What is it really like to police a city during one of the most violent crime waves in American history — and then help rebuild law enforcement in a country devastated by war?
In this powerful episode, we sit down with a former NYPD officer turned author who shares firsthand stories from the crack epidemic, international police missions, and the realities behind the badge that TV never shows.
From making arrests within hours of hitting the streets to training a brand-new police force in Kosovo, this conversation dives deep into:
✅ The truth about policing New York in the late eighties and early nineties
✅ Adrenaline, decision-making, and survival in high-risk situations
✅ What war does to a country — and how law enforcement rebuilds afterward
✅ The inspiration behind the suspense thriller The Land of Broken Toys
✅ Why fiction sometimes tells the real story better than memoir
If you enjoy military stories, true crime, police interviews, or leadership under pressure — this episode is for you.
👉 Grab Mike’s book here and support the author:
The Land of Broken Toys: Kosovo
Leave a review if you pick it up — it helps authors tremendously.
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Episode insight: The guest describes entering law enforcement in New York during a period with over two thousand murders, calling it “a crazy place and really a fantastic place to learn the job.
