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Welcome everyone to part one of my interview with Professor and El Paso County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Jennifer Bucholtz. The conclusion of this interview will air next Sunday!

Jennifer Bucholtz is a former U.S. Army Counterintelligence Agent and a decorated veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Northern Arizona University, a master’s degree in criminal justice from the City University of New York’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and a master’s degree in forensic science from National University. Ms. Bucholtz has an extensive background in U.S. military and Department of Defense counterintelligence operations.

Ms. Bucholtz is currently an adjunct faculty member at AMU, teaching courses in criminal justice and forensic sciences. Additionally, she is a cold-case investigator for her local sheriff’s office, host of AMU’s investigative podcast “Break The Case,” and founder of the 501(c) (3) nonprofit, Break The Case.

Please enjoy this eye opening, and fascinating interview with someone who has done so many incredible things and continues to serve her community.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

· Jen’s Childhood and influences.

· Working as a corrections officer in a maximum-security prison.

· Her internship with the New York Medical Examiners' Office.

· Her first death case and autopsy.

· Joining the army and being a counterintelligence agent.

· What it was like interrogating enemies of the United States.

· Using science and intuition in her interrogations.

· Body language, micro-expressions, and other clues in interrogations.

· Her book, There is no GOAT.

· People in Afghanistan not knowing about 9/11 or Osama Bin Laden

· Post-military life and working as a contractor overseas.

· Working for the State Department, teaching Indonesian police.

· Being a college professor.

· Her interest in cold cases.

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

My first week as a rookie cop, I had to decide whether to pull the trigger on a man running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That was my introduction to policing in Milwaukee.

From Wall Street Journal-featured author Patrick O'Donnell comes a memoir of rookie years on Milwaukee's streets.

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In this episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast bonus series, retired Milwaukee Police Sergeant Patrick O'Donnell reads Chapter 32, "Wojo," from his upcoming book:

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

There were characters on the job who should have been stand-up comedians. Wojo was one of those guys.

But one morning at 7:00 AM, Wojo got serious. A man barricaded himself in an apartment with a rifle pointed at his five-year-old son's head. SWAT was on the way. Hours of negotiation loomed.

The way Wojo negotiated with the suspect was unorthodox but effective.

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

🎧 This episode includes:

• Wojo running out of gas—again—and hitchhiking to a gas station
• Choir practice one-liners: "I had to feed the old lady breakfast first. A pack of Newports and a six-pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon."
• A 7:00 AM rifle call-subject shooting out a window at a four-family apartment
• The scene: A man in boxers, covered in sweat, rifle pointed at his terrified five-year-old son's head
• Watching the suspect's trigger finger: "If he moved his index finger to the trigger, I would be forced to shoot."
• Wojo's unorthodox negotiation tactic: "I don't want to work too much overtime."
• The empty rifle reveal: "What if I shot this guy who was holding an empty gun?"
• Walking out like heroes—Wojo carrying the suspect "like a trophy."
• The aftermath: Commendation written up, but later denied
• "Thanks for the laughs, Wojo, until we meet again."

📘 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 Release: Mid-March 2026
Book Update: Pre-orders are LIVE on Amazon. The book is currently a #1 New Release in Biographies of Law Enforcement.

🔗 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: sarge@copsandwriters.com
Website: copsandwriters.com
Facebook Group: Cops and Writers

👍 If this story stuck with you:
Subscribe, leave a review, and share with someone who can handle the truth about what cops see behind the badge.

🎙️ Next week: We're back to regular programming with a guest interview.

New chapters every Wednesday night.

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Welcome everyone as we travel to the city of brotherly love and Rocky, Philadelphia. Today on the show, we have former Philadelphia warrant squad member Tristin Kilgallon.

Tristin grew up in Philadelphia and started his career in law enforcement with the city’s Warrant Unit, tracking fugitives and working the tough streets of Philly.

Tristin later moved to Ohio to attend law school, earning a JD and LLM. Tristin went on to teach pre-law and criminal justice for more than a decade before joining LexisNexis, where he now works in the legal tech industry, helping law firms adopt AI-driven tools. He’s also the co-author of Philly Warrant Unit, a true-crime memoir about his time working fugitive apprehension in Philadelphia.

Please enjoy this fun interview about a unique and small crime-fighting unit that had a large impact on crime, which no longer exists.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

· Growing up in the rough part of Philly.

· Where and how Tristin got interested in law enforcement.

· What led him to the Philly Warrant Unit, and why he didn’t pursue a career with the Philly Police.

· Did his investigations ever conflict with the local PD, state, or feds?

· How they picked which warrants to execute.

· Knock vs. No-Knock Warrants.

· The difference between a search/arrest warrant.

· The prostitute calling the police on herself.

· Meeting Sylvester Stallone.

· Why he went into a teaching career.

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

Check out the Philly Warrant Unit Facebook page.

Visit the Cops & Writers Website!

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

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