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Reasons We Serve: Police Careers & Officer Experience

Reasons We Serve: Police Careers & Officer Experience

By: Reasons We Serve
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About this listen

 Police officer stories and law enforcement interviews revealing why people choose careers in policing.
Do you ever wonder why people go into law enforcement? Does being in law enforcement change your views of the public over time, and how does being an officer affect your family? This podcast explores these questions and discusses different careers and the functions of various law enforcement agencies, including local, state, and federal agencies. The episodes include interviews with retired and active-duty law enforcement officers.

Welcome to Reasons We Serve—your source for the most honest, unfiltered Law Enforcement Interviews and Military Stories on YouTube. We sit down with Police Officers, Corrections Deputies, Homicide Detectives, Military Veterans, and DEA Agents to share the true costs and triumphs of their careers. The episodes include interviews with retired and active-duty law enforcement officers.

Dive into real True Crime Interviews that explore everything from Prison Life and Inmate Stories to solving Cold Cases and surviving Undercover Cop operations. Whether we're covering the dangers of Rikers Island, the challenges of First Responder Mental Health, or Military Missions in Vietnam, we bring you the raw experiences of those who serve.Copyright Reasons We Serve Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Sciences True Crime
Episodes
  • DEA Vet Richard Oakley: 30-Year Battle with Alcoholism & Cop Suicide Stigma

    DEA Vet Richard Oakley: 30-Year Battle with Alcoholism & Cop Suicide Stigma
    Jan 25 2026
    🎥 Episode 145

    Step into the raw, resilient world of retired DEA Special Agent Richard T. Oakley (1967-1996), whose badge spanned New Brunswick PD patrols, Union County narcotics probes, and DEA's gritty 1970s trenches—from basic agent class at D.C.'s 1405 I Street to undercover ops that tested his soul. Haunted by his father's WWII trauma-fueled death at 30 (when Richard was 13) and a family legacy of drinkers, he confronts the bottle's grip on cops: "I broke my promise—I'd die first." From losing a partner to suicide to advocating mandatory mental health at academies, Richard shares healing through storytelling, the firehouse vs. patrol isolation gap, and advice for rookies—learn, share, overcome. A vital wake-up for LE families, vets, and advocates battling the badge's invisible scars.

    Welcome to our Channel Reasons We Serve, a podcast dedicated to exploring the motivations, challenges, and realities of working in law enforcement. We dive deep into the personal stories of officers, discuss different career paths, and break down the roles of various agencies—from local police departments to state and federal law enforcement.

    Please give us a 5-star review, subscribe, and share to stay updated on more inspiring law enforcement stories!
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    1 hr and 38 mins
  • Message to the listeners

    Message to the listeners
    Jan 22 2026
    A brief message from the creator of Reasons We Serve, Niles Gooding, a retired DEA Agent.
    Show More Show Less
    2 mins
  • Deep Undercover: Ken Larson’s Motorcycle Gang Takedowns & Badge Bonds

    Deep Undercover: Ken Larson’s Motorcycle Gang Takedowns & Badge Bonds
    Jan 18 2026
    🎥 Episode 144
    Uncover the shadows with retired Fairfax County PD Detective Ken Larson (FBI 12 years), whose journey began in 1983 with the Secret Service Uniform Division—fueled by a Youngstown steel-town kid's obsession with True Detective mags and "Walking Tall" heroism, no family LE legacy. From blue-collar roots to deep undercover infiltrating motorcycle gangs, Ken reveals the grind: Building informant trust through genuine empathy ("I see people as people, not handcuffs"), the "good vs. evil" pull, and wisdom's shift from black-and-white rookies to life-changers mentoring at-risk kids like "Joe" (now Virginia Tech-bound).

    Welcome to our Channel Reasons We Serve, a podcast dedicated to exploring the motivations, challenges, and realities of working in law enforcement. We dive deep into the personal stories of officers, discuss different career paths, and break down the roles of various agencies—from local police departments to state and federal law enforcement.

    Please give us a 5-star review, subscribe, and share to stay updated on more inspiring law enforcement stories!

    To watch more interviews with retired and active duty cops and law enforcement, watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonsweserve
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    2 hrs and 10 mins
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