Inside Operation Fast and Furious: Whistleblowing, Wellness, and the Weight of the Badge ft. Peter Forcelli

In this gripping episode of The Coptimizer Podcast, retired ATF Deputy Assistant Director and 9/11 responder Peter Forcelli joins host Patrick Flannelly for an unfiltered conversation about the untold story behind Operation Fast and Furious—one of the most controversial federal operations in U.S. law enforcement history.

With firsthand insights, Forcelli debunks political myths and explains how a poorly managed, local operation spiraled out of control, endangering lives and undermining trust in federal agencies. But this episode goes far deeper than headlines.

Together, Patrick and Peter explore:

• The infighting and dysfunction that plague federal law enforcement systems
• How Peter’s decision to blow the whistle led to years of surveillance, stress, and professional exile
• The personal toll of high-stakes policing, from PTSD to post-9/11 cancer, and the painful journey to seek help
• Real talk about law enforcement leadership—what integrity looks like when the system doesn’t have your back
• A hard look at the cost of silence, the power of standing up for what’s right, and how agencies fail when accountability is absent

Whether you’re a cop, a policymaker, or just someone who cares about the truth behind the badge, this episode pulls back the curtain on how broken systems affect real people—and what it takes to lead and survive with honor.