They worked the streets. They built the cases.

In this episode of The Brighter Side of Blue, retired narcotics legends Tommy Murphy and Det. Leo Rice join the crew to reveal their picks for the top dope men in St. Louis of an era — names that dominated the streets, headlines, and federal dockets from the 1990s through the 2010s.

From wiretaps to Winnebagos, car chases to courtrooms, and murders to million-dollar busts, Murphy and Rice take us inside some of the most unforgettable narcotics investigations ever to hit the STL.

And of course, no episode like this would be complete without mentioning the legendary duo “Tommy & Tommy” — Tommy Murphy and Tommy Llewellyn — whose work shaped an entire era of major narcotics enforcement in St. Louis.

⏱ Guest interview begins at 36:52

It’s the ultimate double-entendre episode — the best dope men, chosen by the best dope men-catchers.

🎧 Watch, like, comment, and share to keep these stories — and St. Louis law enforcement history — alive.

#TBSOB #StLouis #Narcotics #DopeGame #TrueCrime #PoliceStories #TommyAndTommy #BrighterSideOfBlue #STLHistory #DrugWars #OldSchoolCops #StLouisPride

The Brighter Side of Blue crew—Danny, Tommy, JJ, and Producer John—teed up a phenomenal sit-down with retired STL legends Tom Carroll and Jeff Stone. Partners for ~18 years (with at least 16 in Homicide), they take us back to the now-defunct 7th District—the West Side beat where they cut their teeth in uniform, sharpened their instincts in the bureau, and lived the stories that shaped a generation of cops.

We dig into the neighborhoods, the tempo, and the players: the Horseshoe Posse, B.O.D. (Boys of Destruction), Sanchez “Psych” Smotherman, and Tron Hall—plus the kind of patrol-night chaos you can’t script (including a runaway dumpster barreling toward a brand-new squad). It’s gritty, fast, and funny—brotherhood and gallows humor intact—while we save the Homicide cases for a future part two.

We also open the show with a few notes from the week—remembering the Navy’s birthday, community shout-outs, and a somber tribute to a fallen Missouri officer. Because for us, the stories live on, and the sacrifices are remembered.

#TheBrighterSideOfBlue #STLPodcast #StLouisHistory #SLMPD #7thDistrict #Horseshoe #WestSideSTL #TrueCrime #PoliceStories #HomicideUnit #StreetCops #LawEnforcement #UrbanHistory #GangEra #PodcastEpisode

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Retired SLMPD Sgt. Tom Lake and Detective Jeff Stege walk us through the chaotic 24 hours that began with a South City carjacking, a murdered locksmith, and a suspect named George Bush—and ended with Sgt. Lake being ambushed at a red light and a city-wide hunt to stop a violent spree killer. Lake recounts the shooting, the scramble for help, and the aftermath; Stege lays out the investigative breadcrumb trail from Scanlan Ave. to the takedown. It’s brotherhood, black humor, and raw truth—told by the cop who lived it and the detective who chased it.

This week’s episode of The Brighter Side of Blue has it all — from off-the-wall laughs to hard-hitting cases.

We kick things off with one of our trademark chaotic openings (yes, it gets rowdy fast 😅) before settling in with Sunset Hills Police Lt. Brad Rainey and Det. Sgt. John Piesker. Together, we dive into the unforgettable summer of 2015, when Sunset Hills saw two murders in just one week — the disappearance and killing of Linda McLaughlin, and the tragic homicide of Terry Tobey.

Rainey and Piesker share what it was like to investigate two major cases back-to-back in a city often labeled “Candyland.” You’ll hear behind-the-scenes details, lessons learned, and the realities of police work when tragedy strikes even the quietest communities.

It’s classic Brighter Side of Blue — unpredictable laughs, serious storytelling, and a look at both the humor and heart in law enforcement.

Former FBI agent Frank Brostrom takes us inside two headline-making cases with surprising St. Louis links:

• The 1993 kidnapping of Kevyn Wynn, daughter of casino mogul Steve Wynn—how the ransom drop played out, how the suspects were tracked, and the St. Louis surveillance that helped close the case.

• The stolen Norman Rockwell painting “Russian Schoolroom”—missing for decades after a Clayton gallery heist and later discovered in an A-list collection, sparking a battle over provenance and recovery.

#BrighterSideOfBlue #FBI #TrueCrime #KidnappingCase #KevynWynn #SteveWynn #LasVegasCrime #NormanRockwell #ArtHeist #StolenArt #LawEnforcementStories #BehindTheBadge #TrueCrimePodcast #StLouis

In this episode of The Brighter Side of Blue, we are joined by retired St. Louis legends Tony Rask (37 years) and Tony Lachenicht (36 years) to relive their time in the 3rd District—one of the busiest, toughest, and most memorable assignments in the city.

From high-speed car chases on icy streets to the chaos of the projects, the guys share wild stories of characters like Sleepy and the notorious Seahorse family. They dive into what patrol life was really like, the bonds formed on nightwatch, the softball rivalries that kept things competitive, and the legendary mentors who shaped a generation of cops.

These are just a few of the stories from the 3rd District—many more are still to come.

#BrighterSideOfBlue #PolicePodcast #StLouis #TrueCrime #3rdDistrict #LawEnforcement

A police family with three unsolved homicides. In this powerful episode, we sit down with Charlyn O’Brien to revisit the killings of her grandmother (1952) and her brothers Brady (1990) and Kelty (2008)—all still cold. Former FBI Special Agent–turned–PI Frank Brostrom joins us to walk through what’s known, what was missed, and why fresh tips now could finally crack these cases.You’ll hear:The 1952 robbery-murder of Charlotte’s grandmother and the eyewitness account that survived with herBrady O’Brien’s last night, the party, and the chase that ended in a brutal attack—plus the 2020 tip that reshaped the timelineKelty O’Brien’s 2008 early-morning ambush near work and why investigators believe it was a targeted, possibly for-hire hitHow retired legends from STL homicide and prosecutors are re-reviewing leads todayThe O’Brien family’s resilience—Mark O’Brien’s service, health fight, and the community that still rallies around themKnow something—anything—about Brady or Kelty’s cases?Call CrimeStoppers: 866-371-TIPS (8477). Tips are routed to Frank and vetted with local/state/federal partners. Even a small detail or something you heard years ago could move this forward.🎧 Hosts: Danny, Tommy, JJ & Producer John📍 Recorded in St. Louis • “The Brighter Side of Blue”#TrueCrime #ColdCase #StLouis #JusticeForBrady #JusticeForKelty #LawEnforcement #BrighterSideOfBlue

This week we take it back to the 90s and early 2000s—when St. Louis’ 5th District was lit up with gangs, dope sets, and street violence. Our guests, Joe Crews, Billy Noonan, and Tony Boone, were right in the middle of it.

💀 Murders.
😂 Funny moments.
💊 Dope houses.
👊 Gangsters.
They saw it all—and now they’re telling the stories.

But let’s talk setups:

• Billy Noonan coming in hot from rural Missouri, American flag flapping proudly while he chain-smokes like it’s a competitive sport.

• Tony Boone dialing in from the cab of his 18-wheeler, rolling down some lonely Nebraska backroad.

• Joe Crews showed up in-person… but not to some sterile studio—he joined us in the basement of a bar, the only place fitting for a trip down memory lane through the 5th District.

It’s gritty. It’s raw. It’s entertaining.

#PolicePodcast #StreetStories #TrueCrimePodcast #StLouis #STLCrime #CopLife #StoriesFromTheStreet #PodcastLife