Remembering the Fallen, Supporting the Living | Chief Joe Spiess

Inside the St. Louis Gang Unit with Lt. Col. Ronnie Robinson

Featured Interview...(28:10) Before Ronnie Robinson became a retired SLMPD Lieutenant Colonel, he helped build and lead one of the most influential gang intelligence units in St. Louis history. In this episode, Ronnie shares his remarkable journey from growing up in a changing North St. Louis neighborhood to leading the department's Gang Unit during one of the city's most violent eras. Rather than simply making arrests, Ronnie explains how gathering intelligence, building relationships, and mentoring young people became the keys to reducing violence and solving some of St. Louis' toughest gang-related crimes. He also discusses the arrival of Bloods and Crips in St. Louis, the influence of Hollywood on gang culture, the crack cocaine epidemic, and why empathy is one of the most important qualities a police officer can possess. Perhaps the most powerful moments come as Ronnie reflects on the young lives he was able to change through the Police Athletic League (PAL), and the heartbreaking stories that continue to stay with him decades later. This isn't just a conversation about gangs. It's a conversation about leadership, community, mentorship, and the people who refused to give up on a generation of young people. If you enjoy the stories we share, please subscribe, leave us a review, and share this episode with someone who appreciates the history and humanity behind the badge. Before the interview, the guys tackle everything from Producer John's trip on the Bourbon Trail to "The Rolling Crackers," escaped bees, a pastor's viral fight, and a heartfelt tribute to a fallen Toronto police officer. Communities that support law enforcement are safer places to live. #TheBrighterSideOfBlue #SLMPD #StLouis #GangUnit #PolicePodcast #LawEnforcement #TrueCrime #PoliceStories #Leadership #Podcast

$1.3 Million, 50 Kilos, and a Cartel Connection: The Guy Goolsby Case

Veteran investigators Joe Somoyge, JD Gaddy, and Leo Rice join The Brighter Side of Blue to tell the story of the massive Guy Goolsby investigation. What began as intelligence on a courier traveling from Houston quickly grew into a multi-state drug trafficking case involving wiretaps, hidden surveillance, cartel connections, millions of dollars in seizures, multiple murders, and some of the most dangerous criminals operating in St. Louis. The detectives take listeners behind the scenes of the investigation, sharing stories that have never been told publicly and explaining how patience, informants, surveillance, and teamwork ultimately brought down a major criminal organization. Before we dive into the Guy Goolsby investigation, the crew covers a little bit of everything: Father's Day history, St. Louis trivia, police stories, Schicker Ford's Question of the Week, chiropractor videos, old Fourth of July celebrations, and plenty of good-natured ribbing. After the laughs, we sit down with veteran investigators Joe Somoyge, JD Gaddy, and Leo Rice to discuss one of the biggest criminal investigations of their careers. #TheBrighterSideOfBlue #StLouisCrime #TrueCrime #PolicePodcast #DrugInvestigation #DEA #FederalInvestigation #LawEnforcement #StLouisHistory #BehindTheBadge #CrimeStories #Podcast #GuyGoolsby #DetectiveStories

Cops, Camaraderie, and Cold Beer: Stories From the St. Louis Police Bar Scene

The badge came off, the stories came out, and the real conversations began. This week, we look back at the St. Louis police bar scene and why it became such an important part of life on the job. These weren't just places to have a drink. They were where young officers learned from veterans, where friendships were forged, where supervisors became mentors, and where cops processed the stress, tragedy, and humor that came with the profession. From Rosie's and Area 4 to Hilltop, Route 66, Barney's, and many others, we share the stories, characters, and memories that made these places special. We also discuss why those gathering spots helped build the police family that so many officers still talk about today. Along the way, we remember Guns N Hoses legend Steve Holley, celebrate Flag Day, and share a few laughs that could only happen on Brighter Side of Blue. "The bars were never really about the beer. They were about mentorship, friendship, laughter, and helping each other carry the weight of the job. If you wore a badge in St. Louis during our era, chances are you had a favorite spot." #BrighterSideOfBlue #PolicePodcast #SLMPD #StLouisPolice #ThinBlueLine #PoliceFamily #Brotherhood #PoliceLife #LawEnforcement #BehindTheBadge #StLouisHistory #StLouis #Dogtown #PoliceStories #FirstResponders #BlueFamily #CopLife #PoliceCulture #TheBarsThatBuiltUs #MoreThanJustADrink 🍻🚔

The South Side Rapist and the Girl Who Fought Back | Rare Prison Interview

A rare prison interview. A survivor's story. Two very different versions of the truth. In this episode of The Brighter Side of Blue, we examine one of the most notorious predators in St. Louis history, Dennis Rabbitt, the South Side Rapist. You'll hear excerpts from a rare 2003 prison interview recorded inside a Missouri prison, where Rabbitt discusses his crimes, his methods, and his claim that victims who fought back often caused him to retreat. You'll also hear from Tammy Sorocko-Benjamin, who was just 14 years old when Rabbitt entered her home. Tammy shares her remarkable story of fighting him off and surviving an attack that could have ended very differently. After the interviews, we discuss the contradictions between Rabbitt's prison narrative and the reality experienced by one of his youngest victims. Plus, before the main feature, the crew discusses an incredible community effort to build a fence for a child with autism, an Oakville graduation surprise, Cold War postal history, police stories, dogs, and the usual Brighter Side of Blue banter. #SouthSideRapist #DennisRabbitt #PrisonInterview #TrueCrimePodcast #StLouis #TheBrighterSideOfBlue #LawEnforcement #SurvivorStory

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