In this episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum, sits down with retired detective Ralph Friedman, a legendary figure in law enforcement with over 2,000 arrests and 15 shootouts to his name. Ralph shares his unexpected journey into the police force and his experiences in the infamous 41st precinct, known as "Fort Apache." Ralph describes the undercover operations using taxi cabs and milk trucks to a life-threatening shootout in a darkened apartment. He also shares the wisdom gained from life-or-death encounters, the lessons that changed police protocol forever.

Ralph Friedman is the most decorated detective in NYPD history, with 2,000 arrests and 219 medals to his name. He is the author of Street Warrior: The True Story of NYPD’s Most Decorated Detective and the Era That Created Him and was featured in the television series Street Justice: The Bronx.

Listeners can learn more about Ralph Friedman at his website, on IG @bronxstreetwarrior

Street Warrior: The True Story of NYPD’s Most Decorated Detective and the Era That Created Him

Show Notes:

(0:00) Welcome back to Zone 7 with Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum
(0:10) Sheryl introduces guest, retired N.Y.P.D detective Ralph Freeman
(2:00) How a spontaneous decision led to a legendary career
(4:00) Ralph’s first encounter with a police officer shooting
(6:00) A detective’s death changes police protocol forever
(7:00) Using taxis, milk trucks, and even a Harley to catch criminals
(12:30) The brotherhood of the NYPD
(16:00) Saving a partner’s life
(17:00) ”The other side of the coin is that, if you're taking a life, you're definitely saving at least one life.”
(19:30) Near-death encounters
(22:00) Unexpected career-ending incident
(24:30) The most gangster thing detective Ralph ever did
(25:45) A gun deal turns into a deadly rooftop shootout
(31:00) “ The rush is worth the risk.” -R.Freeman’s back tattoo
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Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an Emmy Award winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnLine, Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department. She is the co-author of the textbook., Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. Sheryl is also the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a collaboration between universities and colleges that brings researchers, practitioners, students and the criminal justice community together to advance techniques in solving cold cases and assist families and law enforcement with solvability factors for unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnapping cases.

Social Links:

Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com
Twitter: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

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15 Shootouts, 219 Medals, and the NYPD’s Toughest Detective, Ralph Friedman

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