National Police Association Podcast

In this episode of the National Police Association Podcast, Sergeant Betsy Brantner Smith sits down with Milwaukee Police Department veteran, bestselling author, and podcast host Patrick O’Donnell for a wide-ranging conversation that blends real-world policing, writing, and cultural honesty.

Patrick shares the story of why he became a cop, growing up in Chicago, witnessing a SWAT raid as a child, and falling in love with police work during the height of the crack epidemic in Milwaukee. He walks listeners through his law-enforcement career, from high-crime patrol assignments and midnight shifts to promotion as a sergeant and the realities of leadership in busy urban districts.

The conversation then turns to Patrick’s unexpected journey into writing and self-publishing. What began as a practical guide on buying cars evolved into a prolific writing career, including his highly successful Cops and Writers series—books that help fiction authors write realistic police characters, procedures, and investigations. Patrick explains how leaning into real-world experience, rather than Hollywood tropes, became the key to his success.

Betsy and Patrick also discuss the growing gap between real policing and its portrayal in modern television, movies, and fiction. They explore the “CSI effect,” unrealistic DNA expectations, and the damage caused when ideology and forced woke narratives replace authentic character development, both in entertainment and in real-world policing policies.

Drawing on decades of experience, Patrick offers candid insights on what makes police characters believable, why good storytelling always starts with character and how authenticity resonates with audiences far more than manufactured narratives.