(28:43) On a freezing January morning in 2010, gunfire erupted inside the ABB plant in north St. Louis. What began as confusion quickly turned into one of the region’s first true active shooter incidents.

Retired and active St. Louis police officers Lt. Adam Duke and Lt. Jim Joyner give a firsthand account of responding to the chaotic scene as shots were still being fired, victims were trapped inside, and officers searched building-to-building trying to stop the threat and save lives.

Before our featured interview, the crew opens the show from Colombo’s Cafe in Dogtown with classic Brighter Side of Blue banter — honoring Police Memorial Week, discussing the growing partnership with the St. Louis Police Officers Association, recruitment efforts within the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, and remembering fallen officer Michael Langsdorf and the sacrifices made by officers across the region.

The guys also dive into:

-The SLMPD recruitment blitz that brought in over 100 candidates

-Why policing still offers unmatched camaraderie and purpose

-Stories about legendary officers and personalities

-JJ’s frustrations with St. Louis highway construction

-Beethoven, blues music, Pete Rose, and the kind of off-the-rails conversations listeners have come to expect from the show

Our featured interview (38:52) ... Most people in the St. Louis area know the case of Christopher Coleman. In 2009, the murders of Sheri Coleman and her two young sons in Columbia shocked the region and quickly became one of the most talked-about family annihilation cases in recent memory. The case has been covered countless times—but what doesn’t get talked about is what it looked like from inside the defense team. In this episode, we sit down with former SLMPD detective and current private investigator John Hefele, who worked on behalf of the defense during the Coleman case. John provides a rare, firsthand perspective—walking the crime scene months later, sitting in on interviews with Coleman, speaking with his family, and traveling to Florida to interview the mistress at the center of the motive. He shares what stood out to him during the investigation, how the case unfolded from the defense side, and why—even after 20 years in law enforcement—this case left him with a feeling he simply described as “creepy.” This isn’t a rehash of the facts, it’s what it was like to be inside the case.

Before the interview, the guys are back at Colombo’s in Dogtown with the usual mix of laughs, stories, and real talk. They share updates on the growth of The Brighter Side of Blue, upcoming partnerships, and what’s ahead for the show before diving into classic banter...everything from near-disastrous household accidents and “how I almost died” moments, to hilarious stories about becoming dads and chaotic trips to the hospital when their kids were born. They also spotlight a great cause with Hootie's Rescue Haven, highlighting adoptable dogs and the impact listeners have already made supporting local rescues. As always, the tone shifts when it matters, as the guys take time to recognize a fallen Chicago police officer and have a candid discussion about the realities of the job, accountability, and the challenges facing law enforcement today. They wrap it up with one of JJ’s signature “Zen” moments before heading into the featured interview.

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In December 1982, Gary and Donna Decker left their young son with family and went out Christmas shopping in North St. Louis County—something they had done countless times before.

They never made it home.

What started as a witness reporting a possible abduction quickly turned into a multi-jurisdiction investigation spanning Missouri and Illinois. Within hours, the Deckers were found murdered in East St. Louis, leaving investigators scrambling to piece together a timeline with limited technology and scattered evidence.

In this episode of The Brighter Side of Blue, we break the case down from a law enforcement perspective:
• The initial witness account and early confusion
• How police connected the abduction to the victims
• The discovery of the vehicle and critical evidence
• The investigation that led to Walter Lee Harvey and Raphael Clark
• And the courtroom twist involving an attorney ruled ineffective

Before we get into the Decker case, we kick things off with some classic banter from the crew.

We open from Colombo’s in Dogtown with some laughs and a reminder that no two days are ever the same in this line of work—including one of the more bizarre calls involving first responders that you’ll have to hear to believe.

There’s also some wild stories—from a guy rigging a weather sensor to win thousands, to a historical look at early license plates, and even a discussion on emerging treatments for PTSD and mental health.

We wrap the segment by recognizing a school principal who stepped up in a critical moment, highlighting the kind of actions that don’t always get the attention they deserve.

Then we get into one of the most brutal cases we’ve covered.

Communities that support law enforcement are safer places to live.

#thebrightersideofblue #TrueCrime #PoliceStories #CrimePodcast #StLouisCrime #ColdCase #TrueCrimeCommunity