The Deaths of Police Shaped Him

The Deaths of Police Shaped Him: His Story of Violence in America. His career in law enforcement wasn’t just about chasing criminals, it was about living on the edge of two worlds. He spent decades kicking in doors, infiltrating drug rings, and selling weapons to cartel figures under the guise of a hardened criminal. “I didn’t just study crime,” Paul Milone says. “I lived in it, walked in it, and came out the other side.” The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast promoted across their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.

Paul Milone, retired Omaha Police Department is our guest on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, available for free on their website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and most podcast platforms.

From the gang unit to narcotics, and later sixteen years on one of the busiest SWAT teams in the Midwest, Milone became known as Ram One, the man tasked with breaching doors in high-stakes operations. He estimates he has broken down more than a thousand doors over the span of his career. “The adrenaline, the danger, it all became part of me,” he reflects. Look for supporting stories about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .

But his career wasn’t only shaped by the criminals he pursued. It was the deaths of fellow officers and friends that changed him most deeply, both as a cop and as a human being.

The Deaths of Police Shaped Him: His Story of Violence in America.

Milone recalls the loss of Officer Gregory Hamill, who contracted the H1N1 flu virus during a narcotics search in January 2014. Hamill’s health deteriorated rapidly, and he died in February 2015 from complications. “Greg was one of us,” Milone shares. “We go into these homes thinking about the guns, the violence, the suspects. But sometimes, it’s something you can’t see that ends up taking your brother.” Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

He also carries the memory of Sergeant Jason “Tye” Pratt, who was shot in the head while helping search for a fleeing suspect in Omaha. Pratt died after a week in a coma. “Tye’s death hit me hard,” Milone admits. “You train, you prepare, you do everything right, and still—violence in America claims another officer. These are the moments that never leave you.”

Violence in America and the Numbers Behind It

Milone’s personal losses echo a troubling national trend. According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund’s 2024 Fatalities Report, officer deaths in the line of duty rose by 25% from the previous year. In 2024 alone, 147 officers across the United States died while serving. Gunfire was the leading cause, claiming 52 officers’ lives.

Traffic-related deaths also spiked 48% from the previous year, with a particularly alarming rise in officers being struck by vehicles. The data paints a stark picture: law enforcement professionals are facing escalating dangers in every facet of their work. The Deaths of Police Shaped Him: His Story of Violence in America. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.

“These numbers aren’t just statistics,” Milone explains. “They’re friends, they’re fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters. For me, they’re Greg. They’re Tye. They’re the guys you rode with yesterday who aren’t coming back tomorrow.”

From Omaha to the National Conversation

The Omaha Police Department (OPD), Nebraska’s largest law enforcement agency, has seen its share of tragedy and sacrifice. With more than 900 sworn officers protecting nearly half a million residents, Omaha represents the frontline reality of American policing.

Milone, who spent much of his career with OPD, believes these stories must be told beyond the police world. “If the public doesn’t understand the risks we face, then the deaths of these offic