Wearing the Badge with Garry McCarthy

"The number one killer of cops is heart attack." In this powerful episode of "Wearing the Badge," host Garry McCarthy welcomes Dr. John Sheinberg, a man who navigates the worlds of both high-stakes medicine and law enforcement. With a career spanning three decades as a sworn officer and a parallel journey as a board-certified cardiologist, Dr. Sheinberg brings a unique perspective to the "perfect storm" of stress, physiology, and culture that puts police officers at extreme risk. 00:00 – Episode Open: The Silent Killer 00:45 – Guest Intro: Dr. John Sheinberg’s "Triple Crown" 02:36 – From Jersey Boy to Military Medicine 07:12 – The Road Back to Law Enforcement in Texas 10:42 – The Disparity in Tactical vs. Health Training 11:53 – Presumptive Status and Line of Duty Death 15:31 – Garry McCarthy’s Personal Heart Attack Story 21:43 – Tactical Wellness: Moving from Reactive to Proactive 27:55 – Adrenaline Dumps and Physiological Changes 34:01 – The Science: Inflammatory Markers in Police 39:09 – The Sigma Wellness Screening Program 45:02 – Leadership’s Role in Officer Longevity 51:38 – Final Thoughts: The Nobility of Service Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Police work puts officers in the middle of mental illness, homelessness, addiction, and trauma, often with little training and a lot of stigma. In this episode of Wearing the Badge, Garry McCarthy sits down with Ernie Stevens, a retired San Antonio police officer and crisis-intervention trainer, to talk about what works when someone is in crisis, and why officer wellness cannot be an afterthought. 00:00 Cold open 01:40 Who is Ernie Stevens? 03:35 “Volunteered” into crisis training 05:43 The NAMI story that changed him 09:11 Training as a reward 10:29 De-escalation with a gun present 18:15 Homelessness 20:03 Partnering with NAMI 25:03 The stigma of officers getting help 29:10 Officers come forward for help 29:28 Garry’s father and the 1953 shootout 32:58 Adam Toledo and the aftermath 39:34 Building a culture of officer wellness 43:53 What trauma really is 48:22 'Crisis Cops' and why the film mattered Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oak Brook Police Chief Brian Strockis and Garry McCarthy dig into proactive policing, political pushback on tools like ShotSpotter and LPRs, and the real-world tactics Oak Brook says are working — from disciplined pursuit policies to drones and “tag-and-track” technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A special Town Hall edition of Wearing the Badge from Chicago. Former CPD Superintendent Garry McCarthy sits down with Fox News Channel's Gianno Caldwell for a wide-ranging conversation about crime, fear, disorder, policing strategy, and community intervention. CHAPTER MARKERS 0:00 Cold Open: What’s the solution? 1:27 What Wearing the Badge is about 2:48 McCarthy and Caldwell on urgency and unity 6:04 Town Hall Begins: Crime, fear, and what works 12:08 Disorder and deterrence: visible chaos, real consequences 20:28 Tio Hardiman: violence interruption, trauma, second chances 25:11 Policing tools and data: gangs, retaliation, ShotSpotter debate 33:50 Schools, jobs, mentorship: opportunity as prevention 43:32 Stops, stop-and-frisk, and the Terry v. Ohio framework 49:46 Accountability and partnerships: what a full strategy needs 50:09 Faith, family, and community as stabilizers 52:00 There should never be a next time: trauma and hope 58:30 Closing the room: unity, gratitude, next steps 59:00 Service, country, and a new path 1:01:19 Goodbye Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former Secret Service Agent Tim McCarthy (no relation to host Garry McCarthy) joins Wearing the Badge with a story that puts him in an exceptionally small club: he took a bullet protecting President Ronald Reagan during the 1981 assassination attempt. Tim breaks down what happened in those seconds outside the Washington Hilton—how training takes over, how the team moved the president, and what stays with you for life. Then he fast-forwards to the second act of his career: leaving the federal world, stepping into local policing leadership, and eventually serving as Orland Park Police Chief—where the job becomes unions, arbitration, politics, and the everyday realities of public safety. 00:00 Cold open: the coin flip, the shooting, and the images that stay 01:36 Welcome + “Are we related?” 02:48 Ireland roots, “Black and Tans,” and family stories 05:05 Name confusion + the other Tim McCarthy (MAP union) 06:25 NY politics + fear of crime + quality-of-life policing 09:52 Chicago justice politics + Cliff Lewis case discussion 12:56 Major Crimes Task Force + murder numbers and clearance rates 15:01 Tim’s background: South Side, Leo High, Illinois football 18:44 Joining the Secret Service + the entrance test + Chicago field work 24:59 Presidential detail: Carter to Reagan to Bush 26:39 The day Reagan was shot: advance, crowd scan, six shots 32:35 Recovery, the danger of a .22, and meeting Reagan in the hospital 37:17 Back to work, body armor, and the 9/11 suit story 40:36 Leaving DC + private sector detour + path to Orland Park chief 43:36 Recertifying, training requirements, and what’s “useful” in the field 46:21 SES management training + learning a union environment fast 49:32 Command decisions, community pressure, and the “why I was sent” moment 52:23 Union arbitration war story + sanctions and settlements 54:32 Fitness standards, buy-in, and culture shifts 56:33 Final thoughts: courage, service, and closing the episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former NYPD/CPD leader Garry McCarthy sits down with retired CPD gang investigator Terry Almanza and former DEA Special Operations chief Derek Maltz for a blunt conversation about America’s synthetic-drug crisis. They compare “overdoses” versus poisonings, unpack cartel–China pipelines, debate border and national-security gaps, and talk plainly about loss: both Garry and Terry lost daughters. Almanza explains how she pushed Chicago to pursue drug-induced homicide cases and built a national advocacy network; Maltz brings hard numbers and a strategy for education, accountability, and data-driven enforcement. It’s tough, personal, and focused on fixes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former Naperville detective turned national trainer Rich Wistocki explains how “leakage” on social media lets schools and police spot would-be shooters before they act. In a wide-open conversation, he walks through the three-phase playbook that’s stopped dozens of plots and how simple evidence steps turn red flags into real cases. 00:00 — Introduction 01:22 — Who is Rich Wistocki? 02:40 — Immediate Action Mindset 04:02 — Early Career 05:27 — Patrol to Juvenile Detective; Martial Arts & SWAT 09:35 — Working Cyber in the AOL Era 12:10 — Big-Tech Training 13:22 — Taking Cyber into Schools 15:30 — Data Surprise: More Education, Less Victimization 16:40 — Will County High-Tech Crimes Unit (100 Predators) 17:39 — Welcome to my TEDx Talk 18:20 — Retirement: Kiss My Ass 21:20 — Sell 'em a Real-Time Crime Center 24:07 — Kane County Build-Out; Jamie Mosser Shout-Out 27:10 — What a School Resource Officer Should Be 28:50 — The SRO vs. Counselors Debate (Park Ridge Anecdote) 31:07 — School Ticketing Fight 34:05 — School Shooters Love Showing Their Hand 34:39 — Fast Response 35:24 — The Five Evidence Pieces Schools Must Gather 37:34 — Case Study: Graduation Plot Foiled 38:45 — Case Study: Bathroom Video & Fast Intervention 40:16 — Building Cases from Reels & Stories 41:35 — Don’t Knock-and-Talk Without a Warrant 43:20 — Red-Flag/Firearm Protection Orders as a Tool 44:13 — Active Shooter Doctrine: Stop the Threat 45:19 — Common Denominators: Trauma, Research, and “How They Did It” 46:51 — FBI/Local Hand-Off Gaps; The Georgia Example 49:19 — The Three-Phase Plan to Stop 94% of Plots 51:13 — Adoption Challenges & Getting Buy-In 54:14 — The Nobility of the Job & Call to Action 56:39 — Outro / Credits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chicago Police Sergeant (ret.) Danny O’Toole sits down with Garry McCarthy to unpack a career that reads like a novel: shot during a narcotics warrant, stabbed twice, nearly blown out by friendly fire—and the day he shot a charging pit bull off a 13-year-old boy. The two dive into what actually keeps cops and communities safe: smart tactics, relentless training, good data, and clear-eyed leadership. From Harlem shootouts to Englewood patrols, from stop-and-frisk misconceptions to quality-of-life enforcement, this is an unvarnished conversation about danger, decision-making, and why support for officers matters. It ends where O’Toole says it all begins—family, service, and example. 00:00 – Cold Open 01:12 – Who is Danny O'Toole? 02:47 – The 2009 Warrant Goes Sideways 04:42 – Kids at the Kitchen Table 06:06 – Fighting Through the Window 07:10 – Hospital & Aftermath 08:04 – Two Stabbings 10:28 – Garry’s ESU Stories 18:05 – Training That Kicks In 20:18 – Data, Strategy, and Politics 22:05 – Quality-of-Life Enforcement 24:22 – AI vs. Crime 25:10 – What Cops Really Fear 26:12 – Stats, Laquan, and the Snap-Back 27:07 – Warrants & Arrests Collapse 28:23 – Short-Term vs Long-Term Fixes 33:12 – What “Stop & Frisk” Actually Is 36:01 – Procedural Justice & Training Boards 37:04 – Morgue Stories 41:21 – Halloween in the Bronx 44:13 – Headline Rescue 49:44 – Family & Service 51:07 – Closing Values 52:52 – Sign-Off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy sits down with former prosecutor and Illinois GOP chairman Pat Brady to unpack the Laquan McDonald shooting, the DOJ’s 2017 findings, and the court-ordered consent decree that reshaped CPD. From how the video was sealed and later released to who actually investigates police shootings, the conversation digs into process, policy, and politics. McCarthy lays out the “Chicago Plan,” CompStat, and procedural-justice training; Brady brings a prosecutor’s lens on investigations, money-laundering task forces, and federal oversight. Together they weigh reform, results, morale, and the costs of getting it wrong. 00:00 — Introduction 01:00 — Who is Pat Brady? 02:00 — Brady’s Law-Enforcement Resume 03:00 — Task Forces & “Follow the Money” 04:30 — Laquan: The Night, The Video, The Shock 06:45 — Sealing the Video & City Hall Timeline 08:10 — Who Investigates Police Uses of Force 10:10 — Release, Protests, “Cover-Up” Narratives 12:20 — Firing vs. Resignation 14:50 — Metrics Under McCarthy 17:10 — DOJ Investigation Critique 20:40 — Pattern/Practice, Reasonable Suspicion & Standards 23:40 — From Task Forces to Beat Accountability 28:30 — Procedural Justice & The Chicago Plan 30:40 — CompStat & Accountability 33:00 — Consequences & Morale 36:30 — Consent Decree Dollars & Monitors 39:30 — Accreditation & Reform Stacks 43:30 — Violence Reduction Network & Community Work 47:20 — Stop and Frisk 50:00 — Leadership, Assignments & Community Reaction 52:30 — Final Reflections Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this powerful episode of "Wearing the Badge," Garry McCarthy sits down with longtime friend and former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis to revisit the darkest days of his career — the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Davis recounts his path from patrolman in Lowell to leading the city of Boston, the chaos of that Patriots’ Day, and the manhunt that followed. The two veteran chiefs reflect on leadership, the human toll of policing, and the camaraderie that stretches across departments and decades. Along the way, they trade war stories from the drug wars, mob investigations, and personal moments that reveal the heart behind the badge. Chapters: 00:00 Cold Open: Chaos in Boston 01:00 Baseball Rivalries & Old Friendships 04:00 Ed’s Start in Lowell Policing 06:00 Cutting Teeth on the Streets 09:00 Vice & Narcotics in the ’80s 11:00 The War on Drugs & Its Failures 14:00 Battling Organized Crime & Whitey Bulger 16:00 Mob Stories from Boston & Chicago 19:00 Wiretaps and the Rise to Chief 20:00 Cleaning Up the Lowell PD 21:30 Community Policing and Crime Drops 23:00 Major City Chiefs & National Policing Network 33:00 The Boston Marathon: A Festive Day Turns Deadly 34:30 Immediate Response to the Bombings 40:00 The Investigation & FBI Tensions 49:00 Sean Collier and the Watertown Shootout 53:00 Skip Shooting and Tamerlan Neutralized 56:00 The Manhunt and Lockdown 59:00 The Boat Capture & Final Arrest 1:02:00 Reflections on Leadership and Resilience Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the final chapter of our three-part SAFE-T Act special, host Garry McCarthy sits down with Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow to examine the controversial law from the prosecutor’s chair. Glasgow details how new restrictions “handcuff” those seeking justice, why enforcing warrants is critical to curbing crime, and how a new bill in Springfield could make most routine traffic stops—like expired plates or speeding—illegal. They explore why such stops remain a vital crime-fighting tool, and the unique risks officers face every day. Beyond the headlines, Glasgow shares his decades of public service, his unwavering support for police K-9 units, and the charities he founded that pair service dogs with child survivors of sexual abuse—helping them through the darkest moments of investigations. The conversation closes with a rare, behind-the-scenes look at Glasgow’s prosecution of Drew Peterson, the twists of the trial, and the unanswered questions that linger to this day. 00:00 Introduction 00:54 Meeting James Glasgow – Career path, shared history with Garry, and early life. 04:25 Giving Back to the Community – Adoption story, youth programs, and character education. 06:42 The SAFE-T Act from a Prosecutor’s View – How it passed, early problems, and pushing for fixes. 10:07 Warrants, Felony Murder, and Public Safety – Why enforcement matters and the risks of recent legal changes. 14:54 Proposed Ban on Routine Traffic Stops – From expired plates to excessive tint, and why officers push back. 18:46 Doing the Right Thing in High-Profile Cases – Kevin Fox, Internal Affairs stories, and navigating politics. 25:34 Protecting Animals and Supporting K-9 Units – From felony animal abuse laws to police dogs saving lives. 35:04 The Hidden Costs of Training – Overtime, quality issues, and AI-based instruction. 37:29 Dangerous Crimes That Aren’t Detainable – Fentanyl, threats to public officials, and gaps in the law. 38:01 Body Cam Restrictions and Human Memory – Why report-writing rules mattered. 44:36 The Drew Peterson Cases – Murder-for-hire plot, Savio’s death, and conviction. 51:03 Final Reflections on Public Safety – Risks officers take, balancing justice, and doing the job right. 53:49 Conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the second episode of our three‑part SAFE‑T Act series, Illinois House Speaker Pro Tempore Representative Kam Buckner and State Senator John Curran join the conversation—bringing perspectives from both sides of the General Assembly. They discuss how the bill was crafted without meaningful input from local law enforcement, the shift from reactive to proactive policing by blending data-driven models with broken‑windows theory, and the lessons learned from police chiefs across the country. They also unpack the behind‑the‑scenes political currents that shape policing in ways the public rarely sees, the urgency to act following high‑profile tragedies like George Floyd and Laquan McDonald, and the debate over wise versus wasteful use of police resources—especially given Chicago’s unique history and violence patterns. This episode pulls back the curtain on policy-making, giving you a legislative lens on the public safety reforms sweeping Illinois. 00:00 Introduction 01:20 Between Two Linebackers 03:00 Who is John Curran? 05:27 Who is Kam Buckner? 09:07 Telling Cops How to Do Their Jobs 10:43 Who Wrote the SAFE-T Act? 14:56 Reactive Policing to Proactive Policing 18:00 Ron Serpas and Data-Driven Policing 19:15 "Doing Something" After George Floyd 20:58 Learning from Other Chiefs 23:20 Policing Gang Activity 25:05 Abandoning Winning Strategies 26:10 Experts Versus Politicians 27:40 How Do We Move Forward? 30:21 The Three Kinds of Police 31:28 Dispatching and the Clean Screen 32:02 Using Cops Wisely 34:15 Laquan McDonald and George Floyd 37:15 Miranda Rights Were "Radical" Too 38:22 Half Cop/Half Egghead 39:11 Collaboration and Deadlines 40:24 Pre-trial Fairness Act 42:26 Learning from Scandals 45:01 Overlooking Black on Black Crime 46:18 Chicago's History of Violence 48:10 Cops are Human 49:58 Executing the Law 51:52 Suggested Fixes 52:52 Felony Murder 56:10 Conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this first episode of a three-part series on Illinois' controversial SAFE-T Act, former Chicago Police Commissioner Garry McCarthy sits down with suburban police chiefs Marc Maton (Lemont, IL) and Tom Herion (Village of Lyons) to dig into what law enforcement veterans really think about the law. They open up about being completely shut out of the negotiation process, how the reforms are impacting both police and judicial decision-making, and the unintended mess that happens when civilians try to "police the police." From pre-trial release to electronic monitoring, they argue that post-bail reform is missing the mark — and what it’ll take to get it right. This is a straight-talking, boots-on-the-ground look at the real-world effects of reform through the eyes of those sworn to uphold the law. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pastor Corey Brooks, who spent a year living on a rooftop to draw attention to Chicago’s crisis of crime and poverty, joins Garry McCarthy for an honest conversation about the most sensitive topic in police reform: race. Together, they explore how to build trust in high-crime neighborhoods, confront the realities of violence within Black communities, and develop smarter, safer strategies for policing Chicago’s streets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of "Wearing the Badge," host Gary McCarthy, former Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, interviews St. Louis Police Commissioner Chief Robert J. Tracy. Both having served with the New York Police Department, they discuss their experiences during NYC's 1980s crime epidemic. The conversation also covers career growth and the challenges of moving up the ranks in law enforcement. Tracy shares personal stories, including how he met his wife at a community meeting he initially didn't want to attend . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of "Behind the Badge," host and former NYPD Deputy Commissioner Garry McCarthy, along with his former colleague Stephen McAllister, offer a personal glimpse into the traumatic experiences of police officers responding to the events of September 11th, 2001. From the fear and uncertainty as the towers fell to the intense stress that followed in the days after, McCarthy and McAllister open up about the bravery and resilience of the NYPD's finest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of “Behind the Badge,” we look at how the NYPD Finest football team has fostered lifelong relationships among officers. Host Garry McCarthy sits down with former teammate Steve McAllister, now police commissioner in Floral Park, as they share stories from their time on the team. From funny nicknames like "Veal" to the team's experiences with tragedy, they discuss the intense highs and lows that officers encounter every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of "Behind the Badge," we remember Ella French, a Chicago police officer killed in the line of duty in 2021. Ella’s mother, Elizabeth French, and officer Carlos Yanez Jr., who was shot alongside Ella, joined host Garry McCarthy to share memories of her life and the kind of person she was — both on and off the job. Yanez and Ella's mom now help cop families cope with trauma through the “Light The Line” nonprofit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices