Sex trafficking is one of the most misunderstood crimes in America.

This week, we sit down with former FBI Special Agent Nikki Badolato, who spent years investigating human trafficking and helping victims escape some of the darkest circumstances imaginable.

Joining us by phone is Korina Crusan, a survivor whose life was forever changed by sex trafficking. In an incredibly courageous conversation, she shares her personal story, how she became trapped, what it took to escape, and how Nikki helped guide her toward a new life.

Together, Nikki and Korina offer a rare look into the realities of trafficking, the tactics predators use to manipulate victims, the challenges investigators face, and, most importantly, the hope that recovery is possible.

This is an emotional, honest, and inspiring conversation that every parent, law enforcement officer, and community member should hear.

Before our featured interview, we open the show by honoring JJ's brother, Steve Joyner, one of The Brighter Side of Blue's very first and most loyal supporters. Surrounded by Steve's family and lifelong friends, we celebrate his life with stories, laughter, and a heartfelt toast before easing into our usual mix of humor and current events. The opening also includes discussion about St. Louis' crackdown on street takeovers, some bizarre headlines, plenty of laughs from the crew, and Producer John's perfectly timed one-liners before transitioning into one of the most powerful interviews we've ever recorded.

If you enjoy the episode, please Like, Subscribe, and Share. Your support helps us continue telling the stories that matter.

Featured interview (46:02) Before Ferguson changed protest policing across the country, major demonstrations in St. Louis were handled very differently.

Retired SLMPD Officer Rick Rea spent 13 years in the department’s Intelligence Division, where part of his job was learning who was coming to town, what they were planning, and how police could prepare before a protest ever began.

Rick takes us inside the intelligence operations behind some of St. Louis’ biggest demonstrations of the era. He shares how he became trusted by members of the disability rights group ADAPT, attended their strategy meetings, and quietly passed information to police commanders as protests unfolded.

He also looks back at the massive preparations surrounding the World Agricultural Forum, when St. Louis prepared for the same kind of chaos protesters had brought to Seattle. Intelligence officers tracked tactics, identified locations, worked with other police departments, and helped prepare the newly formed Civil Disobedience Team for what many believed could become a major confrontation.

The worst of it never happened, and that may be the point.

This is a look back at protest policing before social media, before demonstrations could form in minutes, and before Ferguson changed the way protests were organized, covered, and policed in St. Louis and across the country.

Before we get into our conversation with Rick Rea, the crew covers everything from the infamous 1991 Guns N’ Roses riot at Riverport and an unexpected phone call from Dennis Haymon, to a serious discussion about leadership, policing and the current state of St. Louis. As always, there are plenty of laughs along the way, including the official demotion of Axl Rose to “Bill Rose.”

Communities that support law enforcement are safer places to live.

#BeforeFerguson #Ferguson #StLouis #StLouisHistory #SLMPD #PoliceHistory #ProtestPolicing #LawEnforcement #TheBrighterSideOfBlue

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

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

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 🍻🚔

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

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

Coming to you from our brand-new studio inside Colombo’s Cafe & Tavern in Dogtown, this episode marks a major moment for The Brighter Side of Blue Podcast as we officially announce our partnership with the St. Louis Police Officers Association.

Joining us in studio are SLPOA President Marty Garcia and Business Manager Joe Steiger as we discuss the mission behind this collaboration: telling the real stories behind the badge, honoring the sacrifices made by police officers, spotlighting the human side of policing, and helping reconnect communities with the men and women who serve them every day.

We also talk:

• The future of policing in St. Louis
• Recruiting and retaining officers
• Investing back into public safety
• Why positive police storytelling matters
• The brotherhood and camaraderie of the profession
• Expanding these stories through social media and community partnerships

Plus:

• Updates on the new studio
• Viral podcast clips
• Listener stories
• Sponsor shoutouts
• And the usual Brighter Side banter, laughs, and chaos

This partnership is just the beginning as we continue building a platform dedicated to preserving police history, honoring the profession, and sharing the stories that deserve to be told.

#SLPOA #TBSOB #TheBrighterSideOfBlue #BackTheBlue #StLouisPolice #PolicePodcast #PoliceStories #ThinBlueLine #SupportThePolice #FirstResponders #Brotherhood #StLouis #LawEnforcement #PoliceCommunity