ATO: BRIDGING THE DIVIDE
The Dallas Assist the Officer Foundation was created in 1999 to assist the first responder community financially if they suffered injury, illness or death. Now the ATO is providing a stage to hear their incredible stories so we can learn, heal and honor those who served before and after us. Take a journey with the ATO hosts as we provide the loyal listener a peek behind the curtain of the very complex and trauma filled first responder world. Contact us at atobridging@gmail.com Instagram: ato_bridging_divide ATODALLAS.org #firstresponders #mentalhealth #policestories #firefighters #firstresponderpodcast #wellness #police #policepodcasts #coplife #policecriticalincidents #truecrime #policedetectives #SWAT #DallasSWAT #truecrimejunkie #truecrimeobsessed #crime #murder #truecrimefan #truepolicestories #podcasts
Episodes
Support the good, condemn the bad, honor the fallen.
Our next guest grew up in a very small town in NORTHERN Minnesota, which is why his accent is still so strong despite the fact he hasn’t lived there since 2005. He spent his childhood playing every sport possible, with a year-round focus on hockey. He played hockey in college at Hamline University where he graduated with a...
" I do not recognize my own reflection staring back at me"
On September 11th, 2001, todays guest woke up to head to work to the World Trade Center to lead a meeting on an upcoming event. Her stress began as she sat behind a wreck on the way to the twin towers. The life of a Secret Service Agent is calculated and the importance of being punctual is paramount as she parked and ...
“Struggle and pain, and fear and shame, are part of the human condition.”
Welcome back ATO family!
Today we give the stage to Lifeologie founder Melanie Wells (LPC-S, LMFT-S, RYT, PYT) as she educates us on the difficulties of navigating life and relationships.
The first responder world endures much trauma in the work life but even more in the ...
“A Front Row Seat to Life”
ATO Family today we are celebrating our milestone 75th episode with a true piece of Dallas Police and ATO history with David Rodriguez.
David was born in 1948 and grew up in a segregated West Dallas and joined the Vietnam War right after high school. At this time Dallas PD had their recruiting doors wide open for veterans of this war and David walked right through those doors and into DPD’s open arms in ...
Welcome back to another message from the host as we sit down with Kathleen,Justin, and Alex from the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers to discuss the 23rd Annual Freedom Run.
This run was created in November 2001, after the deadly 9/11 attacks, to honor first responders dedication to serving their communities across the country.
DAYL was formed in...
Episode 74
Garland Texas Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children Detective Tony Godwin
****Sensitive Material Warning****
Welcome back ATO Blue Family.
Today we are sitting with a true expert in his field, a law enforcement Hall of Famer, a Detective that investigates some of the mos...
Episode 73
Dallas Police Homicide Sergeant Jessica Criddle
Welcome back ATO Family as we are extremely happy to welcome Dallas native, Homicide Sgt. Jessica Criddle to the ATO stage and pull back the curtain a bit on this amazing human’s life.
She attended The Booker T. Washington Highschool for Arts and studied dance. Sh...
Welcome back ATO family.
"You saved your partner's life"
Today we are sitting down with former Los Angeles Police Department David Klinger as he tells us his story of starting in LA PD in the 80s and immediately being thrusted into a life in death situation as he had to take a life to protect his partners in the streets of LA. Following his shootin...
Episode 71 Dallas Police Assistant Chief Reuben Ramirez #7345 From Idea to Implementation
Welcome back ATO family and welcome on Dallas Police Assistant Chief Reuben Ramirez who commands the Tactical Support Division. The Units under his command include Dallas SWAT, Gang Unit, Narcotics Division, Fugitive Unit, Mounted, K-9, Traffic/Motors and the Helicopter Unit.
Read more
Episode 70 Cedar Rapids Iowa Police Dept. Matt Jenatscheck
“The Rolodex”
ATO Family please welcome one of our blue family members that has traveled over 800 miles to take the stage for the listeners.
Nearly a year ago the ATO received a heartfelt message of gratitude, and it formed a new friendship many states away. This ...
A Message from the Host XI with Rebecca Leppert of the Pro Players Foundation
Very Special guest cohosts Dallas K9 Angela Arredondo and Sgt Andrea Shipp.
Hello ATO Fam and welcome back for a quick message.
Today we are sitting down with Chief Operating Officer Rebecca Leppert from the Pro Players Foundation that is dedica...
Episode 69 Dallas Police Placed Network Investigations Task Force Brandon Dye #11015
Welcome back ATO friends as we welcome on a guest that proves that determination, desire and support can lead to a path of greatness no matter where you grow up.
It about the people around you and that inner drive that can propel you to having the desire to being t...
Episode 68 Documentary Photographer and Visual Mediator Richard Sharum
“Obsession with Time” Welcome back ATO family as today we present the story of a true visionary in the documentary photographer Richard Sharum. Guest cohosts are Dallas Police Major Nathan Swyers and Dallas Police Homicide Detective Andrea Isom.
Richard Sharum is a documentary an...
Episode 67 Dallas Police (Ret.) Major Leroy Quigg
”It took God to close his eyes in order for him to see…”
Welcome back ATO family and please welcome on a piece of Dallas PD history in Leroy Quigg.
Leroy, curly top, Quigg joined the Dallas Police Department in 1992 and quickly volunteered for the Dallas Gang Unit, during ...
Episode 66 US Marshal Chris White Part Two: Electric Boogaloo
”You are not alone…..”
Former Dallas PD turned U.S. Marshal - Chris White returns to the podcast for a second episode to talk about the US Marshal C.I.R.T (Critical Incident Response Team) that responds to critical incidents across the country for the Marshal Service.
Read more
Welcome back ATO family as we bring you the Tenth Message from the Host.
And today we sit down with a true patriot in Todd Boeding from the Carry the Load Podcast, Lessons from the Front.
Their podcast can be heard on all streaming platforms as they have on service members from all branches of military and all first responders to tell their incredible stories of resiliency.
The Carry the Load Foundation was created by Navy SEALS Cl...
Episode 65 Dallas Police Department SWAT Sergeant Andre Taylor #7752
“Trust God, Clean House, Serve Others”
The Assist the Officer Foundation sits down with an incredibly accomplished and unique individual today in Sgt. Andre Taylor of Dallas SWAT.
As Dre grew up in the South side of Chicago, he regularly witnessed acts...
The ATO is proud to welcome 911 Calltaker/Police/Fire/Teletype Dispatch Supervisor Gillian Ethridge to the stage to shed some light on one of the most crucial components to the first responder world: communications.
Gillian was born in Dallas in 1988 and she and her family moved to Fairfax, Virginia where she had dreams of becoming a firefighter as a teen and some of the best ...
Episode 63 Dallas Police Joey Arvizu #10624
Today’s story time features a true warrior and an incredibly kind human being that also happens to be a Dallas Police Officer.
Jose Julian Arvizu hired on with the Dallas Police Department in 2013 and spent most of his time at the Southeast Division (God’s Country) and quickly gained a reputation as being ...
Episode 62 Ret. Dallas Officer Gretchen Rocha
" Live Simple, Live Brave, and Live Kindly"
Welcome back ATO Family today’s episode has a lot of moving parts and includes a lot of heartache, inspiration, healing and the survival.
Gretchen Rocha tells her unique story of growing up in Wisconsin as she was raised in the fundamental independent Baptist culture and learned resiliency at an early age. She chose to take a different path ...
Popular Podcasts
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people.
NFL.com's "Around the NFL" crew (Gregg Rosenthal, Dan Hanzus and Marc Sessler) break down the latest football news, with a dash of mirth.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.