Police Stories: The Rookie Years! Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?

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In this episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast bonus series, retired Milwaukee Police Sergeant Patrick O'Donnell reads Chapter 14, "Scooby-Doo Where Are You?" from his upcoming book:

Police Stories: The Rookie Years - True Crime, Chaos, & Life as a Big City Cop

You've probably seen it in movies or TV shows: a cop arrives at a crime scene, a victim is barely clinging to life, and with their final breath, they reveal who killed them. Case closed. Roll credits.

Reality is messier.

This is a short chapter, but one of the most unforgettable stories in the book. It's about a dying man's last words—and how Patrick can never watch Scooby-Doo the same way again.

Jimmy T was one of the genuinely nice cops on the late shift. Five-foot-nine, built like a prizefighter, always had a smile on his face. When he shook Patrick's hand and introduced himself, nobody had ever been that nice to the FNG before. He called Patrick "Paddy" from that night on.

They were working plainclothes backup in an unmarked Crown Vic when they heard twenty gunshots ring out. They found a man lying in the middle of the street, steam rising from multiple bullet holes in his chest. The paramedic shook his head 'no'—this guy wasn't going to make it.

Patrick needed a dying declaration: "You're going to die. Who killed you?"

The man's last words: "Scooby-Doo, Scooby-Doo, shot me!"

To this day, Patrick can't watch Scooby-Doo without thinking of that night.

All stories are real. Names and locations have been changed where necessary.

🎧 This episode includes:

• Plainclothes park operation - people getting robbed after hours
• Twenty gunshots rang out.
• Steam rising from the bullet holes - "extra eerie with the streetlights and flashing red and blue lights."
• The victim to the female cop: "Am I going to die?"
• The dying man's last words: "Scooby-Doo, Scooby-Doo, shot me!"
• Scooby-Doo was a local drug dealer's street name
• Working with homicide until 4:00 p.m. - looking for Scooby
• "To this day, I can't watch Scooby-Doo without thinking of that night"

📘 About the Book:
Police Stories: The Rookie Years - True Crime, Chaos, & Life as a Big City Cop is a true crime memoir chronicling Patrick O'Donnell's early career as a big city cop during Milwaukee's crack wars in the 1990s.

Book Launch: TUESDAY, March 17, 2026 (St. Patrick's Day!)
Book Update: Pre-orders are LIVE on Amazon. The book is currently a #1 New Release in Biographies of Law Enforcement. This is the last bonus chapter episode before launch!

🔗 Pre-order now for $3.99 (price goes up after launch): Search "Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell" on Amazon or check the link below.

📧 Contact Patrick:
Email: [e-mail]
Website: copsandwriters.com
Facebook Group: Cops and Writers

👍 If this story stuck with you:
Subscribe, leave a review, and share with someone who thinks dying declarations are just like in the movies.

🎙️ The book launches NEXT TUESDAY, March 17th. This is the last bonus chapter before launch. Thank you for listening to these snippets from the book.

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