Things Police See: Firsthand Accounts

A retired NYPD Detective, hostage negotiator, and intelligence specialist joins the show to break down his most intense cases from more than two decades in New York City. From the Bronx during its "burning" era to chasing Russian organized crime, handling nearly 100 homicides a year, investigating infant crimes, and navigating high‑risk hostage situations — Sal Lifrieri career is a masterclass in street survival, crisis response, and investigative grit. We also dive into his transition to the NYC Office of Emergency Management, where he helped build the city's chemical and biological terrorism plans, and later became Director of Security & Intelligence Operations. Sal shares bizarre calls, emotionally disturbed person encounters, inter‑agency battles, and the tactical mindset that kept his team alive in the most dangerous square mile in America. Sal's Website - https://pccsecure.com/author/slifrieripccsecure-com/ Contact Steve - [email protected] Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055 Sergeant Steve YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@TheSergeantSteve⁩

What's it really like to work as a Peace Officer in Alberta, Canada? In this episode, Steve sits down with Brad Larsen, a veteran CPO who has served since 2014, to break down the major differences between Canadian policing and U.S. policing — from authority levels to training, to why peace officers aren't armed, and how they work alongside the RCMP. Brad shares unfiltered stories from the road, including bizarre bylaw calls, intense foot chases, dangerous encounters, and the time suspects stole his patrol truck during a fight outside a hockey arena. He also talks about animal enforcement, impaired driving laws, provincial authority, and what it's like policing vast rural areas in Alberta. If you're curious about Canadian law enforcement, the Peace Officer Act, or the realities of rural policing, this episode delivers a rare inside look at a profession most people outside Canada have never heard of. Contact Steve - [email protected] Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055 Sergeant Steve - @TheSergeantSteve https://www.youtube.com/@UCuobtuGxJny9V5lX5a1ieuw

Retired Waltham Police Sergeant and NEMLEC SWAT operator Jim Vaglica returns to Things Police See to deliver a full, unfiltered account of his response to the Boston Marathon bombing and the massive manhunt that followed. Jim walks listeners through the moment the bombs detonated, the chaos of deploying into Boston, the tense overnight searches in Watertown, and the dramatic final standoff where the second bomber was captured. His firsthand perspective reveals what really happened behind the scenes — the communication breakdowns, the tactical challenges, the danger of unexploded IEDs, and the sheer exhaustion of operators working more than 24 hours straight. This episode is a rare, detailed look at SWAT operations during one of the most significant domestic terrorism events in U.S. history. If you're interested in law enforcement, tactical operations, crisis response, or the Boston Marathon bombing, this interview is essential listening. Follow Jim on X - https://x.com/JimVaglica Contact Steve - [email protected] Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055 Sergeant Steve YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@TheSergeantSteve

Dive into gripping real-life stories from the front lines of law enforcement in this powerful episode of Things Police See Podcast with host Steve Gould (Ole Gingerface). Guest Cameron Pavlicek, an active Montana narcotics investigator, Afghanistan war veteran, former president of the Montana Narcotics Officers Association, and founder of Yellowstone Narcotics training company, shares intense, bizarre, and eye-opening experiences. Hear about a chilling first homicide call in freezing Montana conditions, using a baby as collateral in a meth deal gone wild, a 36-hour armed standoff ending in tragedy, creative undercover social media operations catfishing drug dealers online (posing as women to bust perps), bizarre encounters with a schizophrenic man carrying a stolen 100-pound welded California sculpture, and much more. Perfect for fans of true police stories, narcotics investigations, undercover ops, body cam breakdowns, and rural policing in the American West. Don't miss these raw, unfiltered cop tales from the Big Sky State! Yellowstone Narcotics https://yellowstonenarcotics.com/ Contact Steve - [email protected] Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055 Sergeant Steve - Bodycam Breakdowns https://www.youtube.com/@UCuobtuGxJny9V5lX5a1ieuw

In this gripping episode, retired Waltham, Massachusetts police sergeant Jim Vaglica shares raw, firsthand accounts from his 32-year career. With 16 years on the NEMLEC regional SWAT team, Jim was on the ground during the intense manhunt and capture of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in Watertown — including the chaotic boat standoff, massive gunfire, and negotiations. He reveals behind-the-scenes details on the 2013 events (inspired by films like Patriots Day), bizarre scenes (like intact brains ejected from shotgun wounds), heart-pounding SWAT entries against armed barricaded suspects, early adrenaline-fueled calls, and the unsolved Waltham triple murder linked to the older Tsarnaev brother. Jim also discusses recruiting new cops, school resource officers, his time on reality TV shows, and why policing remains an honorable profession. A must-watch for true crime fans, law enforcement stories, and Boston Marathon bombing insights. Contact Steve - [email protected] Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055 Follow Jim on X - https://x.com/JimVaglica

Merry Christmas everyone! In this episode Kerry and I discuss whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Just wanted to give you guys an episode over the holiday. Police interviews are back next week! God bless and Merry Christmas! Contact Steve - [email protected] Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055