Retired San Diego Sheriff's Captain Don Crist - How it started - From National City PD to San Diego Sheriff's Department  - Enfocing crusing on Highland in National City and more episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 15, 2026 · 1H 7M

Retired San Diego Sheriff's Captain Don Crist - How it started - From National City PD to San Diego Sheriff's Department - Enfocing crusing on Highland in National City and more

from The Gray Line, The Story Behind The Blue Line Podcast

In this compelling episode, retired San Diego Sheriff's Captain Don Crist reflects on his law enforcement origins, beginning his career as a youth explorer with the National City Police Department before officially joining the force as a patrol officer. Crist opens up about the gritty reality of policing a city marked by violence and entrenched gang activity, sharing vivid stories from his busy nights on patrol. He also delves into the iconic but complicated cruising culture on Highland Avenue, detailing the specific public safety issues and community challenges the cruising scene brought to the city. From there, he discusses his pivotal transition to the San Diego Sheriff's Department, explaining the reasoning behind his career move and his impressive climb up the ranks to Captain. Be sure to tune in for this conversation, as Captain Crist will also return for a powerful follow-up episode to discuss his command experience during some of San Diego County's most tragic and high-profile incidents, including the Heaven's Gate mass suicide and the Santana High School shooting. Join us for this gripping episode and the highly anticipated part two of a remarkable career in public safety.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jun 15, 2026

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Retired San Diego Sheriff's Captain Don Crist - How it started - From National City PD to San Diego Sheriff's Department - Enfocing crusing on Highland in National City and more

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This episode is 1 hour and 7 minutes long.

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This episode was published on June 15, 2026.

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