On September 11th 2024 we hosted our 3rd Annual honor workout, THE DOM, in conjunction with our 3rd PROJECT ENDURE.

Officer Joe Cirrito completed a 24-hour workout in honor of his friend, Dominic Pezullo, who died in the line-of-duty when the Twin Towers fell on 9/11.

During the event, I had the honor to talk with a 27-year retired police officer from the same police department Officer Pezullo was from, The Port Authority Police Department.

Robert (Bobby) Egbert was there on 9/11. We talk about his experience that day and how it has affected his life since. I want to thank Bobby for being so open and honest with such a sensitive topic.

Bobby dedicates this podcast to the 65 Port Authority police officers who have died in the line-of-duty, especially the PAPD 37 who perished on 9/11.

Timestamps:

00:01:38 “The Dom”

00:03:15 The power of remembering our police lineage. “…working in the shadows of incredible heroes.”

00:04:54 LAPD Officer Joe Cirrito

00:09:25 Becoming a cop.

00:12:00 Choices made on 9/11

00:14:00 Deploying to The World Trade Center

0030:00 Trauma & balance.

00:32:00 The power of talking it out.

00:34:00 Unbecoming: When do we become human again?

00:36:00 The Gift of Acceptance

00:38:00 Surrounded by death.

00:40:00 The culture and the mindset

00:42:00 The Holy S*#t Factor

00:46:00 Empathy is not possible, and that’s ok.

00:50:00 Mental Health

00:52:00 Suicide

01:02:00 The reality of an OIS (officer involved shooting) and critical incidents.

01:13:00 Gratitude and a lesson learned: “The World Trade Center” vs “Ground Zero”

01:17:00 Big City vs Small Town policing

01:18:00 Podcast dedication

01:22:00 Captain Kathy Mazza

Some of Bobby’s publishings:

Running to honor the fallen - American Police Beat Magazine

https://apbweb.com/2018/11/running-to-honor-the-fallen/

Where our stories are - American Police Beat Magazine

https://apbweb.com/2024/05/where-our-stories-are/

https://apbweb.com/2019/08/rebuilding-after-9-11/

Misunderstood - American Police Beat Magazine

https://apbweb.com/2023/07/misunderstood/

Safety pin - American Police Beat Magazine

https://apbweb.com/2023/05/safety-pin/

https://apbweb.com/2023/02/keys/

The Deuce - American Police Beat Magazine

https://apbweb.com/2022/10/the-deuce/

My 9/11 — well, what I remember of it - American Police Beat Magazine

https://apbweb.com/2022/09/my-9-11-well-what-i-remember-of-it/

In memory of a homeless veteran - American Police Beat Magazine

https://apbweb.com/2019/11/in-memory-of-a-homeless-veteran/

Shad Stilkey and I, Chris Jay, have a nostalgic conversation with retired LAPD Lieutenant Barbara.

Dedicated to Police Officer Vincent Lawrence Leusch, EOW Sept 22, 1075

Timeline:

01:14 - For the love of gaming

07:44 - 1968: The Beginning of a Career

08:20 - Day-1 on the Beat

17:00 - Watts Riots

23:12 - The 1992 LA Riots

27:18 - The leadership of Chief Gates

28:41 - Woman in Law Enforcement

34:10 - Fallen Officer Vince Leusch

35:58 - LAPD Station Names

38:56 - Body Armor

45:04 - The impact of being off-duty when a partner officer goes down

46:42 - Hand to hand combat training, then vs now

51:04 - Lethal vs non-lethal

52:47 - Bell bottoms vs Flares

54:44 - Being a cop in the 70's

56:13 - The change in the 80's

57:00 - From Revolvers to 92F’s

1:00:17 - Lt Barabara saves Chris J

1:06:11 - The importance of taking care of each other

1:08:19 - Radio frequencies and radio traffic

1:11:18 - A valuable lesson: "She is your lifeline"

01:13:57 - Low tech policing

01:23:38 - Change

01:28:39 - Favorite Police Epoch

01:29:36 - The meaning of life

THE FALLEN BUT NOT FORGOTTEN PODCAST:
“Second Roll Call”, with Alex Villanueva.

For the first time we recorded an episode with a live audience! To watch the video of the recording, click here: https://youtu.be/_wC_azpHH20?si=38SlsPORkcTdwVwY

On this episode we dive into former Sheriff Villanueva’s climb through the ranks, the future of policing & navigating line-of-duty deaths as the top sheriff.

Guest:
Alex Villanueva Former Sheriff of LA County

Co-Hosts:
•Richard Medina, LAPD Officer & surviving partner of Fallen Officer Roberto Sanchez •Joe Cirrito, LAPD Officer & friend of Fallen Officer Dominic Pezullo

Time-stamps:

00:01:19 Welcome

00:01:45 "Alex, will work" A humble down to earth start with Alex Villanueva, Former Los Angeles County Sheriff

00: 02:33 Fallen Officer Fernando Arroyo

00:03:00 Panel Introductions

00:03:44 Alex’s career path

00:06:30 Alex meets his wife, Vivian.

00:10:20 The "Rude awakening" of the 2014 Rosehedge active shooter

00:12:30 Overcoming adversity, the one thing Alex couldn't be stopped from doing.

00:14:00 A vison of change.

00:15:18 "Top dog”

00:15:57 Policing, 5-years from now.

00:20:54 Law enforcement as a career choice today.

00:24:00 Loss

00:30:00 Advice for agency leaders

00:36:00 Covid.

00:41:00 Richard Medina: Living after surviving

00:44:20 PTSD, it's perfectly ok, and The Resiliency Project

00:47:00 Joe Cirrito’s passion.

00:52:30 Back to the love story

00:53:00 Encouragement

00:55:30 Quick fire questions