The Crimes of Robert Sparks: A Firsthand Account from Dallas PD’s Joe King

A horrific crime, a high-stakes manhunt, and the inside story from the officer who lived it. In this episode, we sit down with Dallas PD Officer Joe King, a key player in the investigation and capture of Robert Sparks, the man responsible for one of Dallas’ most shocking family murders. Joe takes us behind the scenes of the case, sharing firsthand what it was like to track down Sparks and the reality of working major crimes in law enforcement.

But this episode isn’t just about true crime—it’s also about bridging the divide between law enforcement and the public. When Joe isn’t catching killers, he’s behind the mic on ATO: Bridging the Divide, a podcast that dives into the untold stories of first responders, mental health, and the human side of policing. We talk about the wildest moments from his career, the importance of storytelling in law enforcement, and why sometimes cops need therapy, too. A deep dive into true crime, justice, and the men and women behind the badge—this episode has it all. 

About Joe King:

Dallas PD’s Joe King has spent almost three decades with the Dallas Police Department. Most of his experience with the DPD has been working street level narcotics sales and hunting fugitives (we told you he was cool). Joe has created a habitual tracking database for burglars, drug dealers and robbers for the Dep, taught surveillance school, implemented reality-based training and has developed a case management filing system he teaches to detectives.  Joe is a Dickeys BBQ and Assist the Officer Foundation and board member where he is the Oz behind the curtains with his ATO: Bridging the Divide podcast. Here, he brings awareness to mental health issues among LEOs and their families. Joe is married to Kristen, a Dallas Child Abuse detective and father to, the love of his life, Carmen.

Tune into ATO: Bridging the Divide for an inside look at crime, cops, and the podcast that’s changing the conversation.

Contact Info:

• Podcast: ATO: BRIDGING THE DIVIDE | ATO:BRIDGING THE DIVIDE
• Website: https://atodallas.org
• Instagram: ato_bridging_divide
• Facebook: ATO Bridging the Divide
• Twitter: @ato_divide
• Youtube: @joeking7919
• Other: ATO: BRIDGING THE DIVIDE PODCAST AVAILABLE ON ALL STREAMING PLATFORMS.