Behind the Badge From a Retired Detective with Justin Bocock

Join Anne Karber in an insightful conversation with Justin Bocock, a retired homicide detective and author, as they unravel the realities of a demanding career in law enforcement. From his early days with the Secret Service to his dedicated work as a Mesa Police Department homicide detective, Justin shares compelling stories and a unique perspective on justice. This episode explores the challenges of criminal investigations, the emotional toll of the job, and the importance of resilience and vulnerability. Discover the true nature of police work, the impact of media on public perception, and Justin's personal journey through overcoming career-related trauma.What You'll Learn:The career progression and training required to become a homicide detective.The daily challenges and unpredictable nature of a detective's life.The emotional and psychological impact of working homicide cases.The role of video surveillance and forensics in solving crimes.Insights into mental health challenges within law enforcement and societal perceptions.The importance of critical thinking and fact-based conclusions over groupthink.Personal reflections on death, mortality, and living a life of purpose. #HomicideDetective #TrueCrime #LawEnforcement #MentalHealth #Vulnerability Justin Bocock began his law enforcement career as a Uniformed Division Officer in the U.S. Secret Service before joining the Mesa Police Department, where he served 20 years in the role of patrol officer, field training officer, detective, and homicide detective. During his career, he investigated hundreds of violent crimes, suspicious deaths, and homicides. In 2019, he was named Investigator of the Year by the Arizona Homicide Investigators Association (AHIA) for pioneering drone technology in crime scene investigations. He retired from the Mesa Police Department in 2021 and later contributed as a subject matter expert writer for criminal justice textbooks currently used in college level courses. On September 5, 2025 his debut book, On Call: Case Files from a Career in Homicide, was published by Genius Book Publishing.https://www.facebook.com/JustinOnCallhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/justinbocock/http://www.justinbocock.comThis podcast dives deep into real, raw topics—think vulnerability, triggers, and childhood trauma. But just so we're super clear: I’m not a licensed therapist, mental health professional, or anything close. I’m just a human sharing stories, lessons, and life hacks based on personal experience and a whole lot of curiosity.So, while you might find some golden nuggets here, this is not therapy and should never replace professional mental health care. If you or someone you love is going through it, please—seriously—reach out to a licensed therapist or healthcare provider. You deserve the real deal.Need Help Now?Here are a few amazing resources:·         988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.): Call or text 988·         NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or nami.org/help·         Therapy Directory: psychologytoday.com·         Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 The opinions expressed on this show are ours and ours alone—no official organizations are responsible for what we say (or how much we overshare).This show is proudly produced at PS Studios — learn more https://www.psstudios.co