The Real Streets of 1980s Miami: Confessions of A Retired Cop

Have an unbelievable story? Apply to be the next guest on Honor Among Thieves Podcast 👇👇👇 https://www.honoramongthievespodcast.com/guest Nelson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/ Sgt Bert "Maverick" Gonzalez on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sgt.maverick/ This week on Honor Among Thieves, Nelson sits down with retired Miami-Dade Police Sergeant Bert “Maverick” Gonzalez for a raw, firsthand account of policing Miami during the most violent era in the city’s history. From the early days of joining the force to surviving the chaos of the 1980s cocaine wars, Sgt. Gonzalez takes listeners inside a time when Miami’s streets resembled a battlefield and every shift could be your last. Gonzalez breaks down what it was really like working for Metro-Dade PD during the height of cartel violence, police corruption, and nonstop bloodshed. He details the internal politics of law enforcement, the power struggles between Colombian and Cuban drug organizations, and the moral gray areas cops were forced to navigate just to survive. Through real cases, including a brutal 1987 home invasion gone wrong, this episode exposes the reality behind the headlines — and how that era permanently shaped Miami and everyone who lived through it. This episode of Honor Among Thieves is a rare, unfiltered look at one of the darkest and most dangerous periods in American law enforcement history. Sgt. Bert “Maverick” Gonzalez doesn’t glamorize the violence — he exposes it. From survival and corruption to accountability and redemption, this conversation is essential listening for anyone interested in true crime, policing, the cocaine era, and the real cost of America’s war on drugs. Episode Chapters 0:00 Intro – Surviving Miami’s Most Violent Era 1:39 Becoming a Miami Cop in the 1980s 18:28 Inside Metro-Dade PD During the Cocaine Wars 26:48 Miami in the 80s: When the Streets Became a Warzone 33:54 Police Corruption in 1980s Miami 46:27 Colombians vs Cubans: The Cocaine Power Struggle 55:01 1987 Home Invasion Gone Wrong – Robbing the Wrong Drug House 1:06:41 The Cocaine Era Ends – Miami After the War 1:18:28 Redemption After the Streets Mention You Heard About Federal Prison Tips On Honor Among Thieves Podcast 👇👇👇 https://federalprisontips.com/honor/ Use Promo Code MONTANA https://gusvillajewelry.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices