Law Enforcement Talk Radio creator and host Jay Wiley served with the Baltimore Police Department, rising to the rank of Sergeant before being medically retired due to an on duty injury. The program offers a realistic, truthful portrayal from the experiences of Law Enforcement Officers, other first responders, their families and survivors of violent crime. Law Enforcement Talk Radio is part true crime show, part cop show and a human interest show all wrapped into one.
Jay shares his interesting transition into the radio world. He debuted Law Enforcement Talk Radio in March of 2017 and entered syndication just one year later. He currently broadcasts on nearly 150 stations coast-to-coast.
We discuss the fact that, even though the tools have changed, policing itself has not. Jay would hit the mean streets of Baltimore armed with a .38 revolver, a balsa wood nightstick and pepper spray. Veteran officers advised against using the pepper spray because “It only works on bystanders and cops.” Jay credits Korean and Vietnam era Veterans who served on the force as being some of the best law enforcement officers he served with. He believes that body worn cameras are one of the best things to happen for law enforcement.
We delve into “the weight of the badge” and the long-term impacts of the trauma that police officers are exposed to almost daily. Some traumas are not the obvious things civilians would suspect, including lack of community support and poor departmental leadership. Jay had a routine he used daily to transition from “cop jay” to “husband and father Jay”. He says it worked until it didn’t anymore and he found himself drinking alcohol just to get to sleep. He strongly advises officers to schedule an annual therapy session for themselves even if they must pay for it out of their own pocket.