Undercover Narc and SWAT Operator, Unfairly Forced to Resign, Now an Attorney Fighting for the Rights of Cops in the Workplace: The Bridget Truxillo Story

Send us Fan MailNobody likes a bully! One of the reasons myself and many others became cops was to protect those who couldn’t protect themselves. That’s what cops should do! But, what happens when your own sheriff’s department turns on you and becomes the bully? What do you do when your bosses and teammates turn on you? Where do you turn?My returning guest today, former Sheriff’s Deputy Bridget Truxillo, was a sheriff’s deputy in Florida for years. She worked undercover in the narcotics unit and was also the department’s first and only female SWAT operator. Unfortunately, she was the victim of workplace harassment, bullying, and discrimination. She just ‘took it’ until her own department drove her to resign. Bridget Truxillo went on to the next chapter of her life and became an attorney. That firsthand experience is why she founded Lady Law Shield, a firm built specifically to give law enforcement officers and first responders legal guidance on the employment issues they run into at work — things like workplace disputes, retaliation, and the fallout that can follow difficult decisions made on the job. Bridget works at the point where the job and the law collide, helping officers protect their careers while making sense of a system most attorneys don't understand from the inside. This conversation takes lots of unexpected twists and turns that I think you will find useful if you are a cop or if you want an insider look into the confusing and sometimes cruel world of law enforcement. It was a treat talking to Bridget again and hearing her amazing story of resilience and how she is of service to the law enforcement community.In today’s episode, we discuss:·      Bridget’s beginnings in law enforcement.·      What her rookie year looked like. ·      Being brought into undercover work after only having one year on the job.·      How and why she tried out and earned a spot on the SWAT team.·      How was she treated being the only female on the SWAT team? ·      Being the victim of workplace harassment and discrimination and how she dealt with it.·      What led to her decision to resign from law enforcement? ·      How can we as cops transition from being a cop to civilian life seamlessly? Is it possible?·      What she sees as the biggest mistakes cops make transitioning into civilian life.·      Her work as an attorney, founding Lady Law Shield, helping first responders who are victims of workplace harassment and discrimination.All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.Visit Bridget at her law firm, Lady Law Shield.Check out Bridget at the following conferences!Rise: Women in Policing | San Diego | September 2026 Tuesday, September 8, 2026 to Friday, September 11, 2026. I am speaking Thursday, Sept. 10,  10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., title: Navigating Workplace Challenges Without Derailing Your Career. 2026 6th Annual National Law Enforcement Survival Summit, September 28-30, Las Vegas, NV. I am speaking September 30, title: Leadership Under Scrutiny: Reducing Liability and Workplace BreakdownCheck out our conversation from two years ago.Head on over to my website!What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon. Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click thSupport the show