This week we're looking at two officers who used the power of the badge to do exactly what they swore not to: Zachary Wester, the Florida deputy who planted drugs on innocent people during traffic stops, and Daniel Holtzclaw, the Oklahoma City cop who targeted vulnerable women he assumed no one would believe. Two very different crimes, one uncomfortable question — how many more are out there who just haven't been caught?

If anything in this episode resonated with you or brought something up, please know you're not alone — and support exists, even if reaching out feels hard.

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 (24/7, free, confidential)
Online chat: rainn.org

National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-7233 | Text "START" to 88788
thehotline.org

Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741

You don't have to have "the right words" or even be sure of what happened to reach out — these lines are there to listen, not to judge. Take care of yourselves out there.

https://www.wctv.tv/2024/11/13/rico-conviction-vacated-former-jackson-county-deputy-accused-planting-drugs-traffic-stops-2019/
WMBB/mypanhandle.com, https://www.mypanhandle.com/news/local-news/jackson-county/former-jackson-county-deputy-resentenced-after-racketeering-charges-overturned/
WJHG, "Former deputy Zachary Wester sentenced to more than 12 years for planting drugs," July 14, 2021 — https://www.wjhg.com/2021/07/14/former-deputy-zachary-wester-sentenced-more-than-12-years-planting-drugs/
WFSU News, March 5, 2026 — https://news.wfsu.org/wfsu-local-news/2026-03-04/floridas-high-court-weighs-rico-charge-against-a-jackson-deputy-who-planted-drugs-on-innocents

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/21/463867164/former-oklahoma-city-police-officer-sentenced-to-263-years-for-sexual-assaults

https://feminist.org/news/holtzclaw-sentenced-to-263-years-for-rape-and-sexual-assault-of-13-black-women/

https://www.democracynow.org/2015/12/15/daniel_holtzclaw_convicted_of_serial_rape

https://okcfox.com/news/local/holtzclaw-victims-to-address-the-media