This week on After the Tones Drop, we’re sitting down with someone who tells it exactly like it is—retired NYPD officer Vincent Scotto. With 20 years of experience in one of the most intense law enforcement environments in the country, Vin brings a level of honesty, grit, and self-awareness that hits different. He doesn’t just talk about the job—he talks about what happens after the job, when the structure disappears, the camaraderie fades, and you’re left to sort through the emotional wreckage on your own.
Vin shares how growing up around the job shaped his path, what the department culture used to be like, and how that culture has shifted into something colder, more disconnected—and more dangerous to mental health. But this episode isn’t about pointing fingers. It’s about accountability. Vin gets real about the double life he was living, the inner unraveling that came with it, and the moment a clinician told him he’d gone from a rock to a pebble—and he believed it.
This episode is for the first responder who’s struggling to stay afloat. It’s for the one who feels betrayed by their own agency. It’s for anyone who knows how painful it is to show up with heart and get shut down by the system. Vin reminds us that you don’t need rank to be a leader—you just need to drown out the noise, check your ego, and lead with love. And that kind of leadership? It’s contagious.
Want to work with Vin? You can find him on LinkedIn under Vincent Scotto, or reach out directly at vincent@boyz-in-blue.com. (And yes—ladies in blue, you're very much included.)
DISCLAIMER:
After the Tones Drop has been presented and sponsored by Whole House Counseling. After the Tones Drop is for informational purposes only and does not constitute for medical or psychological advice. It is not a substitute for professional health care advice diagnosis or treatment. Please contact a local mental health professional in your area if you are in need of assistance. You can also visit our shows resources page for an abundance of helpful information.
ATTD Music Credits (Music from #Uppbeat):
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