Why a Restaurant Cook Became a Police Officer episode artwork

EPISODE · May 12, 2026 · 30 MIN

Why a Restaurant Cook Became a Police Officer

from Our American Stories · host iHeartPodcasts

On this episode of Our American Stories, Our American Stories listener Jeff Shaw never planned on becoming a police officer. After drifting through jobs, flying lessons, and uncertainty about his future, a conversation at a restaurant changed the course of his life. Shaw shares why he decided to become a police officer, what he witnessed during 24 years in law enforcement, the emotional toll officers carry home with them, and why he eventually decided to write about it all in his book, Who I Am: The Man Behind the Badge. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 12, 2026

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

Why a Restaurant Cook Became a Police Officer

0:00 30:17

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Our American Stories?

This episode is 30 minutes long.

When was this Our American Stories episode published?

This episode was published on May 12, 2026.

Is there a transcript available for this episode?

Yes, a full transcript is available for this episode. You can read the complete transcript on the episode page.

Can I download this Our American Stories episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!