The Brighter Side of Blue Podcast

Remembering the Fallen, Supporting the Living | Chief Joe Spiess

This week on The Brighter Side of Blue, we sit down with Brentwood Police Chief Joe Spiess and St. Louis Police Department employee Laurie Erson to discuss the 40th Annual St. Louis Police Memorial Breakfast and the powerful stories behind this year's event. Laurie, whose father, Officer Greg Erson, was killed in the line of duty in 1980, shares why she selected Chief Spiess as this year's keynote speaker and reflects on the lifelong bond between the families of fallen officers and the law enforcement community that continues to support them decades later. Chief Spiess talks about the emotions of delivering the keynote address, the officers and families who have shaped his career, the impact of line-of-duty deaths on those left behind, and the importance of organizations like the St. Louis Police Foundation and BackStoppers that continue to support officers and their families. Before our main interview, the boys discuss the Missouri Special Olympics Torch Run, recent efforts to combat dangerous street takeovers, the debate surrounding the department's new drone program, downtown St. Louis revitalization efforts, a little "This Day in History," and, as always, a few laughs along the way. Following our conversation with Chief Spiess and Laurie Erson, we present Chief Spiess' powerful keynote speech from the 40th Annual St. Louis Police Memorial Breakfast in its entirety. It's an honest conversation about sacrifice, resilience, brotherhood, service, and the enduring legacy of those who gave everything in the line of duty. We hope you'll join us for this special episode as we remember the fallen, honor their families, and reflect on the bonds that make the law enforcement community unlike any other. 💙 #TheBrighterSideOfBlue #TBSOB #SLPOA #StLouisPolice #PoliceMemorial #NeverForget #BackTheBlue #ThinBlueLine #LawEnforcement #PoliceBrotherhood #SupportThePolice #FirstResponders

Building a Bigger Voice for Law Enforcement

Coming to you from our brand-new studio inside Colombo’s Cafe & Tavern in Dogtown, this episode marks a major moment for The Brighter Side of Blue Podcast as we officially announce our partnership with the St. Louis Police Officers Association. Joining us in studio are SLPOA President Marty Garcia and Business Manager Joe Steiger as we discuss the mission behind this collaboration: telling the real stories behind the badge, honoring the sacrifices made by police officers, spotlighting the human side of policing, and helping reconnect communities with the men and women who serve them every day. We also talk: * The future of policing in St. Louis * Recruiting and retaining officers * Investing back into public safety * Why positive police storytelling matters * The brotherhood and camaraderie of the profession * Expanding these stories through social media and community partnerships Plus: * Updates on the new studio * Viral podcast clips * Listener stories * Sponsor shoutouts * And the usual Brighter Side banter, laughs, and chaos This partnership is just the beginning as we continue building a platform dedicated to preserving police history, honoring the profession, and sharing the stories that deserve to be told. #SLPOA #TBSOB #TheBrighterSideOfBlue #BackTheBlue #StLouisPolice #PolicePodcast #PoliceStories #ThinBlueLine #SupportThePolice #FirstResponders #Brotherhood #StLouis #LawEnforcement #PoliceCommunity

Glendale Police Chief Jeff Beaton on the Murch Family Tragedy

(27:53) Featured interview...Former Glendale Police Chief Jeff Beaton joins us to discuss one of the most heartbreaking and nationally covered cases in St. Louis area history — the 2012 Murch family murder-suicide in Glendale, Missouri. Chief Beaton walks us through the 911 call, arriving on scene, the uncertainty surrounding the investigation, the role of the Major Case Squad, and the emotional toll cases involving children can have on officers. We also discuss mental health, officer wellness, the realities of small-town policing, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Missouri, and Beaton’s remarkable 33-year law enforcement career. In this opening segment, the crew settles into the new studio, talks upcoming police and community events around St. Louis, discusses current issues impacting law enforcement, and previews a powerful interview with retiring Glendale Police Chief Jeff Beaton. The conversation ranges from policing, corruption, and officer wellness to humor, history, and the stories behind some of St. Louis’ most talked-about cases. #BrighterSideOfBlue #TrueCrime #StLouis #PolicePodcast #LawEnforcement #ChiefBeaton #GlendaleMO #BehindTheBadge #MajorCaseSquad #OfficerWellness #MentalHealthAwareness

The ABB Shooting: Chaos at the Plant | First Responders Recall That Morning

(28:43) On a freezing January morning in 2010, gunfire erupted inside the ABB plant in north St. Louis. What began as confusion quickly turned into one of the region’s first true active shooter incidents. Retired and active St. Louis police officers Lt. Adam Duke and Lt. Jim Joyner give a firsthand account of responding to the chaotic scene as shots were still being fired, victims were trapped inside, and officers searched building-to-building trying to stop the threat and save lives. Before our featured interview, the crew opens the show from Colombo’s Cafe in Dogtown with classic Brighter Side of Blue banter — honoring Police Memorial Week, discussing the growing partnership with the St. Louis Police Officers Association, recruitment efforts within the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, and remembering fallen officer Michael Langsdorf and the sacrifices made by officers across the region. The guys also dive into: -The SLMPD recruitment blitz that brought in over 100 candidates -Why policing still offers unmatched camaraderie and purpose -Stories about legendary officers and personalities -JJ’s frustrations with St. Louis highway construction -Beethoven, blues music, Pete Rose, and the kind of off-the-rails conversations listeners have come to expect from the show

Inside the Christopher Coleman Case: A Defense Investigator Speaks

Our featured interview (38:52) ... Most people in the St. Louis area know the case of Christopher Coleman. In 2009, the murders of Sheri Coleman and her two young sons in Columbia shocked the region and quickly became one of the most talked-about family annihilation cases in recent memory. The case has been covered countless times—but what doesn’t get talked about is what it looked like from inside the defense team. In this episode, we sit down with former SLMPD detective and current private investigator John Hefele, who worked on behalf of the defense during the Coleman case. John provides a rare, firsthand perspective—walking the crime scene months later, sitting in on interviews with Coleman, speaking with his family, and traveling to Florida to interview the mistress at the center of the motive. He shares what stood out to him during the investigation, how the case unfolded from the defense side, and why—even after 20 years in law enforcement—this case left him with a feeling he simply described as “creepy.” This isn’t a rehash of the facts, it’s what it was like to be inside the case. Before the interview, the guys are back at Colombo’s in Dogtown with the usual mix of laughs, stories, and real talk. They share updates on the growth of The Brighter Side of Blue, upcoming partnerships, and what’s ahead for the show before diving into classic banter...everything from near-disastrous household accidents and “how I almost died” moments, to hilarious stories about becoming dads and chaotic trips to the hospital when their kids were born. They also spotlight a great cause with Hootie's Rescue Haven, highlighting adoptable dogs and the impact listeners have already made supporting local rescues. As always, the tone shifts when it matters, as the guys take time to recognize a fallen Chicago police officer and have a candid discussion about the realities of the job, accountability, and the challenges facing law enforcement today. They wrap it up with one of JJ’s signature “Zen” moments before heading into the featured interview. #TheBrighterSideOfBlue #TrueCrime #ChristopherColeman #FamilyAnnihilator #StLouis #IllinoisCrime #BehindTheBadge #LawEnforcement #PolicePodcast #TrueCrimePodcast #DetectiveStories #BackTheBlue #SupportLawEnforcement #STL #RealStories #CrimeInvestigation #PodcastLife #FirstResponder #CommunityFirst