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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LawEnforcementTalkRadioShow">Facebook </a> , <a href="https://www.instagram.com/letradioshowpodcast/"> Instagram </a> , <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnjwiley/"> LinkedIn </a> , <a href="https://medium.com/@letradioshow"> Medium</a> 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 <a href="https://medium.com/@letradioshow" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Medium </a> , <a href="https://lawenforcementtalkradio.blogspot.com"> Blogspot </a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnjwiley/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Linkedin </a> .
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, and conversations with officers, Abby Ellsworth gives listeners access to stories rarely told so candidly. The Truth Being a Baltimore, Maryland Police Officer: Crime, Violence, and Survival. A Special Episode. The full podcast episode is streaming now on their website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
This special episode featuring John Jay Wiley is available for free on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and other major podcast platforms. Posts about it are also being shared across Facebook, Instagram, and digital news outlets.
“People deserve to hear these stories directly from those who lived them,” Ellsworth says. “That’s how understanding begins.”
Are You Ready to Hear the Truth?
Baltimore has been called many things, dangerous, broken, violent. But is it only that? Or is it a city shaped by history, policy, and people doing their best under extraordinary pressure? The Truth Being a Baltimore, Maryland Police Officer: Crime, Violence, and Survival. A Special Episode.
This episode doesn’t offer easy answers, but it does offer the truth.
And sometimes, the truth is exactly what’s been missing.
Be sure to follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/LETRadioShowPo1">X </a> , <a href="https://www.instagram.com/letradioshowpodcast/"> Instagram </a> , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LawEnforcementTalkRadioShow/"> Facebook, </a> Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news.
Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB.
You can help contribute money to make <a href="https://www.agunrunnerfilm.com/?utm_source=LETRadioAndPodcast"> the Gunrunner Movie </a> . The film that Hollywood won’t touch. It is about a now Retired Police Officer that was shot 6 times while investigating Gunrunning. He died 3 times during Medical treatment and was resuscitated. You can join the fight by giving a monetary “gift” to help ensure the making of his film at <a href="https://www.agunrunnerfilm.com/?utm_source=LETRadioAndPodcast"> agunrunnerfilm.com </a> .
Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band <a href="http://darkhorseflyer.com/"> Dark Horse Flyer. </a>
You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at <a href="mailto:Jay@letradio.com"> Jay@letradio.com </a> , or learn more about him <a href="https://www.letradio.com/p/about-john-j-jay-wiley/"> on their website </a> .
Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms.
Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PodcastZone1"> The Podcast Zone Facebook Page </a> , look for the one with the bright green logo.
Be sure to check out <a href="https://www.letradio.com/?utm_source=OmnystudioShowNotes"> our website </a> .
The Truth Being a Baltimore, Maryland Police Officer: Crime, Violence, and Survival. A Special Episode.
Attributions
<a href="https://medium.com/@hamzaislad/a-brilliant-quote-from-every-episode-of-the-wire-8258f1777736" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Medium.com</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Baltimore" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wikipedia</a>
<a href="https://www.onbeingapoliceofficer.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">On Being A Police Officer</a>
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