This week, your Hosts Jaime and Ryan sit down with Chief Sam Gonzalez, who serves as the 23rd Chief of Police for the City of La Verne. Bringing nearly three decades of law enforcement experience to the table, he has built a career grounded in service, leadership, and a deep commitment to community policing. Before transitioning to a massive agency like the LAPD and eventually spending over 25 years with La Verne, Chief Gonzalez proudly served in the United States Marine Corps.

In this episode, we explore the military-to-law-enforcement pipeline and the culture shock of navigating the streets of LA fresh out of the Corps. The Chief takes us through the mental grind of high-stakes roles, having served as a Police Sniper, Tactical Flight Officer, and Drug Recognition Expert. He opens up about how he maintains his emotional shield to keep from turning calloused after witnessing the absolute worst of humanity. We also dive into the regional side of things, discussing the operational hurdles along the shared border between La Verne and Pomona—territory we know all too well. As a fellow University of San Diego MS-LEPSL alumnus, the Chief brings a great perspective to the immense emotional weight of sitting in the top chair, knowing every critical incident falls on his shoulders and that he is responsible for making sure his officers go home safe.

Beyond the tactical operations and regional initiatives like LA IMPACT and LA HIDTA, this conversation gets into the profound human sacrifices of the job. Chief Gonzalez speaks candidly about the family debt that accumulates from missing countless holidays, birthdays, and family milestones. He also reflects on the specific community members whose stories anchored him to his mission, the mentors who believed in him, and how he wants the officers he leads to remember Sam Gonzalez the man, rather than just the rank.

Pull up a chair, pour a glass, and join the conversation.

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This season, your Hosts Jaime and Ryan sit down with legendary retired homicide detective Gil Carrillo, a trailblazer who broke barriers as the first Latino lieutenant in the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau. Carrillo’s career is defined by some of the most high-profile investigations in California history, including the relentless pursuit and ultimate capture of the notorious "Night Stalker," Richard Ramirez.

In this gripping conversation, Carrillo pulls back the curtain on the intense psychological chess match of interviewing one of America's most feared serial killers. He recounts the chilling moments inside the interrogation room, revealing how he had to block out the noise of Ramirez's dark reputation and hyper-focus on the human being sitting across from him to get the job done. The discussion also hits closer to home as they revisit the investigation into the tragic murder of Pomona Police Officer Daniel T. Fraembs, a case that underscores the profound stakes of life on the line.

But the headlines and the high-stakes cases only tell part of the story. Carrillo opens up about the deep personal toll a career in homicide takes on family life and the immense sacrifices made behind closed doors. He shares hard-won wisdom from the streets that you can't learn in an academy, emphasizing that true communication boils down to two vital skills: the ability to understand and the ability to listen.

Pour a glass of Jefferson's Ocean, pull up a chair, and join the conversation as we explore the resilience, the breakthroughs, and the human side of a legendary career in law enforcement.

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This week, the boys sit down with Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Lieutenant Joseph Fitzgerald, a Marine Corps veteran turned lawman whose career spans the Marine Corps, the range, and the front lines of California policing. Fitzgerald began his adult life as a machine gunner with 2/4 Marines before earning a spot as a Pig in the Scout Sniper Platoon. After his first enlistment, he stepped away to work as a carpenter, only to return to the Corps in 2002 and later transition into law enforcement — a path that would define the next few decades of his life.As a young deputy, Fitzgerald cut his teeth in custody before moving to patrol at the Moreno Valley Station. He was soon selected for the Emergency Services Team (SWAT), where he spent 10 years working proactive enforcement, off‑road operations, and cross‑sworn fugitive work with the U.S. Marshals Service. Promoted to corporal, he returned to proactive enforcement before taking on assignments at the Sheriff’s range. By 2020, Fitzgerald had risen to sergeant, leading patrol teams, POP units, and gang enforcement before his promotion to lieutenant in 2023, where he served as a regional Watch Commander covering Hemet, San Jacinto, and Cabazon stations.The episode turns personal as Fitzgerald reflects on the transitions between military and civilian life, the toll of high‑risk assignments, and the lessons learned from a decade on SWAT. He speaks candidly about officer wellness, the signs of burnout he’s seen in his teams, and the leadership choices that shape resilience in the face of trauma. Away from the badge, Fitzgerald is an avid hunter — a pursuit that grounds him outside the uniform and connects him back to the discipline and patience forged in the Corps.This isn’t just a story about tactical calls and promotions; it’s about the human side of service, the quiet routines that sustain a career, and the bonds that carry officers through the hardest moments. From sniper platoons to watch command, Fitzgerald shares hard‑won lessons on survival, leadership, and the balance between toughness and vulnerability.🎯 For the veteran wondering how military grit translates to policing.🎯 For the deputy navigating the stress of high‑risk assignments.🎯 For anyone curious about the resilience behind the badge.Pull up a chair, pour a glass, and join the conversation.🔔 Subscribe for more real stories from the front lines.#WhiskeyAndWarStories #JosephFitzgerald #RiversideSheriff #USMC #SWAT #OfficerWellness #Leadership #Resilience #Podcast