Earlier this week, we released our feature interview with John Hessel on the Kirkwood City Hall shooting. This episode is the full opening that was recorded for that night — released separately because the interview deserved to stand on its own.The crew moves fast from the jump. We celebrate JJ’s birthday with a Marilyn Monroe–style serenade, highlight a major Joyner family milestone with Michael’s promotion to Sergeant, and then jump headfirst into the kind of stories and conversations our listeners expect.We watch an expert that can't answer a simple question. A classic dumb criminal story involving a suspect who walked into a police station and made a case for himself. From there, the conversation takes an unexpected but fascinating turn into Charles Manson — his background, early warning signs, and how they’re often missed before tragedy follows.The opening also tackles serious, real-world law-enforcement issues — including a heated discussion surrounding ICE operations in Minneapolis, federal officers doing their jobs under intense scrutiny, and the broader consequences of leadership, policy, and public messaging when it comes to officer safety.It’s fast-paced, funny, opinionated, and unfiltered — the laughs, the side roads, and the moments that turn serious without warning — all leading into the Kirkwood story released earlier this week.Communities that support law enforcement are safer places to live.

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