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Welcome everyone to the conclusion of my interview with Naperville Police Department Retired Police Sergeant and now Spokesperson for the National Police Association, Betsy Brantner Smith.

Last week, we learned about Betsy’s journey from growing up in a small town on a farm to making it to a big-city police department and all the unthinkable harassment and bullying she endured from within her own agency.

This week, we learn about her work as an undercover cop involved in high-stakes takedowns in and around the Chicagoland area. When she walked away from that work, she went back to her agency and was promoted to sergeant, and the rest of her incredible 29 years in law enforcement. We even talk about a certain serial killer cop with whom she was forced to be partners and briefly interacted socially.

Please enjoy this sometimes shocking, fascinating, and genuine interview.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

· Being an undercover cop with almost no backup or training.

· High-stakes narcotics investigations and almost getting her cover blown.

· Betsy’s ability to think on her feet and improvise during super-dangerous undercover situations.

· Leaving a Chicagoland area drug Taskforce.

· Being a sergeant in charge of the K9 unit.

· Turning down a promotion to lieutenant.

· From 1999 to 2003, Betsy hosted various training programs and was a content expert for the Law Enforcement Television Network (LETN), is currently an on-air commentator and advisor for the Police One Academy.

· Being the focus of a police television reality show. Female Forces.

· Working with and socializing with wife-killer cop Drew Peterson.

· What she sees cops doing right and wrong today.

· What is the National Police Association, and your role with them?

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Head on over to the National Police Association website.

Head on over to my website to learn more about me and my books!

Check out my newest book! Police Stories: The Rookie Years - True Crime, Chaos & Life as a Big City Cop!

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon.

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

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Send us Fan Mail

Can you imagine being the only female in your police academy class? How about the instructor telling you that you shouldn’t be in the classroom and instead should be giving him a blowjob? Or being a rookie cop and being formally disciplined for egregious violations like failure to take a hint or having your feet too far apart for a female? Resilience and grit. Those are the words that come to mind when I interviewed today’s guest, retired Police Sergeant Betsy Brantner Smith of the Naperville Police Department.

These are just some things she had to endure at the beginning of her over 29-year police career. The conclusion of this interview will air next Sunday!

A little about Betsy: Betsy Brantner Smith started her career in law enforcement as a dispatcher when she was 17. Four years later, she began a 29-year career in a suburban Chicago department.

During her time as a cop and sergeant, she worked undercover in multi-jurisdictional agencies in Chicago and other areas around the city. She was also in charge of the K9 unit, FTO, and various other jobs, including investigations.

She wrote the book, The Ten Code: 10 Law Enforcement Principles for Victory in Life: Police Techniques for Personal Achievement.

Betsy has also been a dedicated trainer in law enforcement for years.

Today, Betsy is the spokesperson for the National Police Association, a non-profit organization focused on supporting law enforcement through education, advocacy, and legal action.

Please enjoy this sometimes shocking, fascinating, and genuine interview with someone who endured and overcame, making the lives of future female cops much better.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

· Will the Bears win the Super Bowl?

· Growing up on a farm in Illinois.

· Learning her amazing work ethic as a young teen from her parents.

· The influence of her father being an auxiliary sheriff's deputy.

· She and her dad working together on the local sheriff’s mounted posse.

· Why she chose the Naperville PD and not the Chicago PD.

· Her senior year in high school becoming a full-time police dispatcher.

· Facing shocking discrimination in the police academy and how she dealt with it.

· Almost getting fired for trumped-up charges like standing with her feet too far apart for a woman, and failure to take a hint.

· Her first day on the job and her first time going out solo on patrol.

Head on over to the National Police Association website.

Head on over to my website to learn more about me and my books!

Check out my newest book! Police Stories: The Rookie Years - True Crime, Chaos & Life as a Big City Cop!

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon.

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

With historical shortages in law enforcement, today's departments have to find ways of augmenting positions that were traditionally filled by sworn law enforcement officers. One option is to have civilians working these jobs. On today’s show, we will be highlighting the trend in crime scene investigations being civilianized. Some departments have embraced this a long time ago, having 100% civilians in this role, have a blend of civilian and sworn, or have dug in their heels and refuse to have civilian Crime Scene Investigators.

On the show today, I have two Crime Scene Investigators from the Prince George’s County Police Department.

William “Bill” Greene, who was hired as one of the first civilian C.S.I.s 42 years ago, and Frank Carson, who served as a sworn law enforcement officer with distinction for 35 years, and after retirement, went back to his department as a civilian C.S.I.

Bill and Frank both have incredible pedigrees that would take up most of the hour we have for the show. Frank has worked as a detective, a fatal crash investigator, a C.S.I., and other valuable roles with his department.

Bill has a very long list of impressive credentials and 42 years of investigating just about every type of crime imaginable.

Please enjoy this conversation with two pros as we map out the future of law enforcement.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

· Frank rejoins the ranks of the police department as a civilian C.S.I. after a long and distinguished career as a sworn officer.

• Bill being one of the first civilian C.S.I.’s for the department.

· 35mm cameras were used in police work before digital cameras.

· The role of C.S.I. at a major crime scene in different departments.

· Bill working on the case of the nurse who was suspected of killing at least ten of her patients before being arrested for murder.

· Bill working the Len Bias death case.

· The book, Never Suck a Dead Man's Hand by Dana Kollmann.

· The future of civilians working in law enforcement.

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Head on over to my website to learn more about me and my books!

Check out my newest book! Police Stories: The Rookie Years - True Crime, Chaos & Life as a Big City Cop!

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon.

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

Support the show