New Haven Police Chief Chris Neace joins us to walk through the Mason Griffith case—from the night of March 12, 2023 at the Casey’s in Hermann, to the evidence presented in court, the first-degree murder conviction, and the jury’s death penalty recommendation.

Chief Neace attended every day of the trial and shares what hit him hardest: details that never made the news, the body-cam footage, the 15-hour standoff, and the powerful victim impact moments—especially hearing from Officer Adam Sullentrup, who survived but will never be the same.

Then, after the serious conversation, we hit the classic TBSOB bar-banter: reacting to the interview, talking Neace’s social media approach, a few Olympics rabbit holes, a St. Louis hockey legacy, a feel-good perseverance story, and a quick history lesson on the origins of 911—before wrapping with shoutouts and some laughs.

Communities that support law enforcement are safer places to live.

In the episode, we sit down with Kyle Reyes, the owner of Law Enforcement Today and Blue Lives Matter — two of the largest pro-law-enforcement platforms in the country.

Kyle shared how and why he got into supporting law enforcement, along with powerful stories from traveling around the country, meeting officers, departments, and families, and seeing firsthand what the men and women behind the badge are dealing with every day.

We talked media narratives, morale, and the moments along the way that reinforced his mission to tell real police stories that often go unheard. There are some meaningful — and at times eye-opening — stories in this one.

And of course, once the interview wrapped up, the bar-banter kicked in. We also covered:

• Breaking down the interview with Kyle
• JJ’s Zen
• The Tale of Two Dicks
• The Miracle on Ice documentary
• The Hoodlum Priest — the story of Fr. Charles Dismas Clark

The full episode is live now on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.

If you dig it, please like, comment, and share so more St. Louis folks see it.

Communities that support law enforcement are safer places to live.

#TheBrighterSideOfBlue #PolicePodcast #LawEnforcement #TrueCrime #BehindTheBadge #PoliceStories

On this episode of The Brighter Side of Blue, we sit down with Colin Ledbetter, a former St. Louis Metropolitan Police officer whose story defies the odds.

In January 2022, Colin was shot multiple times in the line of duty, suffered catastrophic blood loss, and was clinically dead before doctors were able to bring him back to life. What followed was a brutal fight for survival, countless surgeries, and a recovery doctors called nothing short of a miracle.

Colin takes us inside the moments leading up to the shooting, the chaos that followed, and what he remembers — and doesn’t remember — from the night he nearly lost his life wearing the badge.

This is a raw, emotional, and honest conversation about policing, brotherhood, trauma, and survival — told directly by the man who lived it.

After the interview, we stick around and unpack it the only way we know how: talking about what officers go through every night, the brotherhood that comes with the job, and the way the community shows up when someone gets hurt. We also hit a few side roads (because of course we do): fantasy football punishment talk, some “This Day in History” silliness, and a couple stories that had us laughing even after a heavy conversation.

This episode is the perfect example of what this show is about — real stories, real people, and a community that still knows how to rally around the badge.

Communities that support law enforcement are safer places to live.#TheBrighterSideOfBlue #PolicePodcast #LawEnforcement #TrueCrime #BehindTheBadge #PoliceStories #ColinLedbetter #LineOfDuty

In 2014, the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a Ferguson police officer ignited national protests, political pressure, and a media firestorm that reshaped conversations around policing and justice in America.In this episode of The Brighter Side of Blue, we sit down with former St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch for a rare, uninterrupted, step-by-step explanation of how the Michael Brown investigation was handled — from evidence collection and witness testimony to the grand jury process, forensic findings, and the unprecedented public scrutiny surrounding the case.McCulloch addresses common misconceptions, explains why a grand jury was used, discusses conflicting witness accounts, the role of physical and forensic evidence, the release of grand jury materials, and the Department of Justice’s independent review. He also reflects on the personal and professional impact of being at the center of one of the most consequential legal cases in modern St. Louis history.This is not a debate — it’s a detailed look at how the justice system works when law, evidence, and public pressure collide.#TheBrighterSideOfBlue #PolicePodcast #LawEnforcement #TrueCrime #BehindTheBadge #PoliceStories #MichaelBrown #Ferguson

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.

#TheBrighterSideOfBlue #PolicePodcast #LawEnforcement #TrueCrime #BehindTheBadge #PoliceStories #ICEOps #DumbCriminal

On February 7, 2008, Kirkwood City Hall became the scene of a tragedy that shook St. Louis and the nation. Cookie Thornton opened fire during a city council meeting, killing six people before being shot and killed by responding police officers.In this powerful episode, we sit down with John Hessel, Kirkwood’s longtime City Attorney, who was inside the council chambers when the shooting began.John walks us through what led up to that day—years of escalating conflict tied to the Meacham Park redevelopment, court battles, public meetings, and warning signs that, in hindsight, are impossible to ignore. He then recounts the moment everything changed, what he saw firsthand, how he survived, and what it took to live with the aftermath.This is a raw, respectful, first-person account of a tragedy that left a permanent mark on a community—told by someone who lived it, and honoring the victims and the law enforcement officers who ran toward danger.Communities that support law enforcement are safer places to live.#TheBrighterSideOfBlue #PolicePodcast #LawEnforcement #TrueCrime #BehindTheBadge #PoliceStories #Kirkwood #KirkwoodCityHall

The boys kick things off from our Florida studio with a full house and a few familiar faces, easing into some classic banter and a recap of a few vacation mishaps that prove you probably shouldn’t let retired cops near plumbing, shower knobs, or grocery stores.From there, we react to a recent article ranking the Top 10 police departments to work for in the St. Louis area, breaking it down the only way we know how — honest, opinionated, and with plenty of laughs. We’re also joined by Chief Joe Spiess, who stops by to accept a very official (and slightly uncomfortable) award after his department landed at the top of the list.Then we get into something big.We were recently asked by a national communications company to record a pilot episode, and you’ll hear that pilot in this show. In it, each of us shares the episodes and stories that meant the most to us — the ones that stuck, the ones that shaped the show, and the ones that remind us why we started doing this in the first place.Now we want to hear from you.Give the pilot a listen and let us know how we did — the pacing, the flow, the production, and the overall feel. All feedback is welcome, and we appreciate every comment.As always, thank you for supporting the show and helping us keep the stories alive.Communities that support law enforcement are safer places to live.#TheBrighterSideOfBlue #PolicePodcast #LawEnforcement#TrueCrime #BehindTheBadge #PoliceStories

It’s New Year’s in St. Louis and the guys open with cashew chicken, car theft, and “fun without guns” before turning to one of the city’s most haunting cases. Retired SLMPD Homicide Detective Tommy Carroll joins us to walk through his first big case: the 1996 school-bus murder of 15-year-old Beaumont student Kyunia Taylor, six months pregnant with her daughter Diamond.

Tommy takes us inside the chaos at College & Garrison, the pressure on the department, a false confession that nearly derailed everything, the rare Russian 9mm that broke the case, and how a routine gun-and-dope arrest in Wellston finally tied shooter Malik Nettles back to mastermind Mark Boyd. It’s a hard story about evil decisions, great detective work, and a family that never stopped hurting—told by a cop who was there. The Brighter Side of Blue—St. Louis stories from the men and women who wear the badge, recorded at Colombo’s Café in Dogtown. Communities that support law enforcement are safer places to live