NPA Podcast with Guest, Marique Bartoldus, Retired NYPD Detective, Author and Podcast Host

On this episode of the National Police Association Podcast, host Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith (Ret.) welcomes retired NYPD Detective Marique Bartoldus, author of 20 and Out and host of Monz on the Mic. With humor and candor, Bartoldus shares stories from a career spanning transit, patrol, street narcotics, anticrime, and field intelligence.Bartoldus explains how her daughter’s simple question, “Mommy, what’d you do at work today?” inspired a book. What began as a private account for her children became a collection of stories capturing the danger, absurdity, friendships, and unforgettable humor of police work.The discussion turns to changing public attitudes toward officers, the challenges facing proactive policing, and Bartoldus’s concerns about policies she believes undermine public safety.In this episode:Joining the NYPD after 9/11: Subway assignments, counterterrorism training, and serving alongside Ground Zero responders.The sacrifices behind the badge: Missed birthdays, holidays, and family milestones while protecting others, including people protesting the police.The humor that holds officers together: Pranks, shared experiences, and friendships that last beyond retirement.Writing 20 and Out: Preserving a mother’s police career for her children and giving readers a glimpse into daily police work.Officer safety and public safety: Bartoldus’s perspective on hesitation, scrutiny, and the importance of taking appropriate enforcement action.Confronting gang violence: Why she argues that identifying criminal networks and their activities is essential to protecting residents.Speaking out after retirement: Her podcast, interest in government accountability, and encouragement for citizens to participate in local government.https://us.amazon.com/Twenty-Out-compilation-experienced-Department-ebook/dp/B0D8WMRPQShttps://www.facebook.com/marique.bartoldushttps://www.youtube.com/@monzonthemic4u