LEO Round Table, May 14, 2026

LEO Round Table with Chip DeBlock S11E094, Trooper Shot Point Blank By Armed Suspect Saved By Ballistic Vest On Video Panelists talk about the National Police Week schedule. NYPD Captain demoted after speaking negatively about Mayor Mamdani. Trooper shot point blank by armed suspect saved by ballistic vest on video. Miami officers sue Matt Damon and Ben Affleck over "depiction" of them in film. LEO Round Table: Tactical Survival, Political Friction, and Hollywood Legal Battles Podcast AbstractMay 14, 2026 • LEO Round Table LEO Round Table: Behind the Badge Tactical analysis of Police Week, ballistic saves, and Hollywood's "corrupt" portrayals. Key Incident Reports 🛡️ The Ballistic Save (Missouri) A Trooper survived a point-blank shootout with an Arizona double-murder suspect. Tactical takeaway: The vest worked, but the vehicle should have been used as primary cover. 🎬 The "Rip" Lawsuit (Miami) Two Miami Sergeants are suing Matt Damon & Ben Affleck for $75k. Claim: The film "inspired by true events" falsely portrays them as corrupt thieves and murderers. ⚖️ NYPD Free Speech Dispute Captain James Wilson transferred to 911 dispatch after criticizing the "Socialist Mayor" in uniform. Debate: First Amendment vs. Paramilitary organizational directives. Expert Perspective “ As police officers, we're tasked to preserve democracy, but not practice it. — Dr. Daren Porcher, Retired NYPD Lt. National Police Week Schedule Candlelight Vigil: 45,000 cops in DC honoring the fallen. Unity Tour: Arrival of the multi-state cycling memorial. Camaraderie: "The safest place in the country" during May 15th ceremonies. Keywords:#BackTheBlue 🎙️ Host: Chip The Block⏱️ 45 min read This episode of the LEO Round Table features host Chip The Block and retired NYPD Lieutenant Dr. Daren Porcher. The discussion spans the deep traditions of National Police Week, the tactical realities of a life-saving ballistic vest in Missouri, and a unique defamation lawsuit filed by Miami officers against Hollywood A-listers. The Legacy and Lessons of National Police Week National Police Week serves as a critical period for law enforcement officers to honor fallen comrades and build professional networks. The speakers highlight key events such as the Candlelight Vigil at the National Mall and the Blue Mass, noting that the atmosphere in Washington D.C. during this time is one of total community embrace. However, Dr. Porcher recalls a "catastrophe" from the 1990s involving NYPD misconduct during the event, which led to intense Internal Affairs scrutiny and serves as a reminder of the high standards of conduct required even during memorial events. Beyond the ceremonies, the week is valued for "socialization," allowing officers to trade patches and build a lifetime of investigative contacts. National Police Week: Key Observances 🕯️ Candlelight Vigil: A moving nighttime ceremony at the National Mall featuring the reading of fallen officers' names. ⛪ Blue Mass: A traditional service held to bless those serving in law enforcement. 🤝 The Unity Tour: The arrival of thousands of officers who cycle to D.C. to raise awareness. 🛡️ Memorial Etching: The practice of "scratching" names from the memorial wall onto paper as a tribute. Political Speech and Disciplinary Action in the NYPD The transfer of NYPD Captain James G. Wilson to a 911 call center in the Bronx sparked a debate on the limits of free speech for uniformed officers. Wilson was reassigned after a video went viral showing him criticizing the "Socialist Mayor" and Democratic leadership. While some view the punishment as a double standard, Dr. Porcher clarifies that while officers have First Amendment rights as private citizens, those rights do not supersede organizational directives when in uniform. He notes that the transfer is likely not a formal demotion in rank, but a "slap on the wrist" for speaking on behalf of the agency without authorization. Tactical Analysis: The Missouri Trooper Shootout A harrowing incident in Sweet Springs, Missouri, demonstrated the life-saving necessity of ballistic vests. A trooper engaged in a head-on collision with a double-murder suspect, Francis Chavez, who was fleeing on a motorcycle. In the ensuing point-blank shootout, the trooper was struck in the chest but saved by his vest, eventually neutralizing the suspect. Dr. Porcher offers a tactical critique, emphasizing that the police vehicle should always be used as a primary source of cover. He suggests that while the trooper’s actions were valiant, awaiting backup and maintaining distance is often the safer course of action to avoid "point-blank" exposure. Tactical Debrief: Missouri Incident EQUIPMENT PERFORMANCE Ballistic Vest Stopped point-blank round to the chest. TACTICAL RECOMMENDATION Vehicle Cover Utilize engine block for ballistic protection. Miami Sergeants vs. Hollywood: "The Rip" Lawsuit Two Miami police sergeants, Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana, have filed a $75,000 defamation lawsuit against Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s production company regarding the film *The Rip*. The officers allege that while the film is "inspired by true events"—specifically their record-breaking $21.9 million cash seizure in 2016—it falsely portrays them as corrupt, depicting characters based on them stealing money and murdering a colleague. The lawsuit claims the film’s "fictionalized" elements damaged their real-world reputations, leading to questioning by prosecutors. Dr. Porcher expresses skepticism regarding the lawsuit's success, noting the difficulty of suing over fictional works that do not use the officers' actual names. Key Data 45,000: Estimated number of law enforcement officers who descend on Washington D.C. for Police Week. $21.9 Million: The amount of cash found behind a false wall in the 2016 Miami drug bust that inspired the movie The Rip. $75,000: The specific amount sought by Miami sergeants in their defamation lawsuit for emotional distress. 250,000+: Deployments of "The Glove" (CD3 technology) by Compliant Technologies with zero reported injuries or deaths. To-Do / Next Steps Encourage Attendance: Every police officer should attempt to attend National Police Week at least once for the camaraderie and memorial experience. Tactical Training: Instructors should continue to emphasize the use of the police vehicle as cover during felony stops to mitigate the risks of point-blank encounters. Policy Adherence: Officers must remain cognizant that political speech while in uniform is generally prohibited by organizational directives, regardless of First Amendment protections for private citizens. Equipment Maintenance: Agencies must ensure all officers are issued and wearing ballistic vests, as they are "bullet-resistant" and critical for survival in unexpected shootouts. Conclusion The discussion underscores the complex intersection of law enforcement tradition, tactical survival, and the public's perception of the profession. Whether surviving a high-speed shootout in Missouri or defending their reputation against Hollywood dramatization, the modern officer faces challenges that require both tactical proficiency and a keen understanding of the legal and political landscape.

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This episode was published on May 14, 2026.

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