Ask A Cop
Ask A Cop is live and unscripted. Each episode gives other officers and the community a window into a police officer's world and provides authentic community engagement with law enforcement professionals.Listeners can relate by asking questions, hearing some of their own struggles, and finding solutions. Despite preconceived notions, these men and women, who serve and protect, are approachable and eager to answer questions. This resource provides meaningful engagement for officers, their families, and the community. As chaplains, we have witnessed the immeasurable rewards of simply sitting down and having these positive conversations. Produced in partnership with Gods Way Radio.
Ask A Cop
042: From Military Service to Miami Lieutenant: Joseph Guell's (Lieutenant City of Miami Police)
Lieutenant Joseph Guell shares his personal journey from military service to a 31-year law enforcement career, emphasizing the emotional resilience required in the field. The episode highlights the importance of community connection, family support, and mental health awareness for officers, while offering practical advice for those transitioning to civilian life.
• Importance of community relationships in law enforcement
• Insights on emotional and mental health challenges faced by officers
• The role of faith and personal resilience in navigating difficult times
• Transitioning from an active duty role to civilian life
• Emphasizing integrity and representing one's family name in service
Welcome to Ask a Cop. We're sitting down with members of law enforcement to have an authentic conversation aimed to give you a window into the lives of those men and women serving the community. You'll hear about how you can support us at the end of today's episode, but for now, get ready to Ask a Cop.
Razz Vazquez:Ask a cop. Good morning. Good morning, here we are. Ask a cop, first Tuesday of the month. You're listening live right now through God's way radio 104.7 FM on your radio dial or maybe the app. You go to Android Apple store, you type in God's way radio, install the app and, I love to say it, now you can take the radio ministry with you. My name is Raz, we have Adrian on the controls and then we have our guest. I'm going to allow our guest to introduce himself, but let me tell you the phone number is 786-313-3115.
Razz Vazquez:If you have a question for a cop, if you have a comment for a cop, well, this program Ask a Cop is about having different cops come into the studio. We talk with them, we interview them and then we see where community and cops connect. No COVID right now, you know they have coffee with a cop, they have donut with a cop. This is just radio and heart-to-heart conversation with a cop. And since I'm trying to fight the calories, I like it. I like it that way. But anyway, enough said. Good morning sir. Good to have you with us. Please introduce yourself, lieutenant.
Joseph Guelle:Good morning. My name is Joseph Guell, retired City of Miami Lieutenant. I actually retired at the rank of Sergeant.
Razz Vazquez:All right. Well, you know, Joseph is a good name. Anytime you come up with the J Joseph name, that's a good name.
Adrian Caballero:Guell, I think we adrian wants to say something just so for the listener. Right now you might be saying well, what do you mean you? You retired as a sergeant. Why are we calling you lieutenant? And you know, in the police? Uh, it's a paramilitary and you have different ranks. You have an officer, sergeant and, and really none better than the other, but just different responsibilities. Yeah, but I, if you don't know, maybe you can explain it a little bit better. When you retire, it's something special that's done where whenever you retire, they kind of give you this different title as you retire or position, just for anyone listening that doesn't know about that. They get to learn something.
Joseph Guelle:Absolutely so. Thank you for the question and it's customary something? Absolutely so. Thank you for the question and it's customary when you retire at the rank you retire, they bump you up to the next rank. So if I would have retired as an officer, I'd actually be a sergeant retired sergeant with the city of Miami, and it's a nice gift. It's a nice gift for accolades for all the many years I, for example, did 31 years with the city of Miami, many years. I, for example, did 31 years with the city of Miami and it was a very nice gift you know, but again, that's a title.
Razz Vazquez:You know it's good, you're listening to Ask a Cop and you're also going to get this through the podcast. Whatever choice or platform you use to get your podcast, you'll be able to listen in. We have a Lieutenant, joseph Guell, with us in the studio today. 31 years with MPD Miami Police Department. Sir, thank you for your service, your dedication, and I have to say this because it just came to heart and mind. It's funny because when you retire, it's not that you lay back and you forget. It's almost like you still have a presence, you still have a responsibility, you're still a community member. You're a member of the community and it's funny.
Razz Vazquez:I like the thought of that. That, hey, don't drop your guard down. On the contrary, make sure you not only retire well, but there's a finish line beyond retirement where your what would I say this your personality, your legacy, don't spot it, don't spot it, don't mar it. So I like that idea. I don't know where it came from, maybe we ought to do some study, but I like the spiritual perspective behind that, that hey, you retired at this rank, but hey, the responsibility of the son got higher. You don't owe nine anymore every day, but don't drop your guard. That's something that law enforcement cannot afford to do, absolutely. I don't know if you have any comments on that, but please, you got the mic.
Joseph Guelle:Absolutely, Pastor Raz. My legacy continues because my son stayed.
Razz Vazquez:Interesting. We're going to get to that.
Adrian Caballero:Shout out to Danny. Yay, I hope he's listening.
Razz Vazquez:I hope he's listening.
Joseph Guelle:I'm sure he is Good, good, good.
Razz Vazquez:So, lieutenant, let me ask you this question professions in the world. You know our hope right now here is that people that are listening, the average citizen that doesn't know much about law enforcement. Why would anybody choose to become a law enforcement officer? 31 years ago I think the profession was so much different. I think the community respected and recognized how much law enforcement really gives. Today it's changed so kind of help us with that. 31 years ago, of all the choices, why law enforcement?
Joseph Guelle:So, prior to law enforcement, I was in the military. I did six years active duty with the US Air Force and it's just in the heart, the serving heart. You always want to serve others. You think of others before you think of yourself, and I think it's an innate thing in our DNA. It's built in our DNA that we want to help others, pretty much like Christ did to us. You know, yeah, I love it, but that was my goal, my goal as a young man. I was in the Boy Scouts, troop 92F, that was, I didn't say Michael.
Joseph Guelle:I remember that. And then, obviously, from that it just built on, built on. And I'll never forget the conversation with my father when I was 17,. Because I was 17 when I joined the military. And he goes are you sure you want to do this? And my father was always a serving man as well, but I'll never forget he took me to the day he took me to MEPS. Where I was leaving, he told me hey, we can still back out of this.
Razz Vazquez:And I go no, dad, we're going to press forward, we're going to press on. That's good, and you know, I like a dad like that, a dad that wants whatever the son does to think about it, because there's something very important when you have your mind in it, hopefully your heart is there too, and so I appreciate that. So, telling us about yourself, it sounds like you're a Miamian or you're like an implant into Miami.
Joseph Guelle:Born and raised 305. Born and raised.
Adrian Caballero:That's good. What school? What school did you graduate from? High school?
Joseph Guelle:LaSalle High School Mercy Hospital. Oh hey, all right, go Royals.
Razz Vazquez:Yeah, we were similar, I was close by Good school and good view man, view man that mercy hospital's got the best. Okay, all right. So so tell us about uh, tell us about, if you can uh, the transition as far as you know your childhood, your, your your school days. You know you go into the military at 17. Obviously, uh, from my, from my standpoint, there's a certain maturity in you that that you're willing to go. You know, I think, the days that we live in I don't want to speak bad about anybody, but that's just my observation A lot of kids are in the screen and they don't want to leave the house. You know, as a matter of fact, I think we're living in days that grownups come back to the house. I couldn't wait to get out of my house and have my own house and go on with life, but I don't know if that's the but. Anyway, back to you, lieutenant, tell us a little bit about your childhood and your getting off into the military.
Joseph Guelle:So I grew up in Miami, Participated in many activities in St Michael's as well. Then that opportunity just came about joining the military at the age of 17. I turned 18. They sang happy birthday to me at basic. Oh man. And I'll never forget the basic training instructor telling me I'm your mom today. Wow, so that was Things have changed. Yeah, things have changed, but something you said, pastor, as back then we didn't have these things, these electronic devices in our hands, that attracts a lot of our attention nowadays, even as an adult.
Intro:Yeah, yeah, yeah. I catch myself saying what can we expect about our kids? I'm guilty, I'm guilty. You know yeah.
Joseph Guelle:But something my wife always tells me it's not what's taught, but what's caught. Yeah, your kids see you on the phone as you're talking to them at meals or whatever. Yeah, what are they going to do?
Razz Vazquez:I like it. You, whatever. What are they going to do? I like it, you know, and you bring us to the next subject. By the way, you're listening to Ask a Cop. Our guest in the studio today is Lieutenant Joseph Weld, 31 years with MPD, and we're going to get into his career in a moment. But something that I wanted to ask you was about you know. You mentioned something about your best backup. Now, your best backup, your 315, your wife.
Joseph Guelle:Tell us how long have you been married. So I've been married second time around, all right, 25 years. God bless her. She was God's gift. Yeah, she's actually the one that led me to the Lord, wow, so I'm very grateful for her.
Razz Vazquez:Good, good, how many kids?
Joseph Guelle:I have three kids from my previous marriage Danny, nicole and Lauren and Christine, and I have Jared and Bailey All right, all right.
Razz Vazquez:So married 25 years and continuing, so you go to the military. What branch did you participate in In the US Air?
Joseph Guelle:Force, air Force A 305, kid obviously. And then I got sent to Grand Forks, north Dakota. I'd never seen so much snow in my life, you being from up north.
Razz Vazquez:I've seen my share. Yeah, when you got 305 in your heart, you come back to the tropical. It was scary.
Joseph Guelle:It was scary. So I lived in North Dakota for about two years and then I just wanted to get out two years and then I just wanted to get out, all right.
Razz Vazquez:All right, so you do your military tour, you get out. How do you go into law enforcement and why Miami Police Department?
Joseph Guelle:So I think it's a progression. It's, you know, the serving of your country. And from serving the country then I just wanted to continue serving my community, and what better place than where you grew up? So I came back. I applied for various agencies. Miami came about. I grew up in the city of Miami. I write off of 37th and Flagler, and what better department. That's right.
Razz Vazquez:True blue, real cops. I like it, I like it. So you go to BLE, you go to your class 142. 142.
Joseph Guelle:Yes sir, to BLE you go to your class 142. 142. How did you feather in it? How did you do? How did you weather we grew? It was a great bonding experience. I developed a lot of friendships in basic training, a lot of people that are still in the department, many that have retired as well. But it was a great bonding experience with a lot of these guys waking up, running and pushing each other to the limits.
Razz Vazquez:Yeah, you know you're listening to Ask a Cop and I hope you're listening. I hope you're listening. So we get to know Lieutenant Well, here, it's good to know that man. He sounds to me like a human being. You know he's talking things about serving. He's talking things about bonding. You know he's not an island. He son, daughter, wife, husband. You know, and that's important. So, lieutenant Well, back to you.
Razz Vazquez:So you graduate, tell us a little bit about how it is. You know you got your FTO, you know your training officer and you get your first calls. Tell us a little bit about that, about as your career unfolds. You know we want to take you back. Do you think, do you have any sense of like? Man, what is this? I got more than I bargained for. Or do you have that sense of like? Wow, I was born for this Because I got to take you back. And if you're law enforcement, you know what I'm talking about. You know it's like a calling.
Razz Vazquez:When you're a true cop, it's almost like you didn't choose the profession. Somebody chose you for the profession. When you do it right, I mean, you guys are running into the bullets, you're running into the fires, you're running into those drowning babies, you're running into domestics. I mean, you're always running into problems. It's not, like you know. Sometimes people joke around and they say, man, they eat donuts, they deserve to eat a donut. It's not easy being a cop, but that's not what you do. So tell us a little bit about the unfolding, the doors, opening that you're in service. Hey, I got a picture of two of Miami's finest. Oh, they're on the line. Let's go to the phone call these two guys. You better watch them, lieutenant. Well, you're ready, Get ready. Hey, good morning. Good morning, you're at Ask a Cop, are you there?
Manuel Inguanzo:Good morning, good morning, pastor Raz. This is Manny hey, he's ever had, oh my goodness, 30 years ago oh my goodness.
Razz Vazquez:Yes, willie diaz. Hey, good to have you, sir willie, and uh, manny, what do you guys have to say to lieutenant well?
Manuel Inguanzo:man, like you said, you know he's a father, he's a son, but, uh, one of the most important things, that he's a brother in Christ and he's a friend Amen, a true friend and that I'm happy to say that he made it all the way and he finished this race and now he's starting a new chapter. So the Lord has placed things in front of him amazingly, and his son is also a tremendous police officer and asset to the city of Miami as well. My partner in crime that's sitting next to me here. He's a little shy on the radio. He doesn't want to talk.
Razz Vazquez:Well, tell him, forget about the radio. Tell him if he would talk to me, if he would just say hello to me. I'd like to hear his voice. Hey, willie, are you there? Muchacho, oye, como esta. Oye, man, I hope you guys are listening. I don't know what happened. I have somebody in the controls here on the phone that did what I do sometimes and maybe he cut you off. So anyway, miami Finals. Thank you, willie. I guess the Lord was looking out for you, man, you didn't want to talk, but the Lord saved you. Hey guys, thank you for calling. It's always great when a fellow officer calls an officer, because you guys know what it's like and you not only read each other, you can evaluate each other. Okay, so ask a cop, you're here, you're back. Good morning, who are we talking to? Hello, hello, hello, yes, there you are. Where are you calling from? By the way, where are you guys, at what location? Alapata, traveling from?
Albert Guerra:Westchester to.
Razz Vazquez:Tamiami, oh Westchester to Tamiami, one of the chaplains on the phone here. What do you have to say to our guest today, lieutenant Well?
Caller:So I want to know what tips or what wisdom.
Razz Vazquez:Hold on a second. Hold on a second. I'm going to have to get on the phones in a moment. What's going on? Okay, anybody there? Hello, okay, go ahead, continue, please.
Manuel Inguanzo:I want to know what tips or what wisdom he gave his son when he started his law enforcement career.
Razz Vazquez:Hey, that's why you're a chaplain man. That's a good question. What tips, what insight does a father a law enforcement officer father give to a law enforcement officer? Son, lieutenant, you got the mic.
Joseph Guelle:Well, my honest response to that was initially don't do it, Wow.
Razz Vazquez:Wisdom Don't do it, wisdom.
Joseph Guelle:Initially, danny was set to be a firefighter and then, uh, in the process, was where he decided uh, while he was in the fire, in the process of the fire academy, uh, he decided to become a police officer and he came up to me and he says hey dad, the fire thing's not going well.
Joseph Guelle:I'm going into law enforcement and it wasn't about not doing it for not serving. But as a father you know you get concerned because in the 31 years to say that I've been injured a couple times on duty, and even those injuries are kind of funny now looking back at them. But as a dad I remember my father watching me in the hospital and tears coming out of his eyes and it's not a simple road.
Razz Vazquez:It's not a simple road You're listening to Ask a Cop and I love it when I get cops in here that they can put their life on the line in a moment and not think twice. But afterwards there's emotions there and I love the fact that there's still emotions. You know, not too long ago I was interviewing a cop which, by the way, as a chaplain, I need to get together with him and just talk, cause talking out. You know, you, you sort it out, you, you get it out. But the, the, the cop here choked up. I remember I've had chiefs here choke up and I love that. I love that because the greatest man I know, jesus Christ, he wept, and so that helped me.
Razz Vazquez:There was a time I was growing up I said I don't weep, I'm a man. And then I realized wait a minute, wait a minute. If Jesus wept, I can weep. And then, when you get older, I'm weeping all the time. Now, like a little girl, I cry. But anyway, back to you, lieutenant. Well, I like what you of wisdom. You know, your son becomes a cop. Hey, if you're wise, you might just want to just pray, be quiet and let the son figure out. Let the son maybe come to you and ask you some questions, because sometimes, isn't it true? We try to talk and sometimes it's not. The moment isn't right to be, received Correct 100%.
Razz Vazquez:But back to you. You can finish your thought. You're talking about your dad watching you injured and tears coming to his eyes and so, as a dad, as a son, you saw your dad weep. Now you get to be a dad. Now you're talking about your son. You got the mic, sir.
Joseph Guelle:And I just thought about that and I told him think about it real hard. But once he committed to it, I was behind him and I was more like a drill sergeant in that process, in this process of becoming a police officer, because I told him that nothing's free in life. Somebody paid I like it. Somebody paid for us I like it. So if this is what he wanted to do, he's going to put 100% behind it and he's going to give it 100%. So I pushed him to the day that, the day he went to try out, he had to run an extra lap because he pulled in as they were getting ready to run the course and I told him hey, if you're 15 minutes early, you're still late. The Lombardi time yeah. So he had to run an extra lap and that was a dead time.
Razz Vazquez:Wow, I like that. I like that. You know it's interesting. You're listening to Ask a Cop. We have retired Lieutenant Guell with us here 31 years with MPD the last caller, by the way, you can call 786-313-3115. If you're listening to this and podcast and recording, you can still call. You can still call, especially if you're in need, especially if you're law enforcement. Call, especially if you're in need, especially if you're law enforcement.
Razz Vazquez:The profession it's tough and maybe you're remembering some things right now when you started and we don't know, we give this program up. Really, we're all about God. We're all about God is the one that has us here, has Lieutenant Will here. But to finish your thoughts, sir, I like that because your job was son, if you're going to be a cop, it doesn't happen by accident. You got to train, you got to prepare, you got to be like a sponge that you're going to absorb the much as you can. So I like what you said. Somebody paid for your academy. You know, even if you pay for it, someone is paying for you to have the opportunity to be in the academy because there was other officers that went before you and they were serious about it. 786-313-3115. I got somebody on the phone. Hey, good morning. You are at Ask a Cop. Whatever town are you calling from?
Jose:Good morning. Good morning, how are you?
Razz Vazquez:Doing well. How are you, sir? Wes Kendall hey good to have Wes Kendall on the line here. What do you want to? Say to Lieutenant.
Jose:I heard Wes Kendall was represented. So you imagine we need to call. We need to, especially today. Yeah, today, when you have such a special gentleman person, brother, friend, officer sitting in the microphone, I mean, what can I ask a man that he's been a Bible all his life? You know all his life he's been a Bible all his life. You know all his life has been an open book.
Razz Vazquez:I mean, I mean it sounds to me. It sounds to me like you know, Lieutenant Joseph. Well, he knows your voice. He's kind of laughing like I know this. I know this was Kendall Rivero guy.
Jose:Yeah, yeah, I mean, I mean, who doesn't know Officer Well, in Miami? I mean it's a, it's a kind of an officer. It's a kind of an officer that when you get a hot call, that's the guy you want to have next to you. Wow, and it's a kind of friend that when you have a need you want to have it next to you as well. You know I like this program.
Razz Vazquez:I like this program today because I know I'm talking to men that you don't want to spar with these kind of men, but I like a man that has emotion, not for Hallmark. But let me tell you what you're saying. What you're saying is that Lieutenant World is the kind of guy that when you have a difficult call, that's the guy you want to see show up. And then you said something else, and this is good for officers. You know, sometimes you could get so locked up in your own world. But I like Lieutenant Weld because what you're saying is when you have a need, that's the kind of guy you want to have. On your court, sir, please continue. What's Kendall? On your court, sir, please continue.
Jose:Wes Kendall. Well, I mean, I have the privilege, I have the honor to do a bunch of ride-alongs with him, so I saw him in action. He's a guy with a big heart, with a lot of compassion for the people. He's not this kind of bully officer that you see every day up there on these days. I mean he's a guy. Also, the two officers that spoke before Willie Diaz, if you still listen to the radio, I mean what? A, what a?
Jose:cop, I mean. I mean, those guys were excellent yeah, I mean the only. The only question I would ask my, my friend, my brother, lieutenant Well, is what kind of advice he might give to these new officers that start today, that they just do it for emotion, that they don't do it for passion. I mean, what advice do he have for those new officers that are coming into the department today? I mean, how can that they could complete the career of 31 years untouchable, like he did?
Jose:So the mic is all yours. God bless you all. Thank you guys.
Razz Vazquez:Hey, wes Kendall thank you for calling and I like the question. I like the question how can you, lieutenant Well, help new officers make the transition from emotion to passion? I would say I would add a little bit to that. You know, from having a work career to having a calling in what you do. Because you know, I think, when the rubber meets the road, you know when the fire hits the fan.
Razz Vazquez:uh, I better not say what I'm thinking you know, I, I think some officers, uh, that that would just, that would just activate some officers. You know, a real cop gets activated by that, a make-believe cop, they, they have to run because they, they don't have the heart, they don't have to call. And I want to make a correction you don't have to run, you can make that choice right then and there to say you know what I'm gonna be all in, enough of the games. Well, lieutenant, lieutenant, you got the mic. Good question. Thank you, wes kendall, we're gonna listen in now um.
Razz Vazquez:So, jose, thank you for the question, and jose did many right lungs I think that guy is a civilian that's got more hours than some cops what a man I got and what a brother in christ. Great guy.
Joseph Guelle:By the way, there's a leak on the roof, though. If you get it you get it If you don't.
Razz Vazquez:For those of you that don't know, I'm tempted to expound on it, but I will later. I don't want to take any time from Lieutenant Will.
Joseph Guelle:But one thing Jose said was passion, and you know emotions. If you're riding the roller coaster of emotions, they can lead you astray. If you're riding the roller coaster of emotions, they can lead you astray. But when you have a passion and you're task-oriented, most police officers, like in the military, we are task-oriented. They give you the task. Whatever it may be that hot call shots fired, you're responding to an accident where there's a baby.
Razz Vazquez:Baby's not responding.
Joseph Guelle:Baby's not breathing. Those are the difficult calls and you need to have a passion because those do take a toll in your psyche, in your heart. I tell people that in my 31 years, and a lot of people at my church, I tell them the devil's real. And these officers, firefighters, our first responders in general, our military they see him pretty much on a daily occasion, whether they run into him or not.
Razz Vazquez:See the effects.
Joseph Guelle:The effects. Like the verse says, the devil's out there prowling, he's looking to devour somebody and coming to Christ at the age of 40, through my wife. I didn't understand that in the beginning. In the beginning of my law enforcement career, is all me. I did this alone. At the age of 40, when I'm coming to Christ, I realized, no, it's more than me. It was God who was with me the entire time, with a hedge of protection over me, because by all rights, I shouldn't be here. I'll tell you that right now, that some of the injuries should have been the end of me. Wow. But God has a greater purpose for me. Yeah.
Razz Vazquez:Well, god did well and medicine did well, because you're looking well, so that's good. I don't know how you're feeling, but you're looking well. You know, it's a funny thing, my dad. They used to say, oh, you look good. He says, yeah, that's the mirror. When you look inside, it's a different story. But back to you, sir. So you would say, how do those officers go from passion, from emotion, to passion? We got a phone call, let's get this phone call and then we'll come back on the subject and we'll also finish, because you were talking about your son. But hey, you're at. Ask a Cop, good morning.
Razz Vazquez:What every time are you calling from Hello? You're on, You're talking to me.
Manuel Inguanzo:I'm in Alapata, alapata right now.
Razz Vazquez:Oh man, alapata I, that's a good place. So what do you have to say? You continue, please, we have lost you.
Manuel Inguanzo:One of my questions is, since we've already finished the race of being an officer police officer for the city of Miami how do you transition from police officer to a civilian life, a life where now you're calling for assistance more than you're reacting in going to assist? How do you do that transition after 31 years?
Razz Vazquez:Hey, that's such a good question. We're going to take a little break. We're going to come back. You got to stay tuned.
Razz Vazquez:The question on the table is you know even officers, because they're human beings. There comes a point in time that they don't have to be on duty anymore. You know an officer. When you're an officer, people don't understand. I hope you understand this. If you're in a bank and something goes down, the officer doesn't have a choice. I mean, a real cop, a real cop doesn't have a choice. You know, if you're in the middle of crime, the real officer doesn't have a choice.
Razz Vazquez:Now, when you retire, do you have that choice? And if you have that choice, how do you do it? How do you turn it off? Where you're not running, that buzzer goes off and you realize, okay, here it comes and you're saying wait a minute, wait a minute, I've transitioned, I retired. How do you do that? That's the question. Officer Will, the Lieutenant Will, is going to answer that question. And if you're a cop, don't think this is just for people that retire. You better get ready. I don't think retirement starts when you retire. Retirement starts way before that. Great questions, great participation. If you're listening, you're law enforcement. Thank you for what you do. God's Way Radio it's your station. We believe highly that God has allowed us to have this platform to showcase, to thank you, to let the community be involved. Ask a cop is where community and cops connect. So, lieutenant, will, I think we have somebody on the line. Let's get that phone call. Okay, you're going to answer the question. Transition.
Razz Vazquez:Yeah, transition is the question. So, Lieutenant, Will you got the mic?
Joseph Guelle:So the transition. There's a lot of free time. There's a lot of free time in the beginning and you need to do things for your body. You need to do things to keep you healthy. I do still run, go to the gym occasionally, try to stay fit.
Razz Vazquez:You got to stop there. You got to stop there. I like that because part of your heart and your soul. You also have it in a body and it's so important If there's any officer listening that you've given up or you let go. Man, it's time to get back. I like that. Here you are, I'm not going to ask you your age, but you're retired and you're still working the body to make sure it responds for you as best as possible if the need arises. Absolutely, Absolutely.
Intro:You'd be surprised, you've got to take care of the temple God gave it to you, so it's not free.
Adrian Caballero:Yes, sir.
Joseph Guelle:But yeah, my wife, my wife is another one. She keeps me on my toes.
Intro:I like it I like that, but the transition I don't think is that difficult?
Razz Vazquez:Okay.
Joseph Guelle:I don't think it's that difficult, especially if you prepare for it, prepare right and by preparing right of a mind thing, more of a mind thing. Again, being the last couple of years of my career in law enforcement, changing the perspective and the focus from me to God made the transition a lot easier, because I retired from the police department, but I don't retire from God. I press on, amen, amen.
Razz Vazquez:You know it's funny. You're listening to Ask a Cop. We have our guest in the studio today Lieutenant Well, 31 years with MPD. Sir, are you still on the line? You had a question for Lieutenant Will. Are you still on the line? We want to hear from you.
Caller:Hello, yes, yes, sweetwater Doral.
Razz Vazquez:Sweetwater, doral. Good morning. What do you have to say?
Caller:Well, no, I don you guys to put somebody and a family member in prayer. I got a call yesterday.
Caller:It was a last-moment call and I tell them this is a real story. This is not a. You know they asked me the question today at work. But you go to church, you're a follower of God, you know you're not supposed to have those attacks. Well, we are getting attacked. I have a brother that's been homeless for a couple of years already. We got the news yesterday that he's very bad in the hospital. They don't know if he's going to come through it. He's in Key West. I just want you to put on prayers to pray for him. You know, and just to let you know the listeners, that just because we go to church and just because we are believers in Christ and I'm constantly going to Wednesday night Bible studies we get attached.
Razz Vazquez:We do, we get attached, we do and we're going to pray. We're going to pray for your brother right now. What's his name?
Caller:His name is Eduardo.
Razz Vazquez:Eduardo Okay.
Caller:Yeah, that's his name, so just put him in prayer All right, I'm going to pray right now.
Razz Vazquez:Okay, thank you for your call. Thank you so much. All right, god bless you. Father, we pray for Eduardo. We pray that your hand will be upon him. We pray that he would call on you and make his peace with you in Jesus Christ, the Savior God. Thank you. Thank you, lord. Pray for Jorjito. Lord Pray that in his time of suffering, of pain, god please help Jororgito through this trial. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen. Hey, we have another call. Ask a cop. Welcome, Good morning.
Razz Vazquez:Good morning. Where are you calling? From Westchester? Oh, my goodness, I'm glad we have this five-year-old from Westchester calling.
Child:What do you want to say this morning? I wanted to say that what I would ask a cop is how many bad guys have they caught?
Razz Vazquez:Okay, hey, thank you for that call. I have one more question. Oh, one more question. All right, what's the other question?
Child:I want to be a police officer when I grow up.
Razz Vazquez:Oh, my goodness, this is my grandson here, man, okay, we're going to pray. We're going to pray with you. We're going to pray with you about that, because you got to make sure that God confirms it and confirms it. But thank you, thank you for your call. Go ahead. I know someone wants to talk, okay.
Razz Vazquez:Okay, all right, thank you. So let me write you two questions. I want to be. What's the first one? How many bad guys you caught? And I want to be a cop. Okay, who else wants to talk? Good morning, how are you? Good morning, how old are you? You're seven, seven, seven. You're so good. What do you want to say today?
Child:What I want to say today is that what's the fastest vehicle the police officers can go? What's the fastest?
Razz Vazquez:Well, you know, when they got to make it to a call, lieutenant Will is going to tell you I'm happy I got you calling. Hey, before you go, can you say a prayer for Lieutenant Will and can you say a prayer for any police officer that's listening? Okay, okay, pray. Can you say a prayer for Lieutenant?
Child:Well, and can you say a prayer for any police officer that's listening?
Razz Vazquez:Thank you, okay, pray.
Child:I pray for a new channel and a new police officer. Amen.
Razz Vazquez:Amen, thank you. Anybody else wants to talk? No, okay, thank you. God bless you. We're going to answer the question, lieutenant. Well, thank you, I love you. I love you. Those are special grandchildren, man, they Thank you, I love you, I love you. Those are special grandchildren man they're amazing, as you could tell by their questions and their comments.
Adrian Caballero:So, Lieutenant, is an answer as fast as needed. There you go.
Joseph Guelle:Did you get there? There you go. Are you trying to help Lieutenant? I was trying to.
Razz Vazquez:No, he took as the circumstance allows, and I know, I know that they're trained Law enforcement, are trained not just to go speak. Why am I answering the question? You answer the question, sir, please.
Joseph Guelle:You're doing just well. I mean we do. We go as fast as necessary to get to the call, to respond, never endangering anybody else. Respond, never endangering anybody else. So there are incidents where unfortunately we have accidents because it's unfortunate. But yeah, 99% of the time we go as fast as needed to respond to a call safely. And when we say safely, it's not only us but taking into consideration the general public at large out on the street.
Razz Vazquez:You know you need to know officers are trained. I remember you know you got to go to driving school and you're trained, and you're trained defensively driving and you go through the course.
Intro:So it's not just speeding the DIP program.
Razz Vazquez:Yeah, yeah, so it's good to know. So the other question was how many bad guys does and not to put you on the spot does an average officer is able to get? How many bad guys do you get? And that's a good question, lukey, because if you're a bad guy, we want you to be caught. So maybe there you have moments of reflection and Jesus comes into your life and you change sides, but if you don't that, you would not be endangering the sides of citizens. So, lieutenant, will you got the question how many bad guys have you caught?
Joseph Guelle:So Lieutenant, Will you got the question how many bad guys have you caught? That's a very good question. I could tell you a lot. I can't give you a number, though. After 31 years I don't know if I caught them or they caught me by mistake, but there is quite a bit.
Razz Vazquez:You know, one day we got to have a program with the two other officers that call. You know, willie and. Manny. You can buy those three numbers and see how they've helped the streets and helped the bad guys and I like what you say, lieutenant. Well, because sometimes you catch them, but sometimes it's like God providentially just puts them in your lap.
Joseph Guelle:Yes, sir, and.
Razz Vazquez:God puts the bad guy with the officer, because God is always on duty. And so I want to say to you law enforcement, listening, your career goes beyond you. It's not just you, it's not just your I think, a lot of us who are OCD personalities, it's not just that. There's a living God that's put you where you're at and he's enhancing your career. Speaking of which, sir, back to you, lieutenant. Well, so what do you do now? You just soak up the sun rays and the beach and you're retired and bora, bora. I mean, what do you do with your life in these days?
Joseph Guelle:So I picked up a second career, oh so God wasn't finished with you yet no not yet. I work now with the state attorney's office, Great In the criminal division section. Been there close to a year and we'll see what God has in store for me. Besides that, grandkids, I have a son up in South Carolina, so we travel quite a bit up to visit him and my daughter keeps me busy.
Razz Vazquez:I like it. I like it, so it's interesting. Yes, chaplain.
Adrian Caballero:Just to give a little reset and mention how I met Sergeant Guell. We'll put it in now and we'll get to the caller in just a second. So when the hurricanes hit the West Coast, there's a group of Miami police officers that they all went over to the West Coast and basically just to assist because, if you think about it, the people who work in the West Coast, they live in the West Coast and so their house was just as affected and they're having to. I mean, I remember the detective that I was with. I did a ride along with her.
Razz Vazquez:It was her and her husband, both in the. So, sir, you have to expound on that, because I think that gives another layer of law enforcement that I don't think the average person knows.
Razz Vazquez:You're doing some hurricane relief ministry, you're in the West Coast of florida, which means you're like around naples and you're around those areas exactly beautiful areas and and am I hearing you correctly that you're saying that there's officers that their houses have been affected and they're also still working with the team to help those others whose houses have been affected and they're not just thinking about their own house and working on their own house? Please spell that out for me.
Adrian Caballero:The previous callers that called, they were over there in Sanibel. So there's different officers from different departments over here where we weren't as affected by the hurricane and they went over to the West Coast to help the officers in the departments there, whether it's traffic. I know that specifically a group that I got to be there with as a chaplain, we got to pray for the chief of that department and, in this case, one detective that I knew it was her and her husband. Both worked in law enforcement. They have a kid, their house is badly affected, so they're dealing with having to deal with leaks and house issues and all this, not a lot of family having to take care of the kid. You know power, all these things.
Adrian Caballero:So so what they you know what they were able to do was was again go over there in the system, and I'll let sergeant guel talk about that part, um, but that's kind of how we met, I think of when he's mentioning boot camp and these camps. You know style, you're with these same guys 24, 7, and it was for like two weeks. Different groups went over there and so I got to spend some time uh, sleeping in the, in the cots, you know, uh in the same, freezing uh not the same cot, not the same roof.
Joseph Guelle:I like the clarification. Thank you for the clarification sir.
Child:Sleep in quarters, but everybody had their individual places to sleep.
Adrian Caballero:A little dangerous there chaplain, so they were over there, if anyone. Just my quick comment and then again I'll give it to Sergeant Guo and we'll get to the caller in just a bit. You know you think of Naples as you know retirement community. You know, you think of Naples as you know retirement community. It must be boring and calm and not knowing Naples. The one day that I got to kind of spend with them it was nonstop, hopping, nonstop. So imagine dealing with your house. Your house is, you know, probably affected. You got to deal with all these hurricanes. That alone is a. And now you're dealing with somebody else entering the calls and entering to all the emergencies and doing all this so amazing.
Razz Vazquez:I guess what's being displayed is just a heart, the heart that God has given law enforcement officers, which is an incredible heart, where you're so programmed to serve and to give and to help that even when you have a load, you know you're able to manage it somehow. And I don't know, lieutenant, maybe you could address that. I mean, like, how do you do it? How do you do it when you have problems at home, a kid that's struggling, a kid in the hospital? And I see some of these men and women that they still put on their uniform, they still answer the calls, they're still putting their day of work. I mean, how in the world does a person do that?
Joseph Guelle:It's difficult, without a doubt it's difficult. It's just like anybody else in the world that has to deal with issues in life because you just can't call time out and not do your job, not do what's expected. And law enforcement specifically, we go through issues, marital issues, family issues, deaths. We're as susceptible as everybody else in society, but I can tell you now that when I encounter those difficult situations, I go right to the Lord.
Joseph Guelle:I find myself very often in prayer, if not 99% of my time, dealing with difficult people, dealing with difficult situations, praying for others, as the gentleman earlier called for, eduardo. But when you try to do it alone, not reaching out even to friends, manny Willie, people that are out there, let me tell you one of the people in the city of Miami that really strives out there and he's there for a lot of people. It's actually to George Avila and Roseman. Constance.
Joseph Guelle:Special guys, very special guys. They don't know the seed that they planted in me many years ago good, good, you know.
Razz Vazquez:So, for the officer that's listening right now, lieutenant, that that's having a hard time, the walls are closing in, uh, and? And then, to top it all off, you know, maybe they're having problems with management, um, maybe they're having problems because they've developed some bad practices. And then, on top of it, on top of it all, now their spouse or their children or their parents, everything's closing in on them to destroy their life. What would you say to that person? How can they climb out of that hole?
Joseph Guelle:Perspective, perspective, a lot of prayer, um. And there are organizations out there. There are organizations in the city of miami, for example. I know, uh, they have the the peer group, which are police officers. The peer support um. But you need to talk to people. You know we aren't, we aren't created to be alone in this game of life. We're here. You have other people, you have pastors you can rely on. You know you have brothers in Christ. You have brothers in law enforcement and fire department and all these agencies there are. Within the agencies, there's organizations that when you're going through that difficult time, you know, when you feel you're at wit's end, that you don't know how you're going to continue, make those calls.
Joseph Guelle:I've made many of those calls. Unfortunately, I went through a divorce early on in my life and when I thought it was over, god's still at work. And that was many years ago. And 25 years later, I'm with the love of my life Amen, you know. So remember that you're not the only one going through these storms. Yeah, there are storms in life. The Bible tells us you will have trials and tribulations in this world, but have faith and that's one of the biggest things that gets me through it Good, good, you know, have faith.
Razz Vazquez:You're listening to the program Ask a Cop first Tuesday of every month here at God's Way Radio 104.7 FM on your radio dial. You could download the phone app and then you could also listen on the app. It's also on podcasts. If you want more information, thankacopcom, you could also go there and we're here for you. Lieutenant, I like what you said. Just because you're tough and a man and you serve, the giver sometimes needs to get, the sender sometimes needs to receive, and something that that that came to my mind as you were talking is that there's things in life that are sent to destroy you, but then there's one that has been sent to develop you, amen, and so don't let it destroy you, allow it to develop you. So it's what you're saying and I like that. Hey, we got a phone call coming in ask a cop. You're on the on the phone. What area of town are you calling from?
Jose:Hey, now I'm getting close to Hialeah, I'm moving around so somebody can know where I am.
Razz Vazquez:Hialeah, double dipping today. Hialeah, yes, what do you want to say? I got another phone call too. Go ahead, you got the mic.
Jose:Very quick, Very quick. I called earlier, so now I hear that my brother, Manny, called second time, so I double-topped it too. Like I said before, I drink some water so I would not shock this time. I have a little story to say about Officer Well, Lieutenant. Well now, oh, wow, Lieutenant. Well, that's right, that's right. Yeah, respect the rank. I was riding with him one night midnight and a sergeant at that time retired from the rank. I was riding with him one night midnight. A sergeant at that time retired from the city, Mr Cruz, Willie Cruz. I get close to him, we were drinking cafecito, and then he says hey, well, I got this for you. So when he read it, it's a commendation, a commendation for an incident that happened. So he was part of the incident and he got a commendation. Wow.
Jose:So he looked at the commendation and he looked at the sergeant and said why do I get this? He says, well, because you did this and this and this and this and it's my duty to give you a commendation. He says Sarge, I was just doing my job. Wow.
Jose:So I mean so, believe it or not, he might not remember that night, but I do remember it. You know, that marked me. It's like this is the guy. This is the guy that do this not for emotion, he do it for passion. So I mean to me, I mean that was like wow. You know, this is the guy. I had a choice to ride to whoever I want to write and I choose to pick the officer that I was writing with and he was one of the guys that I wrote the most in the city. So now you can understand why.
Razz Vazquez:Yes sir, yes sir.
Jose:Nothing to do with him and if it's a shy sergeant that's listening. Willie Diaz, I also have the honor and the privilege to write with him many times, and let me tell you something.
Razz Vazquez:He's not so shy when he's doing his job, huh.
Jose:Let me tell you something I have never seen anyone in the city of Miami. They have caught more stolen vehicles than that guy. I mean, that guy would be driving, he would put the tag on the computer and you hear that computer singing like a whistle, like. And let me tell you something, an excellent driver. I will not disclose the incident, but an excellent, an excellent, excellent driver. Yes, sir. So I just want to leave it like that. If one day you want to ask me, you ask me in person, I will tell you why. Guys, I love you, hey, love you, ask me in person.
Razz Vazquez:I will tell you why. Guys, I love you, hey, love you, hi, alia. Thank you for calling. Thank you for calling. You're listening to ask a cop. 786-313-3115.
Razz Vazquez:Lieutenant, I don't know, I want to give you an opportunity to comment on that. We got somebody else on the line, but but I like what he said and I got to answer something. I got a text message that they asked me what do you mean by a real cop? I think I must have said that and I think the answer was just there.
Razz Vazquez:You know that when you're a real cop, you don't do it for commendations, you don't do it for accolades, you're wired that way. You know it's almost like, to some degree, the muscle memory. You don't even have to think about it because it's just your heart response and your body and your training. It just comes to light and so that's a real cop, I think, a person that may have a uniform and they're very little. I want to say that the majority of law enforcement that I know, praise be to God, and I respect them because they do what they do, because they know that they've been called to do it. But sometimes you have people that maybe they've stumbled onto the profession and this program has meant that if you're listening, you can ask God to help you become that cop, that you're doing it for passion, you're doing it for purpose, you're doing it for calling. Lieutenant, let me give you an opportunity. You might have some things you want to say.
Joseph Guelle:Well, I think you just said it. Well, a real cop is that guy that knows that you're going to cry, the guy that knows that when you see that deceased person, you have feelings, you have the heart, you have a beating pulse inside of you and you may have to take a minute, step away and cry and there's nothing wrong with that. So when I said a real cop, it's pretty much a human being that does this as a profession and that profession you know you're able to turn off the switch and it takes you because it's who, it's what you do, not who you are. So it takes you from the house and there's like a transition I'll never forget. I would get in the car and there's a transition in the car from being joe and dad at home to being officer guel on the way home. That's such valuable information.
Razz Vazquez:You know, ask a Cop is a program that we're here, man, we want to give tools, we want to feed, we want to help people be excellent in what they do, and I think what you're bringing to the table right now is something that I pray that people will hear. You know, even as a pastor me as a pastor, it was a time I'm a senior pastor and everything, in a sense, is coming to me. Now I pray for my son because it's coming to him. But there's a lot of things that we do and sometimes it's who we are. But yet, at the end of the day, who we really are and I like the definition a real cop is a real human being, a real pastor. You have to be a real human being. Yes, you know, a real pastor, you have to be a real human being.
Razz Vazquez:And when you're in traumatic experiences, there's that tendency to harden your heart. You know, growing up in the streets of New York City, to harden your heart and you know it's me and let's go for it and that's not reality. That'll get you so far, but then you'll get in trouble. And I'm speaking to that cop that you better get some help. You know you better get some help, because not only are you going to bring trouble to yourself, you're going to bring trouble to other people in your profession. So, sir, thank you for that. I like that, you know. You get in the car, you're about to own nine, you're about to go in service and you're saying I'm making a transition. Ok, I'm a dad, but right now I got to put on my work mindset Absolutely Heartbeat, good stuff. I got somebody on the hey good morning. Ask a Cop. What area of town are you calling from? Good morning, can you hear me? Yes, sir, glad to hear you too.
Manuel Inguanzo:We recognize you.
Albert Guerra:Pastor Raz, normally I'm calling you from the beautiful Coconut Grove area, but I'm actually driving in, so I'm in the Palmetto Bay area.
Razz Vazquez:Oh, you're in classy places, sir.
Albert Guerra:Yeah, well, I'm driving through. By the way you guys were talking about earlier about that the devil is always tempting you. If you drive in Miami traffic, there's a lot of temptation. I think the devil is in every other car.
Razz Vazquez:Texting Text the devil, sir, go ahead. Please continue Exactly.
Albert Guerra:I felt compelled. Number one you have a brother of mine there, joe good uh, and I felt compelled to call because you guys were talking about the gym. So you know me and the gym, we're kind of like in unison um, but I wanted to make a comment on the um, on the real cop topic good, thank you you.
Albert Guerra:And I want to say internally. Internally, I mean from within the police department. I always defined real cop. As you know, all cops make sacrifices, all cops put themselves in a very risky position. However, a real cop the definition and, by the way, you have one there next to you, thank you Is someone that puts themselves in an even more riskier situation, a more liable situation.
Albert Guerra:Let it be an incredibly proactive officer, someone that puts themselves in a position of a SWAT team or one of those tactical units or in one of those tactical units, when people say this individual really has never done anything here or this individual is a real cop. I believe that that is the definition.
Razz Vazquez:And one of the things that I wanted to bring up about Joe is and it hasn't been mentioned- but that is a matter of he said uh-oh, it sounds like you might have the jacket on this guy.
Albert Guerra:He knows I have dirt, he knows I have dirt, he knows I have dirt. But I will say, joe and I we worked in internal affairs for a few years and that is a man of integrity and of honor. And I'll give you a real quick example. There was a case that I was working at one point in IA and Joe had nothing to do with the case, other than he knew some of the players involved, but he wasn't involved in the investigation and it was something that he said to me, that once he said it and I shared it with at the time our lieutenant and the way I said it was I said hey, lt Joe came to me and he said that the officer that spoke to him, which is a brother of his in Christ, said this the mere fact that it came from Joe Gwell, the mere fact that it came from a man of integrity, it converted the case and everything was going against this officer. But because it came from a man of faith, a man of integrity, that whole direction of the case converted in the favor of that officer, which was not at fault, by the way.
Albert Guerra:So I just think it's incredibly important that people know that, yes, you do have a man of faith there, you do have a man of integrity, of honor, and you know, it's one of those things where he instilled that same thought process, that same passion in his son. And I got to tell you this, and I'm going to end with this there's two names on that uniform. One is the city and the department you work for and the other one is your family name. I believe that when Joe was speaking to his son at one point he said you have the name of well on your shirt. Make sure you represent that name with integrity and with honor. And closing, manny and Willie both worked for me. They'd called in twice.
Razz Vazquez:Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, sir, sir, please repeat that.
Joseph Guelle:Repeat that they were on an 11. They were on an 11.
Albert Guerra:Manny, exactly they were. That's why they're in. Alipa, manny and Willie both worked for me and if they put in an overtime slip, we're going to have a problem.
Razz Vazquez:Hey, I love you, man, yo, I love you, love you too, man, sir, I got to say, I got to say I was going to put in a missing person report on you because I thought, man, I think he forgot about me, I think he doesn't know I exist anymore. But today you redeem yourself, so, uh, so I'm gonna take you for a steak, like at about 12 o'clock at noon. This guy doesn't eat this, this guy doesn't eat.
Joseph Guelle:That's the joke that's that. He's a model did you ever know that there were models in the police?
Razz Vazquez:department. There's real officers that are models too, absolutely I'm learning lieutenant now I I finally put. I finally put the pieces together. Go ahead, sir.
Albert Guerra:Last last, last, final statements we do what we do have some pretty ones, by the way I pray for you. I pray for you, raz thank you, sir.
Razz Vazquez:I know you went through something, I know I've been, I've been distanced because no, no, I know people have mentioned to me to stay distant, Officer Mesa.
Albert Guerra:he had a loss yesterday. His mom just wanted to pray for him as well his family. Yes, yes.
Razz Vazquez:His dad and I know it His mom?
Albert Guerra:No, his mother. Okay, and I know, at 3.30, I just wanted to for the listeners now at 3.30, you have a great man by the name of Mr Alex Canazzi that you're going to be interviewing. Yes, sir. Talk about passion, talk about love and support for law enforcement. That is the model right there. Yes sir, once again, man love you guys, pray for everybody, pray for the city, pray for the county. Thank you, my brother, everybody, have a great day All the best to you.
Razz Vazquez:Love y'all, thank you. Thank you, hey, I got, I got something here that I just got to share. I got to share. It says, uh, it says this I met Joe 25 years ago. This is a text message and it brings me such spiritual joy that he's on fire for the Lord. As Joe mentioned at the beginning of the podcast, lieutenant is a position, but living as a child of the most high God is the best position ever. Continue to climb and maintain for the Lord. Love you, your brother in Christ. This is Bordy. You know we ran out of time. Ask a cop. You know we got radio time here that we have to. Constraints by Lieutenant. You have to come back sometime.
Razz Vazquez:I just got to highlight this before I let you have a final statement. Is what the last caller you know, major, I love what he said. Is what the last caller you know, major, I love what he said. He says you got two names. You got the agency, which I got to apply this for following Jesus too. You know you could be Baptist church, you could be Calvary Chapel, you could be Roman Catholic. That's the agency. But you also have a family name and that's Jesus Christ, and so, as believers, it's not just your doctrine or what you think. We got to represent the one that went to the cross for us. We got to represent him properly. Lieutenant, back to you, anything you want to say. You got to promise, you got to come back. This went by too fast. We got seconds, you got the mic and then I'm going to pray for Officer Mesa.
Joseph Guelle:Man, I just tell everybody out there do your best, put God first, and everything else will fall in place.
Razz Vazquez:I promise you God, thank you, thank you for law enforcement career and the people that serve properly and well Outstanding for the agency, for their name and for you. And we pray for Officer Mesa. Lord, we pray, amen, amen.
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