A normal day for Trooper Dean means making sure his town’s roadways – and its drivers – are safe. But this day is not a normal day. What begins with an eviction notice and a bomb threat ends with Dean facing down what may be any cop’s worst nightmare. This is the story of that bad day and all the ones that follow.
Trust
Deputy Alia is new to her job, so when she responds to what seems like a standard “person down” call, she is pretty calm – at first. But something about what she finds gets her spidey senses tingling. Despite her lack of experience, she decides to trust her gut.
The Long Sprint
Someone is attacking young boys and Detective Constable Simon is eager to find out whom. But Simon’s partner is less than helpful; and the dynamic he has with his interim boss is getting more complicated by the day. To bring justice to the victims and their families, Simon has to challenge conventions and follow his instincts.
The World’s End (Again)
Today we bring you a replay of a case from Season 8. It’s called The World’s End and the detective who told us the story is Tom Wood. Tom was part of the investigation and recently wrote a book about it called, “The World’s End Murders: The Final Verdict.”
A Vile Plan
As you know, we take pride in celebrating the diligent work law enforcement performs everyday on Small Town Dicks. But sometimes, it’s the selfless act of a well-meaning citizen who saves the day. And that’s what happened on the day we pick up this case and an older couple decided to step-in when they saw something wrong. This story has everything – a car chase, a remote cabin full of hair-raising evidence, a suspect on the verge of a terrible crime, and, most importantly, a little girl who is alive today because two people decided to do something.
You’re It
Detective Lindsey is back with a case she’s called her “worst nightmare.” An unknown man has committed a series of home break-ins that include terrorizing of victims and violent sexual assaults. Each time, the suspect only gets more brazen and police are anxious to find a lead. Working with a task force of local agencies, and a specialist who has learned the art of tracking human, Lindsey and her team rush to stop the perpetrator before anyone else gets hurt.
Married to…
What’s it like to be married to a law enforcement officer? How about being married to a celebrity? Funny thing, two of our Small Town Dick hosts are learning exactly what being “married to” means!
The Criminal’s Code
There is a criminal code. Not the one that’s made up of statutes, but one that is followed by criminals. In today’s special bonus, our usual suspects talk through the rules that criminals crime by, followed by a short discussion about the growing role of Artificial Intelligence in policing.
Your Worst Nightmare
The final episode of the season takes us to a small town in Canada, where a violent suspect named Billy Ray, is on the loose after he attacks his ex-girlfriend, Maria. A manhunt begins but authorities are unable to track him down. When Detective Constable Garry receives a disturbing report that Billy Ray has broken into Maria’s house, authorities continue the search but it turns out they’ve been looking in all the wrong places, as they race against time to save Maria from Billy Ray’s obsession.
The Weight Pt. 2
In October 1981 in the small town of Carmel, California, a young mother named Sonia Stone is raped and murdered in her home. The prime suspect is her neighbor, Michael Glazebrook. He is tried for the crimes but the trial ends in a hung jury. In episode two of The Weight, pressed by Sonia’s family and their own sense of duty, the detective who investigated Sonia’s murder and the prosecutor who tried Glazebrook continue to look for any new evidence or lucky break that would trigger new charges. There are moments of hope and years of frustration. Four decades pass and then they get the call that changes everything.
The Weight Pt. 1
Today’s case spans more than 40 years. In the first of two parts, we take you back to 1981 and the senseless rape and murder of Sonia Stone, a young mother living with her daughter in the tony town of Carmel by the Sea on the California coast. A close friend has found Sonia’s body and has called the police. The responding detectives quickly focus their attention on a shifty neighbor whose constantly changing story feeds their suspicions. But this was a time before DNA testing, and the evidence, though solid, is circumstantial. When the prosecutor in the case finally gets some corroboration about the neighbor’s whereabouts the morning of Sonia’s murder, he brings murder charges against Michael Glazebrook. But an adverse ruling and an unreliable witness derail the trial – and start a decades long search for justice.
Sorry, Charlie
When forensic specialist Paul Holes arrives at the scene of a violent attack, he immediately collects and compares all the evidence to build a case against the attacker. What he finds both shocks and surprises him – and teaches him a lesson that he still teaches budding investigators today.
Hot Wheels
Detective Dan takes us on an epic small-town manhunt as he tracks down a notorious car thief who makes the mistake of stealing the rims off a teenager’s prized possession: his first car. This one has it all: burner phones, face tattoos, and a golden Honda Accord. This is the season finale!
Deep Cover
Detective Matt returns to share his more than year-long undercover investigation into a fringe environmental group with dangerous designs on an upcoming political convention. This is the kind of story we never get to hear. Told by a detective who mastered the art of disappearing from his own life in order to thwart a violent plot.
The Devil’s in the Details
Crime scene investigations are rarely as dramatic – and definitive – as what you see on TV shows like CSI. That does not make them any less crucial to solving the case. Host Paul Holes takes us through a case he worked on in the late 1990s, where a claim of self-defense was ultimately turned on its head after a thorough and objective look at the nearly invisible trace evidence left behind after the body of a gay man was found dumped in a ditch.
TBR: The Christian Burial Speech
Once again, Detectives Dave and Dan take a deep dive into case law that governs how law enforcement operates in this country. Today, they discuss Brewer v. Williams, which is better known as “The Christian Burial Speech”. It’s a fascinating and disturbing tale about the limits of interrogation after a suspect invokes his right to counsel: even when, or especially when, the stakes are incredibly high.
TBR: Case Law, Part 2
If you’ve ever watched a television crime drama, chances are you could recite the Miranda warning by heart. Today, Detectives Dan and Dave continue their law enforcement briefing with a review of the case that brought us the Miranda warning: Miranda v. Arizona. The detectives also delve into a precursor case, Escobedo v. Illinois, which helped define what rights a person has when they’re arrested.
TBR: Case Law, Part 1
In today’s briefing, we discuss the case law that defines what is considered reasonable when a police officer uses force. These cases are used by departments nationwide as a foundation for use of force policies. The two specific cases you’ll hear about today, if you want to read further, are Tennessee v. Garner and Graham v. Connor.
Small Town Swindlers
Detective Dan takes the mic to recount a couple of wild cases involving some very crafty crooks. Thieves can be clever, so it takes some real police work to break the case. In part one, you’ll get to know a couple of key fob bandits. It’ll remind you to keep close watch on your gym locker. In part two, you’ll meet the charming but dangerous members of Stu’s Crew.
Hollywood Cops & the Quiz of Laws
Detectives Dan and Dave talk about what Hollywood gets right – and gets wrong – about police work, and which shows are their favorites. Then they take a quiz to see if they know which obscure laws are from which state. It’s a blast!
The Briefing Room
Detectives Dan and Dave take you into The Briefing Room for a candid conversation about online safety.
The Players, Part 2
A town is overrun by gang violence. So much so that the local cops get shot at while making a felony traffic stop. Detective Scott and his colleagues embark on a months-long investigation that includes wiretaps, search warrants, and jailhouse informants to bring down a gang called The Players.
The Players, Part 1
A town is overrun by gang violence. So much so that the local cops get shot at while making a felony traffic stop. Detective Scott and his colleagues embark on a months-long investigation that includes wiretaps, search warrants, and jailhouse informants to bring down a gang called The Players.
Murder by the Inch
Detective Roddy talks about the challenges his small-town police force faced when tasked with solving the brutal murder of a man in a local park. The crime shocked his small Scottish community and changed the way his police department viewed marginalized communities and social media.
The List
A woman is found shot dead in her car. Her child is missing. As police investigate, the heart-wrenching tragedy unfolds. In this special episode, legendary homicide detective Lt. Joe Kenda walks us through one of his early, unforgettable cases.
The Girl Next Door
A teenage boy stays home from school one day and notices a shadowy figure lurking in the house next door. He investigates and discovers the shadowy figure is a girl… and she’s being held captive by her own father.
A Single Thread
Several checks go missing from a local business. It’s not the sort of low-level crime that would necessarily land at the top of Ret. Detective David’s list, but this is a small town and the son of the owners is a felon so police bring him in for questioning. As Detective David peels back the layers of the onion, a complex, criminal conspiracy leads the investigation all the way to the Mexican border.
Behind the Badge: Training Days
What makes a good cop? A key ingredient is a good teacher.
What makes a good cop? One key ingredient is good training. Detectives Dan and Dave talk about some of the early, unforgettable experiences they had with their field training officers when they were first-year cops.
Behind the Badge: Police Reform
Detectives Dan and Dave look at effective reform in American policing.
With the backdrop of nationwide protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd, Detectives Dan and Dave discuss calls for reform in America’s police departments, including the ‘defund the police’ movement.
The Devil You Know, Part 2
Christy was a young girl when her mom was murdered in what was said to have been a botched bank robbery. But it never sat right with her. Years later she had an epiphany, and she started to think her father was involved. She cajoled cops to start a new investigation, but it did not lead to a new arrest. A decade went by and Christy was able to convince a TV show to come in and take another look. With the help of local police they uncovered new evidence about the murder and the victimization of an underage girl, Jodi.
Crime and Punishment Part 2
Trevor Walraven was convicted of an unthinkable crime when he was 14 years old. He spent nearly 18 years in prison before he was released. In this two-part conversation, we talk to him about the crime he committed, his co-defendant, how he spent his time in prison, and his emergence as an advocate for giving other inmates a second chance to become productive members of society.
Crime and Punishment Part 1
Trevor Walraven was convicted of an unthinkable crime when he was 14 years old. He spent nearly 18 years in prison before he was released. In this two-part conversation, we talk to him about the crime he committed, his co-defendant, how he spent his time in prison, and his emergence as an advocate for giving other inmates a second chance to become productive members of society.
Supply Chain
Through a combination of patience and careful police work, Detective Justin snakes his way up the heroin supply chain and links it to a cartel south of the border. And a couple of lives are turned around in the process.
Rampage
One fall afternoon a man decides to inflict as much damage as possible on his small town.
Bitter End
Police arrive on the scene of what they are told is a suicide. But as they begin their investigation a different story starts to emerge.
Lured
A young man’s trusting nature ends up having deadly consequences.
Live Show with Paul Holes and Small Town Dicks
On November 4th 2018, the team of Small Town Dicks appeared in their first ever live show at the Death Becomes Us true crime festival. While Detectives Dan and Dave remained concealed off-stage on mics, Yeardley and Zibby sat down with investigator Paul Holes to interview him on his 24 yearlong investigation into the Golden State Killer case. The Golden State Killer was one of the most prolific predators in U.S. history. He was a serial killer, rapist, and burglar who committed at least 13 murders, more than 50 rapes, and over 100 burglaries in California from 1974 to 1986. This is a recording of that live show which was produced by D.C.’s Brightest Young Things and held at the Lisner Auditorium in Washington D.C.
Murder in Plain Sight
Detective Tracey takes us through one of her most memorable cases where a murderer’s greed and arrogance lead to a slew of sloppy mistakes. Even as the crime rocks the community in Tracey’s small town for years to come.
Stolen
Sgt. Rick was prepared to issue a routine traffic ticket to a driver who was driving dangerously slow. But when he pulled the driver over, he interrupted a crime far worse than impeding the flow of traffic, proving that there is no such thing as a “routine” traffic stop.
Presumed Guilty Pt. 2
Multiple accounts of a single crime, countless provable lies, and very little evidence in a convenience store robbery-turned-murder leave law enforcement scouring for answers. In this two-episode case, Sgt. David returns to Small Town Dicks to tell us how he ended up solving this murder eight years after two men had been convicted and imprisoned for the crime.
Presumed Guilty Pt. 1
Multiple accounts of a single crime, countless provable lies, and very little evidence in a convenience store robbery-turned-murder leave law enforcement scouring for answers. In this two-episode case, Sgt. David returns to Small Town Dicks to tell us how he ended up solving this murder eight years after two men had been convicted and imprisoned for the crime.
The Classifieds Pt.2
Part 2/2: If you’re a teenager and you runaway from home your #1 priority is likely survival. Any promise to put a roof over your head and make sure you’re safe would surely feel like a relief. Until you realize that those promises come at a cost that’s higher than you ever imagined. Detective Curt leads us deep into the grimy underworld of sex trafficking right here in Small Town, USA. This case contains phone calls with some of the victims. We have digitally manipulated their voices to further their identities.
The Sociopath and the Whistleblower Part 4
This is the chilling story of a man who, as a police officer, took his police department’s solemn oath to be guided by professionalism, integrity, courage and honor. He also promised that his behavior would meet his department’s standard of honesty and accountability. Then, for 10 years, he patrolled the community, gaining its trust, while simultaneously victimizing those he knew would be too afraid to speak up.
The Sociopath and the Whistleblower Part 3
This is the chilling story of a man who, as a police officer, took his police department’s solemn oath to be guided by professionalism, integrity, courage and honor. He also promised that his behavior would meet his department’s standard of honesty and accountability. Then, for 10 years, he patrolled the community, gaining its trust, while simultaneously victimizing those he knew would be too afraid to speak up.
The Sociopath and the Whistleblower Part 2
This is the chilling story of a man who, as a police officer, took his police department’s solemn oath to be guided by professionalism, integrity, courage and honor. He also promised that his behavior would meet his department’s standard of honesty and accountability. Then, for 10 years, he patrolled the community, gaining its trust, while simultaneously victimizing those he knew would be too afraid to speak up.