Shawn Ryan Show - "I Was Covered in Blood" - Terrifying Moments as a Police Officer | Peak Points
The speaker shares experiences from their law enforcement career in Mexico, highlighting the pervasive influence of cartels and the lack of support from local authorities. They recount a specific incident where they were outnumbered by cartel members, illustrating the power imbalance and the danger faced by officers. The speaker also discusses the recruitment tactics used by cartels, offering money and threatening violence to coerce cooperation. Despite numerous offers, the speaker resisted joining the cartels, understanding the risks involved. They describe the emotional toll of the job, including the loss of colleagues and the constant threat of violence. The speaker's mother provided wisdom and support, advising them to leave the dangerous job and find a new path. The narrative also touches on the broader geopolitical influences, such as China's involvement in Mexico's drug trade, and the cultural challenges of dealing with trauma and finding a new normal after leaving the force.
Key Points:
- Cartels in Mexico exert significant influence over law enforcement, often outnumbering and outgunning police.
- Recruitment by cartels involves financial incentives and threats, creating a dangerous environment for officers.
- The speaker resisted cartel recruitment, understanding the personal and professional risks.
- Emotional support from family, particularly the speaker's mother, was crucial in coping with the job's challenges.
- China's involvement in Mexico's drug trade is significant, with state-sponsored activities contributing to the drug crisis.
Details:
1. 🎯 Realization of a Dangerous Career
- The speaker was involved in a highly tense and potentially violent 'Mexican standoff', underscoring the physical danger they faced.
- Their clothing was covered in blood, a stark indicator of the violence and risk inherent in their work.
- The speaker felt like they were being 'hunted', experiencing a constant threat and loss of control over their life.
- An older individual influenced the speaker by asserting that 'the body is a gift', a manipulative tactic used by a cartel to recruit and exploit them.
- In a moment of clarity, the speaker recognized the futility of their situation and decided to resign, understanding that 'winning' was not possible in their line of work.
- The statement 'no such thing as coming back home' reflects the irreversible personal change and disconnection caused by their career choices.
2. 🚨 Confronting Cartel Power
- Law enforcement officers in Baja State encountered cartels early in their career, highlighting the immediate and serious threat posed by these organizations.
- During a routine operation in downtown Tijuana, law enforcement officers, including the speaker, were confronted with a convoy of approximately 15 vehicles associated with cartels, showcasing the cartels' organized and heavily armed nature.
- The convoy included armored vehicles and individuals dressed in federal police and army uniforms, indicating the cartels' capability to mimic official forces and create confusion.
- Despite receiving alerts from the 911 service and municipal police about the convoy being municipal cops, the officers identified discrepancies, leading to a standoff situation without any shots fired.
- The incident underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement in distinguishing between legitimate and cartel-operated forces, emphasizing the need for better intelligence and identification systems.
- Law enforcement must develop protocols to deal with such encounters, including improved communication channels and verification processes to confirm the authenticity of law enforcement personnel.
- After the standoff, law enforcement initiated a review of their strategies and protocols to enhance their response to cartel threats, focusing on intelligence gathering and collaboration with federal agencies.
3. ⚠️ Lack of Support and Change Over Time
- A group of nine individuals faced a situation where they called for local police support, but no assistance arrived, highlighting a significant lack of support during critical situations.
- The group was vastly outnumbered, with only two cars compared to 15 vehicles from the opposing side, emphasizing a disadvantage in numbers and resources.
- The opposing group confidently took positions around a local restaurant, had dinner, and left without any fear or threat, indicating a lack of deterrence or enforcement.
- This incident occurred before the Philipe Ceron Administration, suggesting that administrative changes may have influenced the level of support received in later situations.
- Over time, the situation improved with more support being provided, indicating a positive change in response and assistance from the authorities.
4. 🔄 Corruption and Recruitment in Law Enforcement
- Collaboration with military and federal police was initiated to combat cartel influence, demonstrating the necessity and strategic value of multi-agency cooperation in law enforcement efforts.
- Despite increased resources, initial efforts felt ineffective due to the entrenched nature of criminal organizations, highlighting the complexity of dismantling such networks.
- The implementation of a buddy system for officer safety, requiring them to inform peers when leaving secured areas, exemplifies a strategic and practical response to immediate threats.
- Cartel members used sophisticated tactics, such as impersonating federal agents, to infiltrate law enforcement, indicating the high level of deception and strategic planning used by criminal organizations.
- Within a year of service, several officers were killed, illustrating the severe personal risks and emotional toll on law enforcement personnel combating cartel violence.
- Cartels employed extreme violence, such as attaching IDs to victims' foreheads, reflecting the brutal environment law enforcement operates within.
- The high casualty rate among a cohort of 32 officers, with many not surviving, highlights the perilous nature of the profession in cartel-dominated regions.
- Emotional advice against personal relationships, to avoid leaving widows, underscores the perceived inevitability of violent outcomes in this line of work, impacting personal life decisions.
5. 🛡️ Personal Choices and Resignation
- Many police officers, including the speaker, faced recruitment attempts by cartels, offering significant financial incentives and leading to potential arrest or death by rival groups if discovered.
- The speaker remained steadfast in rejecting numerous recruitment offers, while many colleagues either accepted or struggled with the pressure, illustrating the severe personal and professional consequences of such decisions.
6. 🌍 China's Influence on Cartels
6.1. Cartel Influence & Symbols
6.2. Police Motivations & Corruption
6.3. Certification Process & Its Reversal
7. 🕵️ Intelligence and Global Politics
- Sarah Adams, a former CIA targeter, contributes to the Shawn Ryan Show newsletter, offering a weekly intelligence brief.
- The newsletter specializes in global terrorism, detailing how terrorists infiltrate countries and the operations of various terrorist organizations worldwide.
- It is free of charge and focuses on delivering trustworthy intelligence without spamming its subscribers.
- The newsletter targets individuals interested in understanding global terrorism dynamics and intelligence strategies.
- Examples of content include analysis of terrorist organizations’ tactics and country-specific threat assessments.
8. 🔍 Chinese Involvement in Mexico's Economy
8.1. China's Economic Interest in Mexico
8.2. Fentanyl Trafficking and State Involvement
8.3. Economic Shifts and Chinese Fill-in
8.4. Political Dynamics with the US
8.5. Strategic Mineral Resources
9. 🚪 Open Borders and Drug Trafficking Dynamics
- A Canadian mining company's rights in China were revoked, linked to broader geopolitical maneuvers, including a noted conspiracy related to a Mormon Massacre in Mexico, highlighting international economic tensions.
- Cuban intelligence operations in Mexico are extensive, indicating significant foreign influence in the region.
- China's interest in Mexico is tied to its strategic objectives, with allegations of involvement in local crime and cartel activities, notably influencing the growth of the New Generation Cartel during the pandemic.
- Evidence of Chinese operations includes a $100 million cash seizure from a Chinese-Mexican individual, involved in the illegal trafficking of fentanyl and methamphetamine precursors, underscoring the scale of Chinese economic activities in Mexico.
10. 🧩 Complex International Relationships
10.1. Meth Usage in the US
10.2. Growth of Chinese Communities
10.3. Mexican Cartel Expansion
10.4. Fentanyl Impact in the US
10.5. Chinese Strategic Operations
10.6. Long-term Political Strategies
11. 💔 Coping with Trauma
11.1. Political and Economic Tensions
11.2. Cultural Perspective
11.3. China and Corporate Influence
11.4. Perceived Global Conflicts
11.5. Exposure to Violence and Trauma
11.6. Coping Mechanisms
12. 😂 Humor as a Coping Mechanism
- Humor acts as a ‘cloaking device’ to help cope with difficult situations, providing relief during challenging times.
- Personal anecdotes demonstrate humor's role in mental well-being, especially through friendships that encourage exploration beyond comfort zones.
- In cultures with limited PTSD awareness, such as in Mexico where machismo culture prevails, humor often masks true feelings about trauma.
- The narrative underscores the necessity for genuine mental health support systems to address the masking of trauma with humor and false assurances.
13. 💭 Reflecting on PTSD and Cultural Differences
13.1. Cultural Handling of Issues
13.2. Symbolism in Ceremonies
13.3. Social Media and Content Creation
13.4. Modern Cultural Disconnection
13.5. Cultural Attitudes Towards Hardship
13.6. Impact of Cultural Narratives on Mental Health
14. 👩👦 A Mother's Wisdom and Life Lessons
- A mother's wisdom emphasizes the importance of adapting to change, as exemplified by the advice that 'going back home' is not possible, indicating that personal and external changes make returning to a past state unfeasible.
- The narrative illustrates the impact of trauma and the need for self-care, as seen when the narrator unconsciously drives to his parents' home for solace after a traumatic event.
- The mother's advice to 'leave that thankless job' and recognize when a battle is no longer worth fighting highlights the importance of knowing when to let go for personal well-being.
- Volunteering and helping those in need, such as working with addicts and prostitutes, was instilled by the mother, teaching the narrator to see humanity in everyone.
- The ability to empathize and engage with people, even those who were adversaries moments before, was a lesson imparted by the mother, demonstrating the power of human connection.
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