Cops and Writers Podcast

For today’s show, we are traveling to the West Coast and the home of Fisherman’s Warf, The Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, and of course, Alcatraz. On today’s episode, we will be chatting with the City of San Francisco Police Sergeant and Bestselling Author, Adam Plantinga. 

Adam Plantinga’s first book, 400 Things Cops Know, was nominated for an Agatha Award and won the 2015 Silver Falchion award for best nonfiction crime reference....

Welcome back to the conclusion of my interview with a former member of the Gambino Crime Family, now International Bestselling Author, Television Producer and Director Louis Ferrante.

Mr. Ferrante grew up in New York City and became entangled in the Gambino crime family. He was eventually arrested and served almost ten years in prison. While he was incarcerated, he taught himself to write, and he fell in love with books. He promised...

Welcome to part one of my interview with a former member of the Gambino Crime Family, now International Bestselling Author, Television Producer, and Director Louis Ferrante.

Mr. Ferrante grew up in New York City and became entangled in the Gambino crime family. He was eventually arrested and served almost ten years in prison. While he was incarcerated, he taught himself to write, and he fell in love with books. He promised himself t...

Welcome back to the conclusion of my interview with Crime Scene Investigator and Author Rebekah Strong.

Rebekah Strong has served as an active member of law enforcement for over twenty years in a major metropolitan police department. She started in patrol and is now serving as a Crime Scene Investigator in her department's forensics unit where she is responsible for processing crimes from murders, robberies, burglaries, sexual ...

Welcome everyone to part one of my interview with Crime Scene Investigator and Author Rebekah Strong.

Rebekah Strong is serving as an active member of law enforcement for over twenty years in a major metropolitan police department. She started in patrol and is now serving as a Crime Scene Investigator in her department's forensics unit where she processes crimes from murders, robberies, burglaries, sexual assaults, and fatal ve...

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! Here is a special rebroadcast of my interview with my favorite Irish Cop, Marie O'Halloran!! 

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Here is a rebroadcast from a few years ago with my favorite Irish Garda!

In this special St. Parick's Day bonus episode, Marie O'Hlloran shares her experiences as a 22 year veteran of the Irish Polic Force, An Garda Síochána.

Mari...

Boy, do I have a treat for you guys! Along with my celebrity co-host Jodi Burnett,  my extra special guest on the show today is none other than Award-Winning, Bestselling Author, Entrepreneur, and Award-Winning Podcaster Joanna Penn!!!!

Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller, dark fantasy, crime, and horror author as J.F. Penn. 

She’s also an award-winni...

Welcome to this bonus episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast. 

A little while ago, my good friend Kathleen Donnelley approached me asking if I would give a presentation to the Rocky Mountain Mystery Writers Association regarding Verbal Judo. How can I turn down a good friend and a chance to talk? One minor hitch. I'm not an instructor of Verbal Judo or some kind of Verbal Judo guru. 

After some self-reflecti...

Dr. Michael Caparrelli spent 100 hours,  34 Sessions With David Berkowitz, the Son of Sam.

Welcome back everyone to the conclusion of my interview with Bestselling Author and Psychologist, Dr. Michael Caparrelli. Dr. Caparrelli holds a PhD in Behavioral Science with an emphasis on Addiction Psychology. 

Dr. Caparrelli spent 100 hours, over 34 sessions with one of the most feared murderers in America’s history, David Berkowi...

Dr. Michael Caparrelli spent 100 hours,  34 Sessions With David Berkowitz, the Son of Sam.

Welcome everyone to part one of my interview with Bestselling Author and Psychologist, Dr. Michael Caparrelli. Dr. Caparrelli holds a PhD in Behavioral Science with an emphasis on Addiction Psychology. 

Dr. Caparrelli spent 100 hours, over 34 sessions with one of the most feared murderers in America’s history, David Berkowitz aka The...

Today’s show will be especially helpful for you writers out there. On the show today we have award-winning and bestselling author, Nick Petrie. 

His first novel, The Drifter, won the ITW Thriller and Barry Awards and was nominated for the Edgar, Anthony, and Hammett Awards. He won the 2016 Literary Award from the Wisconsin Library Association and was named one of Apple’s 10 Writers to Read in 2017.  Light It Up was named the Best Th...

Welcome back everybody to the conclusion of my interview with the “Cop Doc” Dr. Ellen Kirschman.  

For over four decades, Dr. Ellen Kirschman's specialty has been treating first responders, cops, firefighters, and their families who are suffering with work-related traumatic stress.

Dr. Kirschman is also an award-winning and best-selling author of fiction and non-fiction. She is best known for the gold standard book for cops and ...

Welcome everybody, today’s show will be especially valuable for those of you who are first responders and maybe more important, for their families to listen to. Or, if you are curious about what goes on behind closed doors in a police family. There is so much good information here, I had to split this up into two episodes. My guest on today’s show is known as the ‘Cop Doc’, Dr. Ellen Kirschman. 

For over four decades, Dr. Ellen Kirs...

Welcome back everybody to the conclusion of my interview with my special guest, Retired ATF Deputy Assistant Director, former NYPD homicide detective, and author of the bestselling book, The Deadly Path: How Operation Fast & Furious and Bad Lawyers Armed Mexican Cartels, Peter Forcelli. If you like heroes, homicide, government corruption at the highest levels, a government whistle blower, and good old fashioned police work, you...

Welcome everybody to part one of this very special show with my guest, Retired ATF Deputy Assistant Director, former NYPD homicide detective, and author of the bestselling book, The Deadly Path: How Operation Fast & Furious and Bad Lawyers Armed Mexican Cartels, Peter Forcelli. If you like heroes, homicide, government corruption at the highest levels, a government whistle blower, and good old fashioned police work, you’re going...

Welcome back everybody to the conclusion of this very special show with my guest Matthew Cox. Dateline NBC called Matthew, "A gifted forger and silver-tongued liar." If you’re a true crime junkie, you’re going to love this show!

Matthew’s captivating story has been featured in Playboy, Rolling Stone, Dateline NBC, and numerous other news publications.

Matthew Cox, one of the most ingenious con men in history—bilked America’...

Welcome everybody to part one of this very special show with my guest Matthew Cox. Dateline NBC called Matthew, "A gifted forger and silver-tongued liar." If you’re a true crime junkie, you’re going to love this show!

Matthew’s captivating story has been featured in Playboy, Rolling Stone, Dateline NBC, and numerous other news outlets.

Matthew Cox, one of the most ingenious con men in history—bilked America’s biggest banks ...

Happy New Year everybody! I wish you all a happy and healthy 2024. 

Today we're going to do something a little bit different. Back on November 22nd, I sat down virtually with Sarah Rosett and Jamie Albright on their fantastic podcast wish I’d known then. We talked about common errors writers make when it comes to crafting their police stories and how to improve their thrillers or mysteries.

Check out the Wish I'd...

Today on the show we are traveling to Romania speaking to USA Today Bestselling Author Melinda Colt. 

Melinda Colt is an award-winning and bestselling author of thrillers, suspense, and mystery novels. While she’s a Juris Doctor and professional target shooter, she worked as a journalist before she became a full-time author and owns a graphic design business.

Melinda indulges her romantic side by writing romance novels under the pen ...