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In this episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, retired Milwaukee Police Sergeant Patrick O’Donnell reads Chapter 12, Pistol Packing Grandma Moses, from his upcoming book:

Police Stories: The Rookie Years - True Crime, Chaos, & My Life as a Big City Cop

While still a rookie cop "warhorsing" (filling in for other officers), Patrick partners with DJ, a 6'5", 300-pound gentle giant and former Chicago Bears. What starts as a routine 911 hang-up call and a tree branch banging on a roof turns into one of the most terrifying moments of Patrick's early career.

All stories are real. Names and locations have been changed where necessary.

🎧 This episode includes:

-A drunk college kid learning why you don't refuse entry to cops on a welfare check.

-An elderly woman is convinced someone is breaking into her attic.

-A cocked .38 revolver aimed at a rookie cop's back.

-The moment Patrick realizes Grandma Moses almost "put a cap in his ass."

-Dark humor, near-death by a sweet old lady, and another day on Milwaukee's streets.

📘 About the Book: Police Stories: The Rookie Years, True Crime, Chaos, & Life as a Big City Cop is a true crime memoir chronicling Patrick O'Donnell's early career as a big city cop during the 1990s. Book release: March 2026.

📧 Contact Patrick: Email: sarge@copsandwriters.com Social Media: [your handles]

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🎙️ New chapters every Wednesday night.

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What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas? Not today. Welcome, everyone, to part one of my interview with retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sergeant Jenn Benjamins. The conclusion of this interview will be next Sunday!

Jenn Benjamins is a retired sergeant from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department with nearly 22 years of real-world experience in patrol, case investigations, and covert/undercover operations.

She began her career in patrol before moving into Community Oriented Policing, serving in one of the newest area commands in the oldest, most historic parts of Las Vegas.

Her interest in undercover work led her to the Vice Section, where she refused to be limited by traditional expectations. While excelling in female undercover roles, Jenn was determined - and succeeded - in working undercover alongside her male counterparts. She went on to develop a specialized training program within the Vice Section, implement policy, and conduct department-wide training on vice crimes and related laws.

Throughout her career, Jenn worked a wide variety of undercover assignments throughout Las Vegas, collaborating not only with specialized units such as narcotics but also with federal partners, including the ATF, DEA, and FBI.

Recognizing a critical need, Jenn founded Covert Blue, where she makes it her mission to provide specialized training for women in undercover roles - programs that build technical expertise while also addressing the unique dynamics and challenges women face in the field.

Please enjoy this eye-opening, entertaining, and informative interview with someone who has lived a life that is found more often in movies and books.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

· Where and how she got interested in law enforcement.

· Why be a cop in Vegas?

· Jenn’s experience in the police academy being one of the few females in her class.

· Her first day of field training.

· An armed suspect firing at an airship on her first assignment.

· Her first day going out solo when she finished field training.

· First time riding the lightning (Taser) during training.

· Jenn’s crazy pepper spray story.

· How soon she started doing undercover work. Was she ready?

· Her first time being an undercover prostitute and an interesting question she didn’t know how to answer.

· Arresting pimps and other prostitutes for pandering.

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Check out Jenn's website!

Visit the Cops & Writers Website!

Support the show

Send us a text

In this episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, retired Milwaukee Police Sergeant Patrick O’Donnell reads the Introduction and Chapter 1 from his upcoming book:

Police Stories: The Rookie Years — True Crime, Chaos, & My Life as a Big City Cop

These are true stories from Patrick’s first years working the streets of Milwaukee during the height of the crack wars—stories of chaos, dark humor, tragedy, and survival that don’t make it onto TV shows.

All stories are real. Names and locations have been changed where necessary.

🎧 This episode includes:
– O'Donnell facing a life-or-death situation in his first week of field training
– Being in a trauma room watching a doctor perform open-heart massage
– True crime, gallows humor, and raw street-level reality

📘 About the Book:
Police Stories: The Rookie Years is a true crime memoir chronicling Patrick O’Donnell’s early career as a big city cop.

👍 Like, comment, and share if this story resonated with you.

Visit the Cops & Writers Website!

Support the show