WEBVTT 00:00:00.140 --> 00:00:02.540 If you want to learn more about the topics of 00:00:02.540 --> 00:00:06.219 today's episode, visit the podcast website at 00:00:06.219 --> 00:00:09.339 naturessecretservice .com. Thanks for listening. 00:01:01.530 --> 00:01:07.079 Okay people, listen up. Here we go. This is Nature's 00:01:07.079 --> 00:01:09.319 Secret Service, the podcast that puts you in 00:01:09.319 --> 00:01:11.420 the room with the men and women of wildlife law 00:01:11.420 --> 00:01:15.579 enforcement. I'm your host, Ed Newcomer, and 00:01:15.579 --> 00:01:18.920 tonight we're not going to be in the room. I'm 00:01:18.920 --> 00:01:20.879 going to take you out on patrol with a woman 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:23.659 of wildlife law enforcement. When I was a special 00:01:23.659 --> 00:01:25.739 agent with the U .S. Fish and Wildlife Service 00:01:25.739 --> 00:01:29.099 in Los Angeles, I used to keep my skills sharp 00:01:29.099 --> 00:01:32.489 and my relationships strong. by occasionally 00:01:32.489 --> 00:01:34.829 doubling up with a state game warden on one of 00:01:34.829 --> 00:01:38.109 their night patrols. My favorite warden to work 00:01:38.109 --> 00:01:42.450 with was Lieutenant Michelle Budish. She was 00:01:42.450 --> 00:01:45.489 in charge of the South Los Angeles squad of game 00:01:45.489 --> 00:01:48.870 wardens, who were responsible for enforcing state 00:01:48.870 --> 00:01:52.430 wildlife laws in that area. Michelle was recently 00:01:52.430 --> 00:01:54.950 promoted to captain, but I thought it would be 00:01:54.950 --> 00:01:58.209 fun to get out there on patrol with her one more 00:01:58.209 --> 00:02:01.489 time. So I asked the California Department of 00:02:01.489 --> 00:02:04.030 Fish and Wildlife if they would let me ride along 00:02:04.030 --> 00:02:07.290 with her on a Friday night patrol of the Los 00:02:07.290 --> 00:02:11.750 Angeles waterfront Join me and Michelle now for 00:02:11.750 --> 00:02:20.289 a night on patrol Are we on we're already yep, 00:02:20.469 --> 00:02:23.530 all right, but it's fine we can just anything 00:02:23.530 --> 00:02:27.930 that comes up is fair game All right. See what 00:02:27.930 --> 00:02:30.650 we get into like old times, Ed. Exactly. It's 00:02:30.650 --> 00:02:33.090 fun. We can always edit out anything we don't 00:02:33.090 --> 00:02:36.590 like. That's right. Like the **** Bob. The **** 00:02:36.590 --> 00:02:38.330 Bob. We might have to tell that story. Best story 00:02:38.330 --> 00:02:42.990 ever. Last patrol, right? Uh. That was our last 00:02:42.990 --> 00:02:43.650 patrol together. Was that the last one while 00:02:43.650 --> 00:02:46.150 I was still working? I think that might have 00:02:46.150 --> 00:02:49.490 been. Redondo. Yeah, might have been. Is that 00:02:49.490 --> 00:02:53.169 a lobster in your pants, sir? I think the last. 00:02:53.710 --> 00:02:56.229 For some reason that. Was during the day, wasn't 00:02:56.229 --> 00:02:59.969 it? No, it was at night. Okay. What was I going 00:02:59.969 --> 00:03:02.629 to ask you? When did you get, when did you become 00:03:02.629 --> 00:03:07.750 captain? It was when? Officially October 1st, 00:03:07.750 --> 00:03:11.770 but I interviewed back in July and kind of was 00:03:11.770 --> 00:03:15.689 doing both roles for a little while. And what 00:03:15.689 --> 00:03:18.250 was the, how many people were in your squad before 00:03:18.250 --> 00:03:21.250 you became captain? You were supervisor. I had 00:03:21.250 --> 00:03:27.400 six officers. Okay. The 4210 squad I call them 00:03:27.400 --> 00:03:34.219 the originals the OGs We have so much fun so 00:03:34.219 --> 00:03:40.300 that squad Covers what area is it LA? South LA 00:03:40.300 --> 00:03:45.520 so everything from the 10 freeway to the ocean 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:49.139 including Catalina Island and to the Orange County 00:03:49.139 --> 00:04:15.349 border That's like Ventura See what they got 00:04:15.349 --> 00:04:43.600 it's early too. Yeah out with four We'll go check 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:47.019 out the south side of the harbor. See if anyone's 00:04:47.019 --> 00:04:50.639 around there and Okay, drive through the launch 00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:52.459 ramp and then go to the north side if we don't 00:04:52.459 --> 00:04:55.540 see anyone Okay, that sounds good. And mostly 00:04:55.540 --> 00:04:58.180 those people are doing fishing for what? Yeah 00:04:58.180 --> 00:05:01.660 right now is lobster season. Okay, even from 00:05:01.660 --> 00:05:05.319 Yeah, I mean they'll be out there with hoop nets 00:05:05.319 --> 00:05:08.439 or just fishing but the launch ramp here will 00:05:08.439 --> 00:05:13.730 have boats at launch and so You never know. There's 00:05:13.730 --> 00:05:16.110 a spot here that's good for leopard shark too 00:05:16.110 --> 00:05:18.149 on the inside of the harbor people fish for so 00:05:18.149 --> 00:05:22.829 we might contact some people in there. Michelle 00:05:22.829 --> 00:05:25.290 and I start our evening in the Marina Del Rey 00:05:25.290 --> 00:05:28.449 area. There's a large harbor there where people 00:05:28.449 --> 00:05:32.009 fish even at night and there's a busy boat ramp 00:05:32.009 --> 00:05:35.290 where recreational fishing boats come and go 00:05:35.290 --> 00:05:55.790 at all hours of the day and night. So how do 00:05:55.790 --> 00:05:57.810 you feel about driving an unmarked vehicle instead 00:05:57.810 --> 00:05:59.629 of a marked vehicle now that you're a traffic? 00:06:00.509 --> 00:06:04.870 I really miss my truck. Everyone's like, oh no, 00:06:04.889 --> 00:06:07.629 this is so much better, but I like having a marked 00:06:07.629 --> 00:06:12.449 car. Especially driving around LA. And it's not 00:06:12.449 --> 00:06:14.589 like I have a light bar. I have lights in here, 00:06:14.589 --> 00:06:18.240 so it is very different. And I had a cage, but 00:06:18.240 --> 00:06:22.420 I'm not on patrol all the time anymore. When 00:06:22.420 --> 00:06:25.399 I was a patrol lieutenant, I was on patrol all 00:06:25.399 --> 00:06:28.319 the time. So now you're more like a fed driving 00:06:28.319 --> 00:06:32.259 around with your covert red and blues. Yes. Now 00:06:32.259 --> 00:06:34.139 you know what it looks like. This is my wellness 00:06:34.139 --> 00:06:38.040 patrol and I was gonna lose it if I didn't get 00:06:38.040 --> 00:06:41.879 out in patrol. Thank you for going out with me 00:06:41.879 --> 00:06:44.689 tonight. I'm happy to be of service. Yes. which 00:06:44.689 --> 00:06:47.129 we should talk about that you're now so you've 00:06:47.129 --> 00:06:49.110 promoted you were a lieutenant in charge of a 00:06:49.110 --> 00:06:54.449 squad in the south la yes right so tell us tell 00:06:54.449 --> 00:06:57.430 me about the uh the wellness captain position 00:06:57.430 --> 00:07:01.949 yeah so i promoted in october um interviewed 00:07:01.949 --> 00:07:04.550 for this captain position so i work for headquarters 00:07:04.550 --> 00:07:10.269 now and it's wellness risk and policy so the 00:07:10.269 --> 00:07:18.079 wellness part is peer support and kind of I Guess 00:07:18.079 --> 00:07:22.579 expanding our wellness. It's pretty new I'm the 00:07:22.579 --> 00:07:26.160 only the second statewide captain for wellness 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:28.660 for our department. So just started a few years 00:07:28.660 --> 00:07:34.579 back and in charge of different special projects 00:07:34.579 --> 00:07:39.060 Hoping, you know through surveys our department's 00:07:39.060 --> 00:07:43.689 done with post and different kind of research 00:07:43.689 --> 00:07:47.449 that they've done, whether it's working on recruitment 00:07:47.449 --> 00:07:50.930 retention, getting paid, you know, maybe workouts 00:07:50.930 --> 00:07:53.529 like you guys have, the feds have, which would 00:07:53.529 --> 00:07:57.649 be really good. Just different aspects of wellness 00:07:57.649 --> 00:08:01.629 to help our officers. It's become, even in all 00:08:01.629 --> 00:08:05.870 law enforcement, like a much bigger thing. So 00:08:05.870 --> 00:08:09.120 we have a peer support team. But also working 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:12.300 on expanding that we just recently in the last 00:08:12.300 --> 00:08:15.839 like couple weeks Started a peer committee. So 00:08:15.839 --> 00:08:18.500 kind of like how a phone tree would work if there's 00:08:18.500 --> 00:08:21.120 officer involved shooting in line of duty deaths 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:24.740 Ways we respond and we have to go through like 00:08:24.740 --> 00:08:28.139 a training and certification for the peer support 00:08:28.139 --> 00:08:31.620 So everyone's vetted. So we're talking when we 00:08:31.620 --> 00:08:33.399 talk about wellness We're talking about not only 00:08:33.399 --> 00:08:36.059 just keeping physically fit, but also mentally 00:08:36.059 --> 00:08:38.690 well. Yeah Or even, I mean, wellness could be 00:08:38.690 --> 00:08:43.649 financial. Wellness is a lot, you know, physical, 00:08:44.129 --> 00:08:48.889 mental, family dynamics, work -life balance, 00:08:49.289 --> 00:08:53.190 you know. So, and then the other side is policy. 00:08:53.889 --> 00:08:56.649 So making sure, I'm going to get out of the way 00:08:56.649 --> 00:08:59.570 from these people. All our policies are up to 00:08:59.570 --> 00:09:03.049 date with Lexapol. And when there's different 00:09:03.049 --> 00:09:08.100 state and federal legislative changes that I'm 00:09:08.100 --> 00:09:11.080 in charge of it the team that I have working 00:09:11.080 --> 00:09:12.960 for me which right now is only two it's supposed 00:09:12.960 --> 00:09:16.120 to be four so we're all kind of pulling together 00:09:16.120 --> 00:09:20.440 but making sure our policies up to date so it 00:09:20.440 --> 00:09:23.259 protects our officers and the department so as 00:09:23.259 --> 00:09:26.200 laws change your policies adjust with it so yeah 00:09:26.200 --> 00:09:27.980 it's part of your kind of a watchdog for that 00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:30.120 and then make sure the policies get updated yeah 00:09:30.639 --> 00:09:34.019 And then special projects or duties as assigned 00:09:34.019 --> 00:09:38.179 whatever that ends up being so Yeah, you gotta 00:09:38.179 --> 00:09:40.179 be careful with that one michelle because if 00:09:40.179 --> 00:09:43.240 you have always been what I would call a go -to 00:09:43.240 --> 00:09:46.860 person So, you know your game warden or a lieutenant 00:09:46.860 --> 00:09:49.740 that if and the fed side if we needed help with 00:09:49.740 --> 00:09:51.720 something You were a go -to person you'd get 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:54.649 it done Yeah, and whenever special projects are 00:09:54.649 --> 00:09:57.690 attached to a go for it go to that's a dangerous 00:09:57.690 --> 00:10:03.429 situation I'm already busy. I don't know how 00:10:03.429 --> 00:10:07.570 I can be busier You know going back to the wellness 00:10:07.570 --> 00:10:10.690 thing you mentioned post and I know most most 00:10:10.690 --> 00:10:12.730 of my listeners will know what that is But it's 00:10:12.730 --> 00:10:16.090 oh, yeah, explain post. So post is peace officer 00:10:16.090 --> 00:10:19.470 standards and training. So police officers or 00:10:19.470 --> 00:10:23.090 peace officers in the state of California go 00:10:23.090 --> 00:10:26.669 through, you know, certain training and standards. 00:10:26.909 --> 00:10:30.029 It's standardized for all police officers under 00:10:30.029 --> 00:10:34.529 the penal code 830. And there's different sections 00:10:34.529 --> 00:10:40.330 like point one, point two, but post requires, 00:10:40.710 --> 00:10:43.929 there's laws that, you know, post works under 00:10:43.929 --> 00:10:47.470 and they require certain mandates, whether it's 00:10:47.470 --> 00:10:50.970 like, Officers have to have certain quarterly 00:10:50.970 --> 00:10:55.909 training or. the Academy, like whether it's a 00:10:55.909 --> 00:10:59.230 CHP LAPD doesn't matter. Everyone has to meet 00:10:59.230 --> 00:11:01.789 those certain standards for the Academy instruction. 00:11:01.870 --> 00:11:04.950 So part of the wellness we have, it's called 00:11:04.950 --> 00:11:08.649 LD 14. It means learning domain. So post has 00:11:08.649 --> 00:11:10.889 certain learning domains when any police officer 00:11:10.889 --> 00:11:13.169 goes to an Academy, they have to learn certain 00:11:13.169 --> 00:11:16.190 things, whether it's, you know, burglary, suspicious 00:11:16.190 --> 00:11:18.490 persons, domestic violence, all these different 00:11:18.490 --> 00:11:21.879 learning domains. learning domain 14 focuses 00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:26.580 on wellness. And so that's also something I'll 00:11:26.580 --> 00:11:30.519 be doing is teaching at the Academy. We haven't 00:11:30.519 --> 00:11:33.120 done it yet. Even though it's being taught, it 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:36.440 hasn't been taught by us before. So I'm really 00:11:36.440 --> 00:11:39.940 excited for that. Cool. I miss like that was 00:11:39.940 --> 00:11:42.480 part of when I was a patrol lieutenant, like 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:45.360 teaching at the Academy and being a field training 00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:48.360 officer. So That's nice. Kind of changes it up 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:50.500 so you're not behind a desk. Exactly. So I get 00:11:50.500 --> 00:11:52.539 to go to the academy. Plus you get to meet the 00:11:52.539 --> 00:11:54.779 incoming people and have an influence on how 00:11:54.779 --> 00:11:57.220 they approach the job from the get -go, right? 00:11:57.539 --> 00:12:01.399 Giving them your knowledge and, you know, experience 00:12:01.399 --> 00:12:05.480 and insight into the job. As we sat in Michelle's 00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:08.700 vehicle talking, she kept a close eye on the 00:12:08.700 --> 00:12:12.000 boat ramp. And it wasn't long before a boat caught 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:17.090 her interest. Oh, look at that. yeah that's the 00:12:17.090 --> 00:12:20.769 yeah that's the gotta habit gotta habit guess 00:12:20.769 --> 00:12:23.269 what we're gonna have he spotted you yep you 00:12:23.269 --> 00:12:26.990 sure did we got two boats so they're gonna be 00:12:26.990 --> 00:12:45.419 lobster fishing On the job, Michelle has a friendly 00:12:45.419 --> 00:12:49.139 and easy -going demeanor, but woe be anybody 00:12:49.139 --> 00:12:54.000 who underestimates her. She is a tough, formidable, 00:12:54.320 --> 00:12:57.039 and professional game warden. With her long, 00:12:57.279 --> 00:13:00.980 jet -black hair pulled back in a tight bun, her 00:13:00.980 --> 00:13:04.600 gear in great shape, and her uniform sharp, she 00:13:04.600 --> 00:13:07.620 confidently climbs aboard this fishing boat to 00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:10.120 begin an inspection of their fishing gear and 00:13:10.120 --> 00:13:14.340 their catch. Twenty -one? There's three of you? 00:13:14.700 --> 00:13:20.039 Yep. Awesome. I will take a look. Obviously you 00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:22.679 don't need to measure those. If you just want 00:13:22.679 --> 00:13:29.179 to get the report cards and licenses? No. Are 00:13:29.179 --> 00:13:32.779 they separated this way for a reason? No. Okay, 00:13:32.779 --> 00:13:35.399 so I can just count and mix them. It's okay? 00:13:35.860 --> 00:13:41.019 Yeah. Okay. You got to count them all. You can 00:13:41.019 --> 00:13:43.039 put them back in the tank here and then you can 00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:46.940 get them back in. You sure? I could just put 00:13:46.940 --> 00:13:49.039 them this way. That way you don't have to. No 00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:54.779 gloves, huh? No. I have. Alright, we got two. 00:13:56.200 --> 00:13:59.360 You have to remember that normally Michelle works 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:02.399 alone. Three, four. And now she's on a fishing 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:06.279 boat. There are five male fishermen on this boat. 00:14:07.110 --> 00:14:10.110 She's got to keep her eye on all five of those 00:14:10.110 --> 00:14:13.649 individuals, keep her eye out for possible weapons 00:14:13.649 --> 00:14:16.970 or aggressive behavior, all the while keeping 00:14:16.970 --> 00:14:20.129 an accurate count of the lobsters she's seeing 00:14:20.129 --> 00:14:23.509 on board, taking a look at each fisherman's license, 00:14:23.850 --> 00:14:26.149 and making sure that everything else on that 00:14:26.149 --> 00:14:36.980 boat is lawfully in order. We don't find any 00:14:36.980 --> 00:14:40.240 violations on this boat, and Michelle sends the 00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:44.179 fishermen happily on their way. Perfect. Thank 00:14:44.179 --> 00:14:49.899 you. My pleasure. Hi. Thank you. Yeah. No, everything 00:14:49.899 --> 00:14:53.580 looks good. This is good. Thank you. Thank you. 00:14:55.679 --> 00:14:58.279 Oh, they're actually excited. I know. One guy 00:14:58.279 --> 00:15:00.320 is very excited. Makes me so happy. Everyone's 00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:03.259 been so cooperative. Not that people aren't, 00:15:03.259 --> 00:15:05.440 but you never know. You never know. Sometimes 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:06.720 they are. Some people don't want you on their 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:09.700 boat. She's eager to check out some other areas 00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:12.600 where she thinks there might be illegal activity 00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:15.000 afoot. I mean, no boats are coming in right now, 00:15:15.059 --> 00:15:17.840 my thought is. Yeah. Let's go check the other 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:20.500 side of the harbor. On the way, I asked Michelle 00:15:20.500 --> 00:15:23.220 to talk a little bit about what it's like to 00:15:23.220 --> 00:15:26.559 work alone. And it's hard, like. just now, like 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:28.960 aboard a boat. There's five people there. We 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:33.179 work alone. So, you know. Well, that goes back 00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:36.019 to - We're used to it, but sometimes, unfortunately, 00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:39.039 like, you do your best with officer safety, but 00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:43.460 some things, you're there so well, so. Now, I 00:15:43.460 --> 00:15:45.700 remember - When they're complying, that's great. 00:15:46.139 --> 00:15:49.279 It's another good example of importance of the 00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:52.059 officer wellness, because you do work alone. 00:15:52.190 --> 00:15:54.929 And you don't realize working at night in LA 00:15:54.929 --> 00:15:58.409 anywhere, but working in LA at night is dangerous. 00:15:58.529 --> 00:16:01.009 Yeah. And there are people here who do not like 00:16:01.009 --> 00:16:06.090 law enforcement. Yep. And if that has an un maybe 00:16:06.090 --> 00:16:08.610 even an unrecognized stress on an officer that 00:16:08.610 --> 00:16:11.029 they are so used to, they put it out of mind. 00:16:11.490 --> 00:16:13.330 So actually, you know, the wellness thing is 00:16:13.330 --> 00:16:18.909 super important. Yeah, it is. Because I think 00:16:18.909 --> 00:16:20.830 I told you this when I came back from working 00:16:20.830 --> 00:16:23.730 in Africa, I didn't realize how stressed I was 00:16:23.730 --> 00:16:28.350 over there. And I felt like I couldn't figure 00:16:28.350 --> 00:16:30.789 out why I felt so relaxed when I got back to 00:16:30.789 --> 00:16:33.230 the States. And I didn't realize having been 00:16:33.230 --> 00:16:37.929 in the kind of deep yellow, light red zone consistently 00:16:37.929 --> 00:16:41.470 all the time for so long takes a toll. And so 00:16:41.470 --> 00:16:43.090 even if you're working out here and you're doing 00:16:43.090 --> 00:16:45.509 something you've done a million times, when you're 00:16:45.509 --> 00:16:47.850 on a boat with five people, you're in the yellow 00:16:47.850 --> 00:16:52.000 at minimum. Yeah, for sure. They're nicer at 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:53.840 the yellow. They don't want you on the boat. 00:16:53.980 --> 00:16:57.840 You're like maroon, you know, you're pretty definitely 00:16:57.840 --> 00:17:00.740 deep red. Yeah, you're pretty red. And you're 00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:04.279 out alone. Michelle and I eventually decided 00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:08.559 to head south toward Redondo Beach. Anytime you've 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:11.599 got two law enforcement officers in a car with 00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:16.339 time to spare, stories start to get told. The 00:17:16.339 --> 00:17:20.039 stranger the story, the more fun it is. Michelle 00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:22.680 and I reminisced about a time we encountered 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:26.519 a subject we suspected was hiding illegal lobster 00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:30.019 in his clothing. Unfortunately, we can't tell 00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:33.400 that story on this episode. But there were many 00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:35.839 instances during our careers where we encountered 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:38.420 people who smuggled wildlife on their bodies. 00:17:40.740 --> 00:17:42.700 Between the two of us and between all the people 00:17:42.700 --> 00:17:46.700 we know in our various respective agencies, we've 00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:49.039 caught a lot of people with **** down their pants. 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:52.759 uh yeah in terms of wildlife not but yeah didn't 00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:55.579 you have birds birds we've had birds monkeys 00:17:55.579 --> 00:18:00.640 yes uh down the pants we've had yeah yeah yeah 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:05.599 reptiles yeah you name it crazy in their pants 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:09.559 yep lobster that seems very dangerous but yes 00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:14.359 risky very risky but not not impossible yeah 00:18:14.359 --> 00:18:17.539 that's amazing what people will do to hide stuff 00:18:17.539 --> 00:18:21.150 from law enforcement. Yep. Didn't you find somebody 00:18:21.150 --> 00:18:23.289 with lobster in a stroller under their baby? 00:18:23.369 --> 00:18:26.630 Oh yeah. In Santa Monica? Yep. They put it under 00:18:26.630 --> 00:18:29.950 the baby, they wrap it up in newspaper, make 00:18:29.950 --> 00:18:32.470 it try to make it look like a diaper or whatever 00:18:32.470 --> 00:18:35.210 so you don't but yeah put their kids on top of 00:18:35.210 --> 00:18:39.650 it and put in a stroller or have their kids traffic 00:18:39.650 --> 00:18:44.970 it off the pier which you know contributing delinquency 00:18:44.970 --> 00:18:47.920 of a minor. We saw that at the border a lot. 00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:50.180 People would hide things in compartments in their 00:18:50.180 --> 00:18:51.900 cars, and then they'd put their sleeping child 00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:54.559 on top of the compartment, hoping you would not 00:18:54.559 --> 00:19:02.319 wake up their child to look. It's crazy. Oh, 00:19:02.619 --> 00:19:15.309 that's one of my guys! You're right, they're 00:19:15.309 --> 00:19:18.569 working Palace Verde. Yeah Well, we're heading 00:19:18.569 --> 00:19:21.329 over that way anyways, so that's right at the 00:19:21.329 --> 00:19:24.589 end on the opposite side of Rodano. Yeah. That 00:19:24.589 --> 00:19:28.450 radio traffic was another game warden in Michelle's 00:19:28.450 --> 00:19:32.130 old squad. He was working close by in the Palace 00:19:32.130 --> 00:19:36.430 Verde area, and we decided to head that way. 00:19:37.150 --> 00:19:39.690 En route to the location, I asked her to tell 00:19:39.690 --> 00:19:43.410 me another story. But not every story we tell... 00:19:43.450 --> 00:19:48.390 is hilarious. Sometimes the stories we tell are 00:19:48.390 --> 00:19:51.990 downright terrifying. I asked Michelle to tell 00:19:51.990 --> 00:19:55.490 me the story of the time her and other officers 00:19:55.490 --> 00:19:59.029 encountered a subject in the Biona Wetlands who 00:19:59.029 --> 00:20:02.269 was out of his mind after sniffing paint fumes. 00:20:02.930 --> 00:20:05.950 So you've talked about Biona Wetlands. Why can't 00:20:05.950 --> 00:20:08.250 people be in there? And what's the issue with 00:20:08.250 --> 00:20:10.309 people being in there? Why are you guys involved 00:20:10.309 --> 00:20:16.660 in that? So it's state property and It's close 00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:19.799 to the public its pens are fenced and posted, 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:22.859 you know three to the mile and It's close to 00:20:22.859 --> 00:20:25.980 the public because it harbors a lot of protected 00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:29.720 species Native American artifacts. There is a 00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:32.619 very small portion where public tours are given 00:20:32.619 --> 00:20:38.480 between our department and members of a nonprofit, 00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:42.460 but It's close to the public because of the resources 00:20:42.460 --> 00:20:45.559 that are in there, but also it's very dangerous 00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:49.140 because we do get people that trespass in there. 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:53.099 And we've had people in there with ghost guns, 00:20:53.900 --> 00:20:59.480 drugs, sheddies, ATMs. We've had a couple homicides 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:03.220 in there. It just kind of has become a haven 00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:06.240 for like people that want to camp and, you know, 00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:08.900 don't have somewhere to live. And so. They go 00:21:08.900 --> 00:21:14.380 in this area and try to escape, you know. At 00:21:14.380 --> 00:21:18.839 one time it was so bad, like a site book will 00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:21.799 hold 20 citations. I went through two citation 00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:24.680 books and still had people in there. And I was 00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:28.480 in there with LAPD at the time, but it just took 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:31.259 a long time to kind of clean it up and get everyone 00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:33.359 out, which is why it's important to stay on top 00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:36.359 of it. But that one time that you're talking 00:21:36.359 --> 00:21:39.099 about, I was in there. We're doing a patrol and 00:21:39.099 --> 00:21:42.759 we always patrol alone. But because of the activity 00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:46.400 in there, at that time, this is a long time ago, 00:21:46.400 --> 00:21:48.680 what we would do is we would have a team, but 00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:50.799 we'd split up into different parts of the wetlands. 00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:53.059 And if we needed each other, we'd get each other 00:21:53.059 --> 00:21:57.500 on the radio. And I came around the corner. And 00:21:57.500 --> 00:22:00.019 I'm going to have to cuss on this. OK, I guess 00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:03.160 you can't like I came around the corner. and 00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:07.079 there's a guy there and and this is walking through 00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:09.700 fairly thick bushes there's like yeah trails 00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:12.539 that either have been made by yeah you can't 00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:15.339 take a vehicle in there no no this is like limited 00:22:15.339 --> 00:22:17.559 view you're coming around when you say corner 00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:20.200 through the bushes is basically what yeah and 00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:23.960 this area in particular so when i walked in on 00:22:23.960 --> 00:22:26.859 the right side there's nowhere you could go it's 00:22:26.859 --> 00:22:30.779 like a wall or a cliff face and on the left side 00:22:31.410 --> 00:22:34.690 a ditch but it's very long it's like a ravine 00:22:34.690 --> 00:22:39.650 and so I'm coming down the trail like through 00:22:39.650 --> 00:22:44.029 this area and I come across this guy and he's 00:22:44.029 --> 00:22:46.430 sitting on the ground and he has a white t -shirt 00:22:46.430 --> 00:22:50.309 cut in half and blue jeans and his whole face 00:22:50.309 --> 00:22:53.390 is silver and he had spray paint so he was having 00:22:53.390 --> 00:22:57.569 spray paint and I identified myself you know 00:22:57.569 --> 00:23:01.299 said who I was, state peace officer, and that 00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:05.539 the property he was on belonged to the state 00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:07.579 of California, and he was trespassing, and he 00:23:07.579 --> 00:23:11.740 needed to leave. And he looked at me and just 00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:15.700 was cussing, telling me, **** you. And he kept 00:23:15.700 --> 00:23:20.180 calling me Mendez. And I was like, not Mendez. 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:23.099 I don't know who Mendez is. And thinking to myself, 00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:25.319 you know, and I was like, well, sir, you do need 00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:29.119 to leave. And he looked at me. And he said to 00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:32.119 me, if you know what's good for you, you'll leave. 00:23:32.339 --> 00:23:35.299 And I was like, oh, this ain't going to be good. 00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:39.460 Like, I'm going to get in a fight if I, you know, 00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:42.859 try to execute my duties as a peace officer and 00:23:42.859 --> 00:23:46.200 ask him to leave or forcibly make him leave. 00:23:46.859 --> 00:23:50.140 So I decided to back out and call for backup. 00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:54.500 And I had, I'm just going to pull over here. 00:23:54.920 --> 00:23:58.140 I had called. over the radio and two officers 00:23:58.140 --> 00:24:01.220 showed up. And before we went back in, I told 00:24:01.220 --> 00:24:04.500 them like, hey, there's only two ways we go in 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:07.359 here. We go in stacked because the ravine on 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:10.180 the side, we couldn't like go side by side necessarily 00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:13.640 or really split up much. Or we could come one 00:24:13.640 --> 00:24:16.000 from the front and one from the rear, you know, 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:18.539 and then we could contact him. And I said, we're 00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:21.920 going to have crossfire. Like if we do get in 00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:25.200 a use of force or shooting. Because if we come 00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:28.359 in from opposite sides, so we I told them the 00:24:28.359 --> 00:24:31.720 area we discuss all the tactics and we go back 00:24:31.720 --> 00:24:33.960 in we decide we're coming in from opposite ends 00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:36.299 one officer from the rear and then two of us 00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:39.160 from the front and So I told the other officer 00:24:39.160 --> 00:24:42.220 I was with like maybe doesn't like women your 00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:44.500 guy like talk to this person Yeah, I'm not gonna 00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:47.500 say anything like you going to make contact and 00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:50.450 we go in and he's standing on the ground and 00:24:50.450 --> 00:24:53.009 he has a screwdriver in his hand and he's like 00:24:53.009 --> 00:24:55.990 rocking back and forth and you know the officer 00:24:55.990 --> 00:24:59.670 contacts him and you know he's same thing kind 00:24:59.670 --> 00:25:03.750 of talking but then cussing but then compliant 00:25:03.750 --> 00:25:07.890 non -compliant and literally when they say everything 00:25:07.890 --> 00:25:12.130 goes in slow motion that's exactly what I visually 00:25:12.130 --> 00:25:15.549 saw it was everything in slow motion and we got 00:25:15.549 --> 00:25:18.259 him to put down the screwdriver And then he picked 00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:21.880 up this pair of pants on the ground and started 00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:24.920 swinging it towards us. But like in a like how 00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:27.539 you would hold a baseball bat and swing at someone. 00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:30.980 And as this pair of pants is coming around towards 00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:34.500 me and I see everything in slow motion, I see 00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:38.079 what looked like the butt of a gun or some kind 00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:41.359 of metal object. And the pants were rigid. So 00:25:41.359 --> 00:25:45.059 I knew there was something heavy or large inside. 00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:50.319 And I wanted to draw my gun, but I saw the other 00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:52.500 officer on the other side of him, so I drew my 00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:57.059 taser, but the male officer, who was kind of 00:25:57.059 --> 00:25:59.240 in front but off to my left, was at a different 00:25:59.240 --> 00:26:04.440 angle, had his gun at low ready. The officer 00:26:04.440 --> 00:26:06.720 came up from behind him, at the time we could 00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:08.819 do karate, tried to come up and grab him from 00:26:08.819 --> 00:26:11.099 behind, do karate, and the guy was fighting, 00:26:11.640 --> 00:26:15.180 and then I tased him as we were all on the ground. 00:26:16.359 --> 00:26:18.759 Yeah, that was crazy. That was the first time 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:21.740 I tased him on. And we had just got our tasers, 00:26:21.940 --> 00:26:25.859 I think. And I got tased, so I know how bad that 00:26:25.859 --> 00:26:31.079 hurts. And yeah, he complied. And then after 00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:35.619 the five seconds expire, you can either re -engage 00:26:35.619 --> 00:26:39.359 by pulling the trigger and tasing him again or 00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:42.839 stop. And he was fighting the officer. And I 00:26:42.839 --> 00:26:44.380 told him, if you don't stop, you're going to 00:26:44.380 --> 00:26:47.019 get tased again. He stopped. Long story short, 00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:50.000 we end up going to the hospital. He, every time 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:53.059 he saw me, he'd go ballistic. Really? Yeah. Like, 00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:56.980 completely ape. I've been watching him with a 00:26:56.980 --> 00:26:59.980 helicopter. I'm trying to kill him, all this 00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:04.299 stuff. And it was a late night. We had to get 00:27:04.299 --> 00:27:06.680 him cleared medically at the hospital right down 00:27:06.680 --> 00:27:08.759 the street, Marine Del Rey. And then I had to 00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:11.299 take him downtown and book him. I was his fifth 00:27:11.299 --> 00:27:14.599 assault on a peace officer. No kidding. And... 00:27:14.599 --> 00:27:22.500 Wow. We booked him. He went to prison for he 00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:25.519 got a 12 month sentence. But he served, I think, 00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:30.460 like nine of those months, maybe. And when he 00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:34.200 got out, not even two months later, I got a call 00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:36.240 from the sheriff's that they thought he had just 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:38.480 killed someone in the park with a candlestick 00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:41.640 holder bludgeoned. this guy they thought to death, 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:44.339 just like an elderly man that was walking through 00:27:44.339 --> 00:27:49.619 the park. Turns out the guy didn't die, but he's 00:27:49.619 --> 00:27:53.279 obviously mentally unstable and on drugs. He 00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:58.500 was inhaling pain when I contacted him. And he 00:27:58.500 --> 00:28:01.299 got charged, based on the trial, instead of getting 00:28:01.299 --> 00:28:05.440 charged with attempted murder, he got charged 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:08.900 with elder abuse. You're kidding me. It was ridiculous. 00:28:10.949 --> 00:28:17.990 And he got out, didn't go to prison, and I ran 00:28:17.990 --> 00:28:23.230 into him one day getting lunch. And I look over 00:28:23.230 --> 00:28:25.569 my shoulder and I see him there. And I was like, 00:28:25.710 --> 00:28:31.029 all right, like, oh, God. Oh, so that's state 00:28:31.029 --> 00:28:34.730 parks. Yeah. Different call sign. But yeah, I 00:28:34.730 --> 00:28:37.970 saw him and I was trying to avoid them. Let's 00:28:37.970 --> 00:28:54.150 hear what they got. And he came over to me and 00:28:54.150 --> 00:28:59.029 he said I said, and I know his name, Donovan. 00:28:59.410 --> 00:29:02.250 Hi, Donovan, because I'd see him regularly still 00:29:02.250 --> 00:29:05.130 in the area. I said, how are you doing? I was 00:29:05.130 --> 00:29:07.549 thinking, what do I say to this guy who literally 00:29:07.549 --> 00:29:09.849 wanted to kill me and almost tried to kill me 00:29:09.849 --> 00:29:11.829 and I would have been justified to shoot him, 00:29:11.910 --> 00:29:17.160 but thank God I didn't. He said, oh, I'm really 00:29:17.160 --> 00:29:19.559 sorry about what happened. I was like, I don't 00:29:19.559 --> 00:29:21.920 even know what to say. And I said, well, you 00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:24.559 look really good. And he said, yeah, thank you. 00:29:24.700 --> 00:29:28.839 I'm on medication. But then I saw him, like not 00:29:28.839 --> 00:29:32.259 even maybe a month later, taking an exacto knife 00:29:32.259 --> 00:29:35.039 and carving his head at the launch ramp. Whoa. 00:29:35.039 --> 00:29:38.180 That I called fire. But yeah, he, I don't know 00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:42.299 whatever happened to him. So he's a guy probably 00:29:42.299 --> 00:29:44.619 got mental illness. And then on top of that. 00:29:45.109 --> 00:29:48.509 He's doing paint, smelling paint, which is fry 00:29:48.509 --> 00:29:51.950 your brain. Holy smokes. What was in those pants? 00:29:52.049 --> 00:29:54.630 What turned out was in the pants? It was the 00:29:54.630 --> 00:29:56.829 metal pull from a speed limit sign. Oh, that'll 00:29:56.829 --> 00:30:01.269 kill you. Yeah. Wow. That was crazy. Yeah. But 00:30:01.269 --> 00:30:05.150 I've had many other, you know, instances after 00:30:05.150 --> 00:30:06.869 that where I've had to tase someone or gotten 00:30:06.869 --> 00:30:09.950 in a use of force and everything in that moment 00:30:09.950 --> 00:30:13.180 was slow motion. Like the pants coming towards 00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:18.759 my face. Like, I don't know. Me drawing my taser. 00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:21.819 It felt like really hard. Everything. I don't 00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:23.880 know. It was crazy. Like urine water almost. 00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:27.519 Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. The Palos Verdes peninsula 00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:31.279 juts west into the Pacific ocean at the southernmost 00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:35.279 part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The 00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:37.819 steep slopes of the peninsula are dotted with 00:30:37.819 --> 00:30:41.269 expensive homes. Each with an incredible view 00:30:41.269 --> 00:30:44.349 to the northeast of all the beach communities, 00:30:44.910 --> 00:30:47.750 then stretching across the metro area all the 00:30:47.750 --> 00:30:51.569 way to downtown. The rocky shores below those 00:30:51.569 --> 00:30:54.630 homes are the perfect location for fishermen 00:30:54.630 --> 00:30:59.109 and poachers alike. Just a few weeks before my 00:30:59.109 --> 00:31:02.549 patrol with Michelle, the wardens in her old 00:31:02.549 --> 00:31:05.750 squad had encountered two Chilean nationals in 00:31:05.750 --> 00:31:11.180 this area. The two of them had 236 lobsters between 00:31:11.180 --> 00:31:13.980 them. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife 00:31:13.980 --> 00:31:17.720 regulations allow each person to possess seven 00:31:17.720 --> 00:31:22.099 lobsters per day. Michelle and I planned to meet 00:31:22.099 --> 00:31:26.440 up with Game Warden Sean Houlihan, who was in 00:31:26.440 --> 00:31:29.440 position on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, keeping 00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:32.700 an eye on two suspicious fishermen at the bottom 00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:36.180 of a rocky cliff. Working a few miles south on 00:31:36.180 --> 00:31:39.119 the opposite side of the peninsula, was Lieutenant 00:31:39.119 --> 00:31:42.500 Andre Gilbert. You know, I don't know if I was 00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:45.079 ever down here. This is like the north side of 00:31:45.079 --> 00:31:48.920 Pacific. Yeah, so this is Malaga Cove. Like I 00:31:48.920 --> 00:31:51.359 knew where he was when he said, but there's two 00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:57.079 access points. God, it's so pitch black here. 00:31:57.079 --> 00:32:14.590 It's terrible. There he is. Bright as day. Hey 00:32:14.590 --> 00:32:19.089 How are you Good, I'm Ed newcomer Nice to meet 00:32:19.089 --> 00:32:22.109 you Sean retired us fish and wildlife special 00:32:22.109 --> 00:32:24.710 agent. I think you met him at our Christmas party 00:32:24.710 --> 00:32:32.309 What's what who are you watching who's this there's 00:32:32.309 --> 00:33:00.859 two guys down here Like headlamps, oh yeah It's 00:33:00.859 --> 00:33:04.480 dark where we are. To our left, stretching up 00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:07.500 the hillside, are the many lights of the fancy 00:33:07.500 --> 00:33:11.490 homes above us. Down to our right and directly 00:33:11.490 --> 00:33:16.009 in front of us is a steep dark black slope leading 00:33:16.009 --> 00:33:19.029 all the way down to the ocean There are no lights 00:33:19.029 --> 00:33:23.250 down there, but periodically I can see the flicker 00:33:23.250 --> 00:33:26.589 of a flashlight Sean points us in that direction 00:33:26.589 --> 00:33:29.549 and says he's been watching two individuals who 00:33:29.549 --> 00:33:34.130 he believes may be illegally fishing for lobsters 00:33:34.130 --> 00:33:39.059 He references snagging Snagging is the process 00:33:39.059 --> 00:33:42.400 of throwing out large treble hooks, so hooks 00:33:42.400 --> 00:33:46.579 with three barbs on them, baited with some type 00:33:46.579 --> 00:33:50.539 of meat. When the poacher feels the lobster start 00:33:50.539 --> 00:33:53.220 to pull, they yank hard on the fishing pole, 00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:56.700 hoping to snag the lobster. That's an illegal 00:33:56.700 --> 00:33:59.440 method of taking lobster in the state of California. 00:34:15.849 --> 00:34:21.070 Interesting Yeah, he's reading up his gear Looks 00:34:21.070 --> 00:34:30.150 like he has a sinker Some lead weights did the 00:34:30.150 --> 00:34:33.769 other guy come up to him The other guy's on the 00:34:33.769 --> 00:34:37.590 shore, but his lights off right now. From where 00:34:37.590 --> 00:34:40.449 that guy is, it's like 11 o 'clock. Oh yeah, 00:34:40.469 --> 00:34:45.929 I see him. We watch the two subjects on the beach 00:34:45.929 --> 00:34:49.409 for about an hour. We can see that they're still 00:34:49.409 --> 00:34:53.670 fishing. It strikes me as suspicious that they 00:34:53.670 --> 00:34:57.469 very seldom use their lights. It's only occasionally 00:34:57.469 --> 00:35:00.250 that they'll turn on a flashlight for a few seconds 00:35:00.250 --> 00:35:03.420 just to see what they're doing. Based on my experience, 00:35:03.679 --> 00:35:05.639 it looks as if they're trying to conceal their 00:35:05.639 --> 00:35:09.559 presence on the beach. Michelle decides to send 00:35:09.559 --> 00:35:12.239 a text to Lieutenant Gilbert and see if he'll 00:35:12.239 --> 00:35:16.440 come our way to join us. And she does it in typical 00:35:16.440 --> 00:35:33.159 Game Warden fashion. That's right. Yeah, that 00:35:33.159 --> 00:35:35.500 was really right. So much for your night vision. 00:35:36.239 --> 00:35:39.260 Yeah. Let's see how goofy we look. I couldn't 00:35:39.260 --> 00:35:44.340 even see us in the photo. Let me see. Did he 00:35:44.340 --> 00:35:48.480 squint? I think both of us are. Yeah. That's 00:35:48.480 --> 00:35:54.599 awesome. I'm going to send that to him. We continue 00:35:54.599 --> 00:35:57.880 to watch our subjects for about 10 or 15 more 00:35:57.880 --> 00:36:02.079 minutes before Lieutenant Andre Gilbert arrives 00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:07.619 to join us. Andre. Yeah. Hey, Andre, how are 00:36:07.619 --> 00:36:10.639 you? Good to see you. I miss you. Good to see 00:36:10.639 --> 00:36:12.280 you. How have you been, man? I've been good. 00:36:12.519 --> 00:36:14.219 Everything's good, yeah. The podcast's good. 00:36:14.219 --> 00:36:17.159 It's going good. We're recording right now. Yeah, 00:36:17.280 --> 00:36:19.300 we're doing the whole deal. Yeah, it's good. 00:36:19.380 --> 00:36:21.780 This is the originals. We're just missing feet. 00:36:22.039 --> 00:36:25.289 I know. Yeah. I think the podcast is going good 00:36:25.289 --> 00:36:28.449 anyway. I don't know. As far as I'm concerned, 00:36:28.650 --> 00:36:31.789 it is. It's growing. We got to have all this 00:36:31.789 --> 00:36:36.550 on it. This is all our kids' name. You miss working 00:36:36.550 --> 00:36:38.949 with me so much that you want to walk down, contact 00:36:38.949 --> 00:36:42.289 them with me? I will. Yeah. Do you want to walk 00:36:42.289 --> 00:36:46.329 down? If there's a violation, it's mine. Watch 00:36:46.329 --> 00:36:49.610 them out. For sure, they're using the hooks. 00:36:49.869 --> 00:36:52.010 It's just a matter of what's in that white bag. 00:36:53.509 --> 00:36:55.530 There's that white bag that looked like I had 00:36:55.530 --> 00:36:58.969 something in it. Yeah I'm pretty sure that that 00:36:58.969 --> 00:37:01.289 red truck is the one that that's the one I go 00:37:01.289 --> 00:37:04.489 with rich and I and then this lobster they just 00:37:04.489 --> 00:37:07.230 lobster and then rich contact again a couple 00:37:07.230 --> 00:37:10.630 weeks later and You know, I'm gonna want to go 00:37:10.630 --> 00:37:13.960 if they walk down there. Yeah I know you're tired, 00:37:14.519 --> 00:37:17.420 but we cannot end the podcast with, well, we 00:37:17.420 --> 00:37:19.380 were watching some guys and then nothing happened. 00:37:21.179 --> 00:37:23.900 Then it got too late. And Michelle had to go 00:37:23.900 --> 00:37:29.480 home. Yeah. That was going to be one riveting 00:37:29.480 --> 00:37:36.659 episode. Do you know how to get down there? Yeah, 00:37:37.679 --> 00:37:40.000 there's one literally right here. Knowing the 00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:42.219 fishermen could literally be there all night. 00:37:42.699 --> 00:37:45.380 We hatch a plan to make our way down the steep 00:37:45.380 --> 00:37:49.099 slope. Andre will stay at the top to keep an 00:37:49.099 --> 00:37:52.539 eye on the fishermen in case they see us. If 00:37:52.539 --> 00:37:56.380 they see us approaching, he'll warn us and he'll 00:37:56.380 --> 00:37:59.139 observe their behavior to see if they hide anything. 00:37:59.539 --> 00:38:03.420 Is it a crazy trail, Andre, like steep? Oh, OK. 00:38:04.360 --> 00:38:07.480 Everyone have a flashlight? I left mine in the 00:38:07.480 --> 00:38:10.400 car. Oh, no, I have my flashlight. All right, 00:38:10.400 --> 00:38:14.630 let's do this. Did I sign a liability waiver? 00:38:16.929 --> 00:38:22.909 You wanted to walk this trail in So hey, did 00:38:22.909 --> 00:38:26.170 you see which guy Sean was touching the bag before 00:38:26.170 --> 00:38:33.809 we go down there Just so they can't like not 00:38:33.809 --> 00:39:02.119 claim it, you know, I know this It's now approaching 00:39:02.119 --> 00:39:05.739 midnight and we start to make our way down the 00:39:05.739 --> 00:39:09.900 dark, steep, slippery slope. We're not using 00:39:09.900 --> 00:39:12.559 flashlights. We don't want them to know we're 00:39:12.559 --> 00:39:33.559 coming. We finally safely make our way to the 00:39:33.559 --> 00:39:37.719 bottom of the steep slope. We're concealed from 00:39:37.719 --> 00:39:40.320 the fishermen by a slight bend in the coastline. 00:39:49.199 --> 00:39:52.099 I can't see them at all now. We're gonna wait 00:39:52.099 --> 00:39:55.559 till Andre's on top of them. For sure. Well that's 00:39:55.559 --> 00:39:57.239 good that you can't see them though. We could 00:39:57.239 --> 00:40:00.099 make our way down. I don't think we can go much 00:40:00.099 --> 00:40:02.699 beyond this bush though. Oh really? Yeah because 00:40:02.699 --> 00:40:05.579 they almost got us with their light. It's about 00:40:05.579 --> 00:40:08.079 a hundred yards between us and the fishermen 00:40:08.079 --> 00:40:12.440 and the beach here consists of nothing more than 00:40:12.440 --> 00:40:17.369 slippery jumbled uneven rocks. They're going 00:40:17.369 --> 00:40:20.730 to see us. There's no question. So we're counting 00:40:20.730 --> 00:40:23.769 on Andre to watch our backs and make sure they 00:40:23.769 --> 00:40:41.050 don't hide anything as we approach. We're seen. 00:40:41.949 --> 00:40:45.340 Yeah. Our position revealed. We make our way 00:40:45.340 --> 00:40:48.260 to the fishermen as quickly as possible. Shawn 00:40:48.260 --> 00:40:55.099 is the first one to get there. Do you want me 00:40:55.099 --> 00:41:09.139 to stay with him? How's it going? If you could 00:41:09.139 --> 00:41:19.039 just stand over here. Any luck tonight? Hablo 00:41:19.039 --> 00:41:24.559 ingles? Okay, un poquito espanol. Yo soy policia, 00:41:24.639 --> 00:41:31.059 departamento pescado y casa. Tu licencia? Okay, 00:41:32.079 --> 00:41:36.420 you checked his license already? Okay, do you 00:41:36.420 --> 00:41:44.440 have your license and report card? Gracias. Okay, 00:41:44.780 --> 00:41:49.840 yeah, that's good. And you have your report card 00:41:49.840 --> 00:42:03.000 for lobster? Hmm. Okay. Because we were sitting 00:42:03.000 --> 00:42:05.940 up top watching both of you for like over two 00:42:05.940 --> 00:42:11.639 hours. Between them, the fishermen have one legally 00:42:11.639 --> 00:42:15.059 sized lobster. They have fishing poles with snagging 00:42:15.059 --> 00:42:17.539 gear, but they also have what's called a hoop 00:42:17.539 --> 00:42:20.539 net, which is a legal method to take lobster. 00:42:44.059 --> 00:42:52.280 Yeah. All good. So he's good. Give him his license 00:42:52.280 --> 00:42:58.420 back. All right. Here you go. Thank you. All 00:42:58.420 --> 00:43:03.480 right. Have a good night. Be safe. Thank you. 00:43:04.960 --> 00:43:20.480 Yeah, I know. This mud is crazy. And that was 00:43:20.480 --> 00:43:26.059 the end of our contact. No violation. The wardens 00:43:26.059 --> 00:43:28.380 had spent several hours watching these fishermen. 00:43:29.280 --> 00:43:31.800 They were in a spot where they'd seen people 00:43:31.800 --> 00:43:37.380 poaching for lobster in the past. Not every contact 00:43:37.380 --> 00:43:41.650 results in a citation or a violation. That's 00:43:41.650 --> 00:44:08.469 what patrol work is all about. So we wrap things 00:44:08.469 --> 00:44:11.869 up for the night. And as Michelle drove me back 00:44:11.869 --> 00:44:14.170 to the LA County Sheriff's Station where my car 00:44:14.170 --> 00:44:18.150 was parked, I asked her what she thought about 00:44:18.150 --> 00:44:21.449 patrol work and its importance in the scheme 00:44:21.449 --> 00:44:25.050 of wildlife law enforcement. So how, after so 00:44:25.050 --> 00:44:28.969 many years working, how do you feel like, what's 00:44:28.969 --> 00:44:34.429 your thoughts about how the importance of patrol 00:44:34.429 --> 00:44:37.110 work or what these guys, these wardens we worked 00:44:37.110 --> 00:44:41.679 with tonight are doing? They're like the blood 00:44:41.679 --> 00:44:46.059 of the department. Yeah, they literally like 00:44:46.059 --> 00:44:48.500 I know it's like a term the boots on the ground 00:44:48.500 --> 00:44:53.000 but like the officers and patrol lieutenants 00:44:53.000 --> 00:44:57.699 Are like the roots of the organization I mean 00:44:57.699 --> 00:45:00.739 leadership is equally as important I think from 00:45:00.739 --> 00:45:04.559 the top down But they're the ones that keep everything 00:45:04.559 --> 00:45:08.460 afloat you know that are out there like combating 00:45:08.460 --> 00:45:12.880 wildlife crime and Putting their lives on the 00:45:12.880 --> 00:45:17.119 line like getting in these precarious, you know 00:45:17.119 --> 00:45:20.659 situation sometimes and Writing the search warrants 00:45:20.659 --> 00:45:23.539 and doing the investigations. That's what's crazy 00:45:23.539 --> 00:45:26.159 about game warden work You do it all what if 00:45:26.159 --> 00:45:29.300 what do you think about like the ability to deter 00:45:29.300 --> 00:45:36.300 crime and impact on? Well Is it a is it a lost 00:45:36.300 --> 00:45:38.219 cause that's a good cause so you're attached 00:45:38.219 --> 00:45:41.460 to it or is it it's not a lost cause but we could 00:45:41.460 --> 00:45:46.860 definitely use more people because It's non -stop 00:45:46.860 --> 00:45:50.639 like we don't have enough coverage. Yeah, and 00:45:50.639 --> 00:45:54.780 really We should have partners. I think you know, 00:45:54.780 --> 00:45:59.380 yeah, I think it's a different world than it 00:45:59.380 --> 00:46:05.380 was 17 years ago and You know Don't think being 00:46:05.380 --> 00:46:07.960 solo at night anymore is the best thing in South 00:46:07.960 --> 00:46:12.019 LA like I'm used to it because it's what I've 00:46:12.019 --> 00:46:16.480 always done and it's not complacency, but You 00:46:16.480 --> 00:46:19.019 know anytime I can meet up with another officer 00:46:19.019 --> 00:46:22.400 like tonight or I know they're out alone like 00:46:22.400 --> 00:46:27.079 I will But we do patrol so we can't not do our 00:46:27.079 --> 00:46:31.099 job, you know, we just have to be safe as we 00:46:31.099 --> 00:46:39.159 can be but I think We put a dent in the wildlife, 00:46:39.679 --> 00:46:43.940 poaching and crime and trafficking, but nowhere 00:46:43.940 --> 00:46:47.440 near the impact we could have with more people, 00:46:47.880 --> 00:46:55.920 you know. So, that's all funding. How many sworn 00:46:55.920 --> 00:46:58.380 officers are in California for California Department 00:46:58.380 --> 00:47:00.059 of Fish and Wildlife? Like all the way up to 00:47:00.059 --> 00:47:02.840 our chief? Yeah, all of them. We maybe have 400 00:47:02.840 --> 00:47:05.820 now. Oh, okay. That's surprising though, 400. 00:47:06.219 --> 00:47:10.860 You know Florida has 800, almost 900. Wow. Yeah. 00:47:11.280 --> 00:47:14.760 It's wildly variant by state on how many wildlife 00:47:14.760 --> 00:47:17.840 officers they have, right? Yeah. And in California, 00:47:17.920 --> 00:47:19.840 where you have everything, you have hunting, 00:47:19.960 --> 00:47:23.480 fishing, you have commercial fishing, you have, 00:47:23.739 --> 00:47:26.840 you know, a huge coastline. Fish businesses. 00:47:27.139 --> 00:47:28.820 Yeah, fish businesses. And we're in charge of 00:47:28.820 --> 00:47:32.059 marijuana now. Import export, marijuana grows 00:47:32.059 --> 00:47:36.829 on public land. Yeah, oil spill oil spills you 00:47:36.829 --> 00:47:41.969 have you have a huge remit But there's also you 00:47:41.969 --> 00:47:44.269 know the balance between your deterring, you 00:47:44.269 --> 00:47:47.690 know your presence tonight is a turn right? Yeah 00:47:47.690 --> 00:47:51.090 definitely Don't always have to catch people. 00:47:51.090 --> 00:47:53.789 Yes have to you have a patrol present be present 00:47:53.789 --> 00:47:57.070 be out of the Out like you said boots on the 00:47:57.070 --> 00:48:05.960 ground, right? Just show up show up This was 00:48:05.960 --> 00:48:08.340 so much fun tonight. It was fun. I miss patrolling 00:48:08.340 --> 00:48:10.059 together. I know, I miss it too. I think we need 00:48:10.059 --> 00:48:12.500 wellness patrols once a quarter, Ed. You want 00:48:12.500 --> 00:48:14.739 me to be the official wellness, the wellness 00:48:14.739 --> 00:48:17.179 ride -along? Yes, you're gonna be my official 00:48:17.179 --> 00:48:22.840 wellness mascot for the 8200 Squad Car. I can 00:48:22.840 --> 00:48:26.440 be the wellness ride -along. Yeah. Debriefer. 00:48:28.460 --> 00:48:30.420 Well, thank you for doing this even though you're 00:48:30.420 --> 00:48:33.980 so tired. You're welcome. No, I totally enjoyed 00:48:33.980 --> 00:48:37.360 it and it was so much fun. It was super fun. 00:48:37.880 --> 00:48:46.300 Yes, thank you. You're welcome. You have an incoming 00:48:46.300 --> 00:48:54.119 call. Fish and Wildlife. Hey. Hey. How are you 00:48:54.119 --> 00:48:57.409 doing? Fantastic. I just wanted to check in on 00:48:57.409 --> 00:49:00.010 you, see if you're still tening. You are amazing. 00:49:00.289 --> 00:49:02.769 I was just going to go over the radio and tell 00:49:02.769 --> 00:49:04.329 you I was going to be clear of the ride -along 00:49:04.329 --> 00:49:07.829 and I was going to be en route to HQ. Okay, I'll 00:49:07.829 --> 00:49:10.250 put you en route to HQ. I hope you were right 00:49:10.250 --> 00:49:13.329 along and had a great time. He did. It was so 00:49:13.329 --> 00:49:17.849 much fun. Awesome. All right. I'll put you en 00:49:17.849 --> 00:49:20.110 route home and I'm heading home myself. You have 00:49:20.110 --> 00:49:25.650 a great day. Thank you. You too. Bye. I want 00:49:25.650 --> 00:49:27.789 to thank the California Department of Fish and 00:49:27.789 --> 00:49:30.869 Wildlife for giving me permission to record an 00:49:30.869 --> 00:49:33.869 episode while on patrol with Captain Michelle 00:49:33.869 --> 00:49:37.150 Budish. It's always a pleasure to work with your 00:49:37.150 --> 00:49:40.570 game wardens. Thanks for listening. We'll see 00:49:40.570 --> 00:50:02.710 you next time. 8200 1010 have a good night Nature's 00:50:02.710 --> 00:50:04.730 Secret Service is written and produced by me 00:50:04.730 --> 00:50:07.650 Ed Newcomer and is co -produced by the DH TV 00:50:07.650 --> 00:50:10.530 team here at California State University Dominguez 00:50:10.530 --> 00:50:12.969 Hills Follow us on social media and connect with 00:50:12.969 --> 00:50:15.510 us online at naturesecretservice .com