The Truth Being a Baltimore, Maryland Police Officer: Crime, Violence, and Survival. A Special Episode. In a media landscape dominated by headlines, hashtags, and heated debates, few stories cut through the noise with honesty. A special episode of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast does exactly that, by telling the truth about what it really means to be a Police Officer, Cop in Baltimore, Maryland. This special episode is streaming for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website , on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube , and most every major Podcast platform. In this compelling special episode, John Jay Wiley, a Retired Baltimore Police Sergeant and the host of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, appears as a guest on the On Being A Police Officer Podcast with host Abby Ellsworth. The conversation pulls back the curtain on crime, violence, officer-involved shootings, and the often-misreported realities of police use of force. Look for The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms. “This episode isn’t about headlines,” Wiley explains. “It’s about what actually happens on the street, when the cameras aren’t there and lives are on the line.” The Truth Being a Baltimore, Maryland Police Officer: Crime, Violence, and Survival. A Special Episode. Supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin . Four Officer-Involved Shootings, and the Reality Behind Them During his career with the Baltimore Police Department, Wiley was involved in four officer-involved shootings, or as they were called back then shootings, a fact that often shocks listeners unfamiliar with the daily dangers faced by officers in high-crime cities. Contrary to popular narratives repeated across news, Facebook, and Instagram, Wiley reveals that in the first two incidents, he never fired his weapon. He, like most Police Officers, did not shoot back. “The idea that police are always quick to shoot is simply false,” Wiley says during the podcast. “In my first two shootings, I didn’t return fire at all.” Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms. The final two incidents, however, were prolonged, life-and-death gun battles. The last shooting left Wiley with injuries severe enough to end his police career. “That last gunfight changed everything,” he reflects. “It didn’t just end my career, it reshaped my life.” The Truth Being a Baltimore, Maryland Police Officer: Crime, Violence, and Survival. A Special Episode. Shattering Myths About Police and Use of Force A central theme of the podcast special episode is the disconnect between public perception and on-the-ground reality. Wiley and Ellsworth address the myths frequently spread about policing in American cities, especially Baltimore. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms. “So much of what people believe about police use of force comes from misreporting or outright misinformation,” Wiley notes. “The truth is far more complex, and far more human.” The episode offers listeners an unfiltered look at how decisions are made in seconds, under extreme stress, amid rampant crime and violence. Baltimore: A City With a Complicated History Baltimore, Maryland has long struggled with violent crime rates above the national average. In 2019, Baltimore recorded 348 homicides, second only to its 1993 peak, when the population was significantly higher. Yet the story doesn’t end there. By 2024, the city recorded 201 homicides, the lowest number since 2011, evidence that progress, while uneven, is possible. City leaders have credited focused efforts on repeat violent offenders and increased community engagement. The Truth Being a Baltimore, Maryland Police Officer: Crime, Violence, and Survival. A Special Episode. The interview can be found on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and across most podcast platforms where listeners will find authentic law enforcement stories. “Baltimore isn’t just statistics,” Wiley says. “It’s people, good people, trying to survive in some very hard neighborhoods.” “It’s Baltimore, Gentlemen…” A haunting quote from The Wire: “It’s Baltimore, gentlemen. The gods will not save you.” For Wiley, that line resonates deeply. “There were moments when I needed God to save my life, during and especially after Policing in Baltimore” he says quietly. “And I believe He did.” A Podcast You Don’t Want to Miss On Being A Police Officer is known for offering a civilian-led, inside look at law enforcement through deeply personal interviews. Drawing on over 15 years of ride-alongs, filming, a
