Zone 7 Legend Series | 72 Units: The Survival and Service of Officer Sean Houle

Sean Houle is a former police officer and K9 handler who served in North Carolina for nearly a decade. In 2021, he was critically wounded in the line of duty—shot twice at point-blank range with his own service weapon. Since medically retiring, Sean has become a sought-after speaker on faith, resilience, and the lifelong commitment to service.. In this unforgettable episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator Sheryl McCollum welcomes retired Officer Sean Houle for a powerful firsthand account of survival and purpose. Sean recounts the harrowing night he was ambushed by a suspect from an earlier call—an encounter that would change his life forever. He shares the moments of chaos, the struggle to stay conscious, and the clarity that surfaced as his life hung in the balance. Together, he and Sheryl discuss the split-second decisions officers face, how department policy shapes those choices, and the unbreakable bond between handler and K9 partner. But Sean’s story doesn’t end on the pavement. During recovery, a surprising moment on a family beach trip reminds him that his calling to serve wasn’t finished—it was just taking a new shape. This episode is a profound look at duty, faith, and the quiet strength behind the badge. Show Notes:  (0:00) Welcome to Zone 7 with guest Sean Houle (1:45) The traffic stop that changed everything (3:00) Familiar faces and high-risk situations (5:00) The slow roll and signs of trouble (7:30) Commands ignored, tension escalates (8:00) Following policy: use-of-force, K9 deployment, and the art of bluffing (14:00) A terminated track and what came next (15:30) Face to face again—Sean confronts Quinton Blocker (20:00) A fight inside a Toyota Corolla (23:00) Disarmed and staring down the barrel (25:00) Thoughts of family, faith, and a second chance (27:00) The second shot—and the will to survive (28:30) “I’m dying, help.” (29:15) “72 Units of Blood”: The trauma, stroke, and fight for survival (30:15) Jax, the K9 partner, and the heartbreaking malfunction (32:00) End of shift: going 10-42 for the last time (35:00) A new calling, a life saved in Myrtle Beach (40:00) “Next to creating a life, the finest thing a man can do is save one.” – Abraham Lincoln   Update on the Case: In 2024, Quinton Donnell Blocker—the man who shot Officer Sean Houle—was sentenced to 55 to 72 years in prison after being convicted on multiple charges, including attempted murder. The sentencing marked a long-awaited moment of justice for Sean, his family, and his department.   Thanks for listening to another episode! If you're enjoying Zone 7, head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a quick rating and review—it’s one of the best ways to support the show and help others find it. ---  Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an Emmy Award winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnLine, Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department. She is the co-author of the textbook Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. Sheryl is also the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a collaboration between universities and colleges that brings researchers, practitioners, students and the criminal justice community together to advance techniques in solving cold cases and assist families and law enforcement with solvability factors for unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnapping cases.    Social Links:  Email: [email protected]  Twitter: @ColdCaseTips  Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum  Instagram: @officialzone7podcast  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.