Send us Fan Mail

One ride along and a passion for public service.

That's all it took to change everything. My guest on the show today, Sheriff Mark Lamb, walked away from a successful business career, stepped into a police academy in his thirties, and never looked back. He went on to become one of the most recognized law enforcement figures in America. On this episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, we take a look at how it all started for Sheriff Mark Lamb. Welcome to part one of this incredible story. Part two airs next Sunday.

More about Sheriff Lamb. Mark Lamb is known as "America's Sheriff.” He served as the 24th Sheriff of Pinal County, Arizona, overseeing a county the size of Connecticut with over 600 employees. Before entering law enforcement, he was a business owner for over a decade and didn't join law enforcement until his thirties, yet he quickly rose through the ranks. Valedictorian of his training class, Rookie of the Year, Officer of the Year, and Detective of the Year.

He served as sheriff from January 2017 through December 2024, and ran for U.S. Senate in 2024, losing the Republican primary to Kari Lake. He's now running for Congress in Arizona's 5th Congressional District.

No matter what your political persuasion is, I think his message needs to be heard, and I’m grateful he took the time out of his busy schedule for this interview.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

· Growing up in different countries and how that helped him later in life as a cop and person.

· Being a teenager and trapped in Panama during Operation Just Cause.

· His calling to be of service.

· How one ride-along changed his life forever.

· The benefits or drawbacks of being “older” in the police academy.

· His first job in law enforcement was as a tribal police officer on an Indian reservation.

· Being a white man working on an Indian reservation as a police officer.

· The lessons he learned from the natives while he was policing on the reservation.

· An epidemic of missing and murdered women on Indian reservations.

· Why did he run for sheriff?

· His opposition attacking him and his family during this and previous elections through mudslinging, and him taking the high road.

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

Visit Sheriff Lamb's website.

Head on over to my website!

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

Today’s show is going to be a little different. Usually, I interview professionals who are law enforcement, military, or victims of crimes. Today, I will interview a man who was a criminal. This is a story of second chances and what can be accomplished after making a mistake.

Today on the show, I have Owen Hanson, whose life story was featured in the Mark Wahlberg production documentary, Cocaine Quarterback, available on Amazon Prime.

Owen is a California kid whose mother left him and his father at a young age. He grew up playing volleyball and earned a scholarship to play at the University of Southern California. In his sophomore year, he was essentially cut from the team. His coach told him to get bigger and improve his vertical leap.

So, Owen worked out six days a week, twice a week, and made it as a walk-on to the football team. He also took performance-enhancing drugs in his quest to become stronger and faster. This kid, who came from a modest middle-class broken home, was now partying with rock stars and other celebrities. He was also the team's and campus’s drug dealer.

After graduation, he wound up working as a bookie, money launderer, and associate with a Mexican drug cartel. At one point, he was making over a million dollars a day until it all came crashing down on him.

He was tried and sentenced to 21 years in federal prison. Through a cooperation agreement with the Australian government, he was released after nine years. While he was in prison, he started a frozen protein product that he is now selling as a free man.

Owen made a mistake, paid the price, and is now reinventing himself. He is proof that sometimes all someone needs is a second chance.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

· Having his mom abandon him as a young boy.

· Your route to USC via volleyball and feeling out of place with the rich kids in his school.

· Dealing illegal drugs in college.

· The availability of powder cocaine at USC in the early 2000s.

· Being benched his sophomore year in college volleyball.

· Becoming a walk-on for the football team.

· Being the team's drug dealer, getting the drugs at the veterinarian's office in Tijuana.

· Living the rock and roll lifestyle as a college football player.

· How he got involved with a Mexican drug cartel.

· Making prison frozen protein.

· Does he ever look over your shoulder, thinking a cartel hitman might come after him?

Head on over to Owen's website to learn more about his story!

Head on over to my website!

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

Thanks for coming back for the conclusion of my interview with Author, Screenwriter, Producer, and Retired DEA Agent J Todd Scott. Today’s episode, we talk DEA stuff and work our way into Hollywood and books, more specifically, him being a producer and writer for the Yellowstone spinoff, Dutton Ranch.

Todd spent 30 years as a special agent for the DEA, being assigned to multiple locations across the United States and the world. During his time as a special agent, he took part in investigations leading to tons of seized illegal drugs and millions of dollars in illegal drug proceeds. He was part of the first group of agents to be assigned to Haiti for a long-term mission, where he escaped certain death multiple times by the skin of his teeth.

Todd has always had a passion for stories and writing, and pursued this when he retired from federal service.

He’s authored six critically acclaimed crime and thriller novels. He’s also a film/TV producer and screenwriter. His work includes the Lawmen: Bass Reeves, and he is a producer and writer for the spinoff to the massively popular Yellowstone series, Dutton Ranch.

It was a pleasure to get the chance to chat with Todd. He has lived and is living a life that books and movies are made of; now he’s telling the stories.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

· Has legalizing marijuana in some states made things better, worse, or has it made any difference?

· What is the best way to prepare yourself to become a DEA Special Agent, or any other LE officer?

· Writing and being a producer on the new Yellowstone spinoff, Dutton Ranch and Lawmen: Bass Reeves.

· His ‘big break’ in his writing career.

· Yellowstone, why was it such a breakout success?.

· What is his role with The Dutton Ranch?

· How daunting was it to work on Dutton Ranch with all the success of Yellowstone? How he dealt with that.

· Having a full-time snake wrangler on set.

· His advice for anyone wanting to break into the book-writing world or television, or movies.

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

Head on over to Todd's website to learn more about him and his work.

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

Head on over to my website!

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