Episode 25- Former Chief of Detectives Melissa Staples

This Episode is dedicated to Rick Coyle, John Bartholomew and Nelson Crespo.  Show us the way home, warriors. 

In This Episode #25:
Melissa Staples rose through the ranks to become only the second female Chief of Detectives for the second-largest police department in the country. 

We sit down to discuss the immense responsibility of that position, the realities of leadership, and the unvarnished truth about policy and Chicago's streets. Nobody articulates the stance of a detective and a leader better than Melissa.

Note: The interview portion of this episode was recorded on April 1, 2026. The cold open addresses the tragic loss of our brothers since that date.

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Website: www.detectivestory.net

Deputy Rick Coyle (Crittenden County Sheriff's Dept. / Retired CPD)
In lieu of flowers, the Coyle family requests donations be made to:

Supporting Heroes: 

www.SupportingHeroes.org

Chicago Police Memorial Foundation: 

www.CPDmemorial.org

Officer John Bartholomew (Chicago Police Department)
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the John Bartholomew Memorial Fund, handled by the credit union:

John Bartholomew Memorial Fund
c/o Police Federal Credit Union
1407 West Washington Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60607

Please continue to keep Officer Nelson Crespo, his family, and his brothers and sisters in the department in your prayers as he fights for his recovery.