Part 2: After the Verdict

This is the second part of our in depth interview with former East Haven police officer Dennis Spaulding—one of four officers indicted by the Obama DOJ in 2012 after he and his team uncovered a massive illegal immigrant fraud network using illegal license plates and insisted on doing their jobs—enforcing the law—in their small Connecticut town.

Last week the first part of this interview clearly struck a nerve.

We heard from so many of you—predominantly new listeners who were shocked by the story, who had never heard of the case... and who want to know what happened next!

This conversation has been one of our most anticipated follow-ups yet. Today in part two we pick up where that story left off: The activist priest who interfered with his duties, the trial... and Dennis takes us inside his time in federal prison—what he experienced, how he endured it, and the personal toll it took on him and his family.

He reflects on what it’s like to go from serving your community as a police officer to serving time as a federal inmate—when his youngest daughter was a newborn.

We also explore the aftermath of the case: what happened to the East Haven Police Department—and how this prosecution continues to impact him and his fellow officers to this day.

Finally, we zoom out to the bigger picture: What a pardon by President Trump would mean for these men and their families.

Former East Haven, Connecticut police officer Dennis Spaulding joins us to share his horrifying story—and it's you’ve likely never heard.

In 2012, the Obama DOJ indicted four officers from the East Haven Police Department—Dennis Spaulding, John Miller, David Cari, and Jason Zullo—after a federal investigation into allegations that members of the department had violated the civil rights of Latino residents.

This was nothing but a politically motivated prosecution fueled by anti-police activism and federal pressure to make an example out of a small police department enforcing immigration laws.

These men were not corrupt. They were not rogue actors. They were committed, decorated professionals engaged in the unglamorous work of enforcing the law in a community plagued by fraudulent vehicle registrations, gang activity, and illegal enterprises. Yet because many of those arrested happened to be undocumented immigrants, the DOJ sought to brand the entire department as racist.

Spaulding was sentenced to five years in federal prison, a punishment he and many supporters say was wildly disproportionate and the result of a case driven more by politics than justice.

In this interview, Spaulding shares his side of the story for the first time in depth—and his hopes that President Trump will issue him and his fellow officers a pardon that will allow them to move on with their lives.

Coming Next: In Part 2, we discuss the aftermath of the trial, Spaulding’s time in federal prison, and the broader questions his case raises about federal civil rights prosecutions of police officers.

Leftwing activists have been targeting Sheriff Mike Chapman of Loudoun County, Virginia over his support of School Resource Officers for elementary schools in the district... but the slogans they're screaming don't make any sense.

The Sheriff joins the podcast to discuss the unique aspects of law enforcement in his jurisdiction, give insights on school security and safety, and so much more.

Sheriff Mike Chapman has devoted a lifetime to law enforcement. His book Step Up and Lead addresses the ups and downs leaders face, examples of what works and what doesn't, and how his unique "Step Up" strategy of improved Service, Technology, Efficiency, and Professionalism can help you succeed in your own organization.

Get your copy here: https://stepupandleadbook.com

This episode discusses the impact of false narratives and misinformation on public perceptions of law enforcement—specifically regarding use of force. We address the prevalence of myths and misconceptions about police violence and the influence of these narratives on public opinion and policy.

The truth? Fatal police shootings are unlikely and uncommon. In fact, police shootings are incredibly rare. Using the Washington Post’s Fatal Force database and a 2023 Johns Hopkins University study, only .003% of police encounters results in fatal or injurious shooting.

Data, polls, and surveys cited in LELDF report Fatal Falsehoods: https://www.policedefense.org/fatal-falsehoods/

SOURCES FOR OPENING CLIPS:

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, April 20, 2021: https://www.C-span.Org/clip/news-conference/user-clip-hakeem-jeffries-we-have-a-police-violence-problem-4-20-2021/5194003

Bernie Sanders, March 3, 2019: https://www.Presidency.Ucsb.Edu/documents/remarks-campaign-rally-chicago-illinois-0

Rep. Jamaal Bowman, Feb 6, 2023: https://www.c-span.org/program/us-house-of-representatives/house-sessions-part-3/623706

What really happens when innocent law enforcement officers are wrongfully charged with crimes?

In 2022, Special Agent Mark Wagner confronted a violent career criminal who resisted arrest. Acting lawfully to protect himself and his partner, Mark did exactly what he was trained to do. A full investigation confirmed his actions were justified.

A radical prosecutor charged him anyway.

Mark joins the podcast to describe the devastating toll his ordeal took on his family, finances, and career. He shares what it’s like to face prison after three decades of honorable service—and the relief of a not guilty verdict.

Mark’s story is not an anomaly. It reflects a growing pattern of activist prosecutions that are destroying the lives and careers of good officers simply for enforcing the law. We examine how this weaponization of the justice system is chilling proactive policing, eroding morale, and putting public safety at risk nationwide.

If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love your feedback. Email podcast@LELDF.com with any questions or thoughts and please subscribe to Holding the Line wherever you get your podcasts—and leave a five-star review to help support the show.

Thanks for listening.

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Holding the Line—cutting through myths, media narratives, and political rhetoric to explore the realities facing law enforcement today.

What is the “war on cops” and when did it begin? In this episode, hosts Jason Johnson and Sean Kennedy lay the foundation for the podcast by tracing the history and evolution of the anti-cop movement in America. They examine key cultural, political, and media moments that have profoundly shaped public perception, policy decisions, and the day-to-day realities of policing.

If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love your feedback.

Email podcast@LELDF.org with any questions or thoughts and please subscribe to Holding the Line wherever you get your podcasts—and leave a five-star review to help support the show.

Thanks for listening.