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In this episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast bonus series, retired Milwaukee Police Sergeant Patrick O'Donnell reads Chapter 28, "Wow! That's Realistic!" from his upcoming book:

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

It's 2:00 AM at District Five. Patrick and his partner Rachel are processing an arrest when a bloodcurdling scream echoes from the front lobby: "Help! He's been shot!"

What they find is a dead body with a gunshot wound to the head, a grieving girlfriend, and—behind the victim—District Five's crime prevention display: a casket surrounded by yellow crime scene tape for Police Week.

Hours later, after the body is removed, but the blood remains, the captain walks through and delivers the perfect line: "Damn, that is one realistic crime scene display!"

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

🎧 This episode includes:

• Why Rachel didn't want to work with Patrick (Grace told her everything)
• The silent treatment shift: eight hours, no breaks, zero conversation
• A running gunfight between two couples that ends in District Five's lobby
• The anti-drunk driving display with a real casket and crime scene tape
• "Oh, the irony of it all."
• How dark humor helps cops survive the worst nights

📘 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: The manuscript is with the editor! Pre-orders are LIVE on Amazon. The book is currently a #1 New Release in the Biographies of Law Enforcement category.

🔗 Pre-order now: Search "Police Stories: The Rookie Years 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: Chapter 31, "All-City Assist" - Three dead bodies, cops taking fire, and a sea of bullet casings at the Blues Oasis. The most intense chapter in the book.

New chapters every Wednesday night.

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Welcome, everyone to part one of my interview with retired Central Florida Sheriff's Deputy Michael Dilks. The conclusion of this interview will air next Sunday!

Mike is a retired Deputy Sheriff and Police Officer with 23 years of experience in patrol, investigations, and undercover narcotics.

Mike was a member of SWAT, the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, the DEA Narcotics Task Force and supervised a Street Crimes Unit.

Prior to his law enforcement career, Mike served three years in the United States Army as an Airborne Infantryman.

Michael is the mastermind behind the highly successful and controversial meme page @CopvilleOG and the Lock’d Up with Copville Podcast.

Michael is also the co-host and co-owner of The Anti-Hero Broadcast.

Mike was involved in and was 100% invested in his career, especially doing undercover narcotics work, and it cost him his marriage and sobriety. Mike’s personal rock bottom, which included being the focus of an FBI investigation and his best friend and the sheriff turning his back on him.

He rose above all of it and has turned his energy into a successful podcast and creative content career.

Please enjoy this eye-opening and informative interview with someone who has risen from the ashes.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

· Where and how he got interested in law enforcement.

· His time in the United States Army.

· Being on the SWAT team.

· Being assigned to a DEA task force.

· Going undercover as a narcotics officer.

· Having a dirty cop as a boss.

· Being married to the job, not his wife.

· Hitting rock bottom, abusing alcohol, and a negative lifestyle.

· Being accused of working with drug dealers!

· Being the focus of an FBI investigation and having his phone tapped.

· The sheriff, also his best friend, turned his back on him.

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

Connect with Michael Dilks:
Instagram: @copvilleog
Podcast Instagram: @the_antihero_podcast
Website: www.copvilleog.com
YouTube: / @copvilleog

Visit the Cops & Writers Website!

Support the show

Send us a text

In this episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, retired Milwaukee Police Sergeant Patrick O'Donnell reads Chapter 18, Cannibal Dad, from his upcoming book:

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

Fresh off probation and officially a "real cop," Patrick rides for the first time without a senior officer alongside his academy classmate, Tommie. What starts as an exciting milestone—two rookies on top of the world—turns into one of the most disturbing calls of Patrick's twenty-five-year career when they respond to a family trouble call at 7:00 AM.

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

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence involving a father and daughter. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

🎧 This episode includes:

• Patrick received his District Five Honor and Valor tie bar after getting off probation.
• The first shift riding with Tommie—no training officer, just two rookies.
• A family trouble call that starts with the smell of booze and a blood-stained shirt.
• "My daddy bit my nose off!"
• The head-through-drywall moment: "Holy shit, O'Donnell! We k*lled him!"
• A father who swallowed part of his daughter's nose and "smacked his lips as if he'd just finished a steak dinner."
• The moment two rookie cops realize just how dark the job can get.

📘 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: March 2026

Book Update: The introduction and book description are complete! We're on track for the March 2026 launch. Subscribe to be notified when pre-orders go live.

📧 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.

🎙️ New chapters every Wednesday night.

Visit the Cops & Writers Website!

Support the show