Send a text

Welcome everyone, to the conclusion of my interview with Professor and El Paso County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Jennifer Bucholtz.

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 and teaches 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:

· Meeting Lt. Joe Kenda.

· Why is she so interested in cold cases?

· The Steven Avery case.

· The Rebecca Gould murder. Was her killer a serial killer? All the missteps of the original detectives and how she overcame those errors.

· Why does she still communicate with her murderer?

· Her company, Break The Case.org.

· The Debbie Sue Williamson case.

· What is her criteria for taking a case?

· Forensic and investigative science has never been better. Why are clearances not keeping up with the science?

· What’s in the future of cold cases? DNA keeps getting better, and perhaps using AI as a tool, not a replacement for humans.

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

Visit Break the Case!

Visit the Cops & Writers Website!

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

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.

Support the show

Send a text

In this episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast bonus series, retired Milwaukee Police Sergeant Patrick O'Donnell reads Chapter 33, "A Tale of Two Kidnappings," from his upcoming book:

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

With the Nancy Guthrie case dominating headlines, this chapter reveals what kidnapping calls are really like for cops—and the difference between what you see on TV and what actually happens on the streets.

Most kidnapping calls are bullshit. But when they're real, every cop drops everything.

The first story: One of Patrick's first nights riding solo. A "kidnapping" call that turned out to be a domestic dispute, with an unfortunate twist.

The second story: A real kidnapping. A mother duct-taped to a chair, beaten unconscious by her ex in a crack cocaine-fueled rage. Her five-year-old son is missing. Every cop on the shift came together. They weren't going home until they got that child back.

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

🎧 This episode includes:

• Nancy Guthrie case context - "search, not a rescue."
• Patrick's first solo kidnapping call as a rookie
• The real kidnapping: Woman beaten unconscious, five-year-old son taken
• Hitting every crack house in the district
• Good news: The kidnapper dropped the kid off at Grandma's house
• "He didn't have the stomach for being a dad. Five-year-olds are a lot of work."
• Suspect arrested in Memphis, brought back to Milwaukee
• When it's real, every cop drops everything - "We weren't going home until we got that child back."

📘 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: Coming sooner than you think - stay tuned!
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 wants to know what real kidnapping investigations look like—not the TV version.

🎙️ Next week: Back to regular programming with a guest interview.

New chapters from the book continue every Wednesday night.

Visit the Cops & Writers Website!

Sonnet 4.5

Support the show

Send a text

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.

Visit Break the Case!

Visit the Cops & Writers Website!

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

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.

Support the show