From Patrol to Investigations: 29 Years in SAPD with Greg Andrade

In this episode of So You Got Arrested, hosts Steve Barrera and Scott Simpson sit down with retired San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) officer Greg Andrade. With 29 years on the force, Greg shares an inside look at the transition from rookie patrol officer to Uniform Evidence Detective.

The conversation dives deep into the realities of life on the "West Patrol," the complexities of policing your own neighborhood, and the evolution of law enforcement technology—from Polaroid cameras and handwritten statements to modern dash cams and rugged laptops. Greg also provides a law enforcement perspective on:

• What goes through an officer's mind during a high-speed chase or a felony stop.
• The legal requirements for identifying yourself during a traffic stop.
• How an officer decides between a warning and a citation.
• The "behind-the-scenes" process of collecting evidence at crime scenes.

Whether you're curious about police procedure or want to understand your rights during an encounter, this episode offers a balanced look at the men and women behind the badge.