorrow. Honestly, I could have talked to Wes all day. I will definitely have him back on the show in the future. Here's a quick bio of just some of Wes’s accomplishments. Wes became a Hernando County Sheriff’s Deputy in 1988. As a deputy, Wes served as a S.W.A.T. lead, having completed the FBI S.W.A.T. school in 1995. Wes was a Defensive Tactics Instructor, anti-crime and property Detective, and earned the Florida Medal of Valor in 1996 for his heroism by disregarding his own safety, running into an apartment fire, saving multiple lives, and Mittens the cat. In 1998, he was hired by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Wes had a 23-year career with the DEA and has been stationed in Field Divisions such as: St. Louis, Miami, Chicago, D.C., Los Angeles, and internationally in cities such as Guatemala City, Guatemala, Caracas, Venezuela, Cartagena, Colombia, and Bogota, Colombia. During this time, he was representing the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in positions such as: supervisory special agent, country attaché, assistant country attaché, Deputy Section Chief, Assistant to the Global Deputy Chief of Operations, and Assistant Special Agent in Charge. Wes was paralyzed in an auto accident where a drunk driver and career criminal had been at fault. Fortunately, he recovered from his spinal cord injury (C5/6) fracture and went back to being a DEA agent. The suspect later absconded and was on the run for 23 years, only to be captured in 2024. He was given probation for 6 months by a local judge in Minnesota. From 2012-2015, Wes was assigned to the Central Intelligence Agency as an Assignee to various locations in the Western Hemisphere, conducting various classified activities on behalf of the DEA while embedded with the CIA. He has worked with some of the most prestigious law enforcement and military agencies, conducting operations and training modules, with the FBI, Secret Service, Defense Intelligence Service, US Army Special Forces, and Navy Seals. As a DEA agent, rising through the ranks to Assistant Special Agent in Charge in Los Angeles, he was the division's Strike Force Commander, where he oversaw global money-laundering investigations, High Value Mexican Cartel Investigation, and led his teams in pursuit of some of the largest cases on the globe. I told you there’s a lot to Wes’s story! Today and tomorrow’s episodes will deal with the meat and potatoes of Wes’s incredible story. In today’s episode, we discuss: · Wes’s path to the DEA. · His first three years as a DEA agent were a blur, working day and night. The horrible things people would do while on methamphetamine. · Making big cases out of little cases. · Being struck by a drunk driver, breaking his neck, and being paralyzed. Doctors told him he may never walk again, to three years later back on the job being in Guatemala, doing helicopter operations. · Seizing over 30 million dollars in cash in an operation in Chicago involving the Sinaloa Cartel. · Latin gang operations in Chicago. · His time in South/Central America. In his book, Infiltrating America, he talks about his time there, especially in Venezuela. · What do you think the difference is between socialism and communism? All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast. Check out Wes's newest book, Infiltrate America: Blood Routes and the Rise of Latin American Gangs Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel! Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!! Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series. Please visit the Cops and Writers website.
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • 235 Latin Gangs Infiltrating America, Blood Routes, And Heroism, With Author & DEA Special Agent Wes Tabor (Part One)
    Aug 10 2025
    On today’s episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, I have with me Author and Retired DEA Agent Wes Tabor. There was so much to unpack about his incredible career in law enforcement and his accomplishments off duty that this is my first three-part interview. Part two of the interview that will go live next Sunday, and part three with be released the next day on Monday. Honestly, I could have talked to Wes all day. I will definitely have him back on the show in the future. Here's a quick bio of just some of Wes’s accomplishments. Wes became a Hernando County Sheriff’s Deputy in 1988. As a deputy, Wes served as a S.W.A.T. lead, having completed the FBI S.W.A.T. school in 1995. Wes was a Defensive Tactics Instructor, anti-crime and property Detective, and earned the Florida Medal of Valor in 1996 for his heroism by disregarding his own safety, running into an apartment fire, saving multiple lives, and Mittens the cat. In 1998, he was hired by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Wes had a 23-year career with the DEA and has been stationed in Field Divisions such as: St. Louis, Miami, Chicago, D.C., Los Angeles, and internationally in cities such as Guatemala City, Guatemala, Caracas, Venezuela, Cartagena, Colombia, and Bogota, Colombia. During this time, he was representing the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in positions such as: supervisory special agent, country attaché, assistant country attaché, Deputy Section Chief, Assistant to the Global Deputy Chief of Operations, and Assistant Special Agent in Charge. Wes was paralyzed in an auto accident where a drunk driver and career criminal had been at fault. Fortunately, he recovered from his spinal cord injury (C5/6) fracture and went back to being a DEA agent. The suspect later absconded and was on the run for 23 years, only to be captured in 2024. He was given probation for 6 months by a local judge in Minnesota. From 2012-2015, Wes was assigned to the Central Intelligence Agency as an Assignee to various locations in the Western Hemisphere, conducting various classified activities on behalf of the DEA while embedded with the CIA. He has worked with some of the most prestigious law enforcement and military agencies, conducting operations and training modules, with the FBI, Secret Service, Defense Intelligence Service, US Army Special Forces, and Navy Seals. As a DEA agent, rising through the ranks to Assistant Special Agent in Charge in Los Angeles, he was the division's Strike Force Commander, where he oversaw global money-laundering investigations, High Value Mexican Cartel Investigation, and led his teams in pursuit of some of the largest cases on the globe. I told you there’s a lot to Wes’s story! Today’s episode is more focused on his beginnings and his heroism. We will get to more incredible stuff in the next two episodes. In today’s episode, we discuss: · Thank you to Chris Feistl for the intro. · An unlikely role model growing up. · The positive influence of the police explorer program on him as a youth. · His time in Florida as a Sheriff’s Deputy, working in SWAT, the detective bureau, and as a D.A.A.T. instructor. · Running into a fire and saving multiple people, and Mittens the cat. · Receiving the Florida Medal of Valor for his heroic actions. · Social media and law enforcement today. · What he sees as the weaknesses or strengths in law enforcement training today. All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast. Check out Wes's newest book, Infiltrate America: Blood Routes and the Rise of Latin American Gangs Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel! Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!! Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series. Please visit the Cops and Writers website.
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • 234 Clay, Skulls, Bones, and Don't Embarrass the Bureau With FBI Forensic Artist Lisa Bailey. (Part Two)
    Aug 3 2025

    Welcome back to the conclusion of my interview with Author and retired FBI Forensic Artist Lisa Bailey.

    Just a heads up, today's interview consists of two separate interviews. The first part is more about her exciting career as an FBI forensic Artist. The second half of our interview will expose the dark side of the FBI and how Lisa, a woman who devoted her life to service to this great country, was harassed, bullied, and discriminated against. The FBI failed to take proper action against Lisa’s bosses, who were responsible, or simply turned a blind eye. Their conduct and the cover-up were inexcusable and were done to make sure not to ‘embarrass the bureau.’

    I want to make it very clear I’m not an FBI smear campaign. Every day, the men and women of the FBI go out and do the right thing, whether they are arresting criminals or helping other agencies put criminals behind bars. But, upper management has to change the culture of don’t embarrass the bureau, even if that means admitting you or one of your subordinates did the wrong thing and fixing it. It’s very simple, do the right thing, even if it’s painful or embarrasses you, because it is the right thing to do.

    In today’s episode, we discuss:

    · Would Lisa donate her body to the Body Farm?

    · Lisa walks us through the Lester Eubanks age progression case she spearheaded.

    · What she says to those who see her work as not an exact science.

    · How A.I. will change her previous job as a forensic artist.

    · How she dealt with being surrounded by death.

    · Her advice for someone who wants to be a forensic artist?

    · FBI culture. Agents, and ‘everyone else.’

    · Her being the victim of a hostile work environment, bullying, and discrimination while working at the FBI. “Don’t embarrass the bureau,” even when they are clearly in the wrong.

    · My interview with former FBI Special Agent Zach Schoffstall.

    · Lisa’s book, Clay and Bones: My Life as an FBI Forensic Artist

    All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

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    1 hr and 21 mins