During a law enforcement career filled with vehicle pursuits, foot pursuits, major investigations, and high-profile incidents, Rob McCrary was involved in five officer-involved shootings, two of which resulted in fatalities. In this episode, Rob talks openly about several of those incidents and the lasting impact they had on his life.
Rob began his career with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in 1990. After two and a half years, he lateraled to the Pomona Police Department in Southern California, where he served until retiring in 2017.
During his time with Pomona PD, Rob worked a variety of assignments, including patrol, K-9, investigations, and the Department’s SWAT Team, where he served as a sniper.
Over a four-year period, Rob located more than 150 occupied stolen vehicles. He became the first patrol officer in Los Angeles County to receive the California Highway Patrol Lifetime Achievement Award for locating stolen vehicles. During his first year as a K-9 officer, Rob and his partner located another 30 occupied stolen vehicles.
Rob was married to another Pomona police officer, and they had two daughters together. Tragically, his wife passed away in 2012. Rob remarried in 2020, and he and his wife now live in Southern California.
You won’t want to miss this episode as Rob shares stories from his career and takes us inside some of the many high-profile incidents he experienced along the way.
Show Notes
01:23 Podcast Welcome Setup
02:32 Growing Up Upland
02:48 BMX Adrenaline Years
04:31 Choosing Police Work
07:36 Car Theft Obsession
09:46 February 1995 OIS
11:17 Fight Over Revolver
27:08 Aftermath Brain Matter
29:32 Fear Versus Urgency
31:08 Porch Gunfight Setup
34:22 357 Ambush In Dark
35:31 Pinned Behind Volkswagen
36:30 Charging Up The Stairs
37:16 Aftermath And Hearing Loss
38:05 Suspect Background And Clicking
39:10 Stress Effects And Gear Choices
41:09 Fourth Shooting In Two Years
41:30 K9 Foot Pursuit Shooting
42:52 Career Hearing Damage And K9 Life
43:54 Which Shooting Haunts Most
45:28 Reputation And Justified Shootings
48:41 Injuries And Wife’s Death
52:40 Nightmares And PTSD Help
57:22 Missing The Old Job
01:00:46 Advice To Younger Self
01:03:22 Life After Retirement
01:04:27 Final Thanks And Wrap Up
PHOTOS
