Whiskey and Warstories

Season 4, Episode 2: From the Corps to Command: Leading La Verne with Chief Sam Gonzalez

This week, your Hosts Jaime and Ryan sit down with Chief Sam Gonzalez, who serves as the 23rd Chief of Police for the City of La Verne. Bringing nearly three decades of law enforcement experience to the table, he has built a career grounded in service, leadership, and a deep commitment to community policing. Before transitioning to a massive agency like the LAPD and eventually spending over 25 years with La Verne, Chief Gonzalez proudly served in the United States Marine Corps. In this episode, we explore the military-to-law-enforcement pipeline and the culture shock of navigating the streets of LA fresh out of the Corps. The Chief takes us through the mental grind of high-stakes roles, having served as a Police Sniper, Tactical Flight Officer, and Drug Recognition Expert. He opens up about how he maintains his emotional shield to keep from turning calloused after witnessing the absolute worst of humanity. We also dive into the regional side of things, discussing the operational hurdles along the shared border between La Verne and Pomona—territory we know all too well. As a fellow University of San Diego MS-LEPSL alumnus, the Chief brings a great perspective to the immense emotional weight of sitting in the top chair, knowing every critical incident falls on his shoulders and that he is responsible for making sure his officers go home safe. Beyond the tactical operations and regional initiatives like LA IMPACT and LA HIDTA, this conversation gets into the profound human sacrifices of the job. Chief Gonzalez speaks candidly about the family debt that accumulates from missing countless holidays, birthdays, and family milestones. He also reflects on the specific community members whose stories anchored him to his mission, the mentors who believed in him, and how he wants the officers he leads to remember Sam Gonzalez the man, rather than just the rank. Pull up a chair, pour a glass, and join the conversation. 🔔 Subscribe to YouTube and listen on Spotify for more real stories from the front lines. #WhiskeyAndWarStories #SamGonzalez #LaVernePD #PomonaPD #USMC #PoliceChief #OfficerWellness #Leadership #Podcast

Season 4, Episode 1: The Night Stalker and the Toll of the Badge w/ Gil Carrillo

This season, your Hosts Jaime and Ryan sit down with legendary retired homicide detective Gil Carrillo, a trailblazer who broke barriers as the first Latino lieutenant in the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau. Carrillo’s career is defined by some of the most high-profile investigations in California history, including the relentless pursuit and ultimate capture of the notorious "Night Stalker," Richard Ramirez. In this gripping conversation, Carrillo pulls back the curtain on the intense psychological chess match of interviewing one of America's most feared serial killers. He recounts the chilling moments inside the interrogation room, revealing how he had to block out the noise of Ramirez's dark reputation and hyper-focus on the human being sitting across from him to get the job done. The discussion also hits closer to home as they revisit the investigation into the tragic murder of Pomona Police Officer Daniel T. Fraembs, a case that underscores the profound stakes of life on the line. But the headlines and the high-stakes cases only tell part of the story. Carrillo opens up about the deep personal toll a career in homicide takes on family life and the immense sacrifices made behind closed doors. He shares hard-won wisdom from the streets that you can't learn in an academy, emphasizing that true communication boils down to two vital skills: the ability to understand and the ability to listen. Pour a glass of Jefferson's Ocean, pull up a chair, and join the conversation as we explore the resilience, the breakthroughs, and the human side of a legendary career in law enforcement. 🔔 Subscribe for more real stories from the front lines. #WhiskeyAndWarStories #GilCarrillo #NightStalker #PomonaPD #Homicide #OfficerWellness #Leadership #Resilience #Podcast #JeffersonsOcean

Season 3, Episode 12: Joseph Fitzgerald- Marine Corps Discipline, Sheriff’s Department Duty

This week, the boys sit down with Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Lieutenant Joseph Fitzgerald, a Marine Corps veteran turned lawman whose career spans the Marine Corps, the range, and the front lines of California policing. Fitzgerald began his adult life as a machine gunner with 2/4 Marines before earning a spot as a Pig in the Scout Sniper Platoon. After his first enlistment, he stepped away to work as a carpenter, only to return to the Corps in 2002 and later transition into law enforcement — a path that would define the next few decades of his life.As a young deputy, Fitzgerald cut his teeth in custody before moving to patrol at the Moreno Valley Station. He was soon selected for the Emergency Services Team (SWAT), where he spent 10 years working proactive enforcement, off‑road operations, and cross‑sworn fugitive work with the U.S. Marshals Service. Promoted to corporal, he returned to proactive enforcement before taking on assignments at the Sheriff’s range. By 2020, Fitzgerald had risen to sergeant, leading patrol teams, POP units, and gang enforcement before his promotion to lieutenant in 2023, where he served as a regional Watch Commander covering Hemet, San Jacinto, and Cabazon stations.The episode turns personal as Fitzgerald reflects on the transitions between military and civilian life, the toll of high‑risk assignments, and the lessons learned from a decade on SWAT. He speaks candidly about officer wellness, the signs of burnout he’s seen in his teams, and the leadership choices that shape resilience in the face of trauma. Away from the badge, Fitzgerald is an avid hunter — a pursuit that grounds him outside the uniform and connects him back to the discipline and patience forged in the Corps.This isn’t just a story about tactical calls and promotions; it’s about the human side of service, the quiet routines that sustain a career, and the bonds that carry officers through the hardest moments. From sniper platoons to watch command, Fitzgerald shares hard‑won lessons on survival, leadership, and the balance between toughness and vulnerability.🎯 For the veteran wondering how military grit translates to policing.🎯 For the deputy navigating the stress of high‑risk assignments.🎯 For anyone curious about the resilience behind the badge.Pull up a chair, pour a glass, and join the conversation.🔔 Subscribe for more real stories from the front lines.#WhiskeyAndWarStories #JosephFitzgerald #RiversideSheriff #USMC #SWAT #OfficerWellness #Leadership #Resilience #Podcast

Season 3, Episode 11: Surviving the Badge with Sergeant Gary Gall

This week, the boys sit down with El Monte Police Department Sergeant Gary Gall, a 31‑year veteran who began his career after graduating from the LA County Sheriff’s Academy and spent more than three decades serving the citizens of El Monte. A longtime SWAT operator, range instructor, and frontline supervisor, Gall brings a rare blend of street‑level experience, tactical expertise, and hard‑won perspective on survival and brotherhood.A decorated sergeant, Gary walks us through his path into law enforcement, the assignments that defined him — patrol, FTO, motor officer, detective, 13 years on SWAT, and over two decades on the range staff. He recounts two officer‑involved shootings, surviving a shooting while on SWAT, and the long shadow those moments cast over his life and leadership.The episode turns personal when Gary talks about the toll of long service: the department’s recovery after losing two officers in 2022, the slow work of healing after two shoulder surgeries, and the quiet, everyday choices that keep a career intact. He shares candid lessons on resilience, the signs of burnout he wishes officers recognized sooner, and the leadership decisions that shaped his unit — lessons born from the street and refined in the aftermath of trauma.This isn’t just a story about medals and headlines; it’s about the cost of the badge, the bonds that hold a department together, and the small acts of service that rarely make the news. From tactical calls to family conversations, Gary explains how he navigated duty, loss, and recovery — and what he hopes younger officers take with them into a long career.🎯 For the patrol officer wondering how to last 20+ years. 🎯 For the sergeant trying to build a healthier unit. 🎯 For anyone curious about the human side of policing beyond the headlines.Pull up a chair, pour a glass, and join the conversation.🔔 Subscribe for more real stories from the front lines.#WhiskeyAndWarStories #GaryGall #ElMontePD #SWAT #MedalOfValor #OfficerWellness #LawEnforcementLeadership #ResilienceInPolicing #Podcast

Season 3, Episode 10: From Chief to Coach — Resilience and Leadership with Charles Celano

This week, the boys sit down with retired Tustin Police Chief Charles Celano, a 27-year veteran who rose through every rank of the department before retiring early after a life-altering heart condition. A graduate of the FBI National Academy (#258) and now founder of Chief Leadership, Celano brings a rare blend of street-level experience, executive insight, and personal resilience to the conversation.Charles walks us through his upbringing, his unexpected path into law enforcement, and the lessons learned as he transitioned from managing people to truly leading them. He shares the pivotal leadership decisions that shaped his career trajectory, the failures that forced him to adapt, and the cultural shifts he fought to embed at Tustin PD, shifts rooted in wellness, accountability, and community trust.The episode takes a turn when Celano recounts the wake-up call of his heart condition: the moment he had to ask himself hard questions about priorities, health, and legacy. From rebuilding his own resilience to coaching leaders today, he explains the daily practices that move the needle, why so many fail to adopt them, and how chiefs and supervisors can balance high-stress policing with authentic self-care.This isn’t just a story about retirement, it’s about the intersection of health, leadership, and legacy, and how one chief turned a personal crisis into a mission to help leaders survive and thrive.🎯 For the officer climbing the ranks and wondering what leadership really means. 🎯 For the chief who knows culture change is hard but necessary. 🎯 For the leader facing their own wake-up call and searching for resilience.Pull up a chair, pour a glass, and join the conversation.🔔 Subscribe for more real stories from the front lines.#WhiskeyAndWarstories #CharlesCelano #TustinPD #ChiefLeadership #FBINationalAcademy #LawEnforcementLeadership #OfficerWellness #ResilienceInPolicing #CommunityTrust #Podcast