I Was an NYPD Homicide Detective & Federal Agent — The Dark Side of the Job | Peter Forcelli

Locked In with Ian Bick

Ian Bick

Society & Culture

4.8 • 745 Ratings

🗓️ 12 January 2026

⏱️ 107 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Peter J. Forcelli, a recently retired Deputy Assistant Director of the ATF, joins the show to break down his career inside some of the most dangerous criminal investigations in the country. From working as an NYPD homicide detective and surviving the 9/11 attacks to leading federal investigations targeting armed gangs and violent criminal organizations, Forcelli shares what the job actually looks like behind the scenes. He talks about developing complex cases, executing hundreds of search warrants, making over a thousand arrests, and the personal toll of dedicating a life to law enforcement. The conversation also explores accountability within the justice system, investigative excellence, and the responsibility that comes with holding power — including his role in uncovering wrongful convictions and fighting for justice when the system gets it wrong. _____________________________________________ #TrueCrime #LawEnforcement #FederalAgent #ATF #CrimeStories #BehindTheBadge #RealStories #youtubepodcast _____________________________________________ Thank you to PRIZEPICKS for sponsoring this episode:Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/IANBICK and use code IANBICK and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! _____________________________________________ Connect with Peter Forcelli:Website: https://www.peterjforcelli.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterforcelli/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092203516682Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/pete_force/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Path-Operation-Furious-Lawyers/dp/B0CCMMQKCQ _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 From NYPD to Federal Agent: Inside a Life of Law Enforcement 07:00 Growing Up and Choosing a Career in Policing 14:00 Early Years as an NYPD Officer on the Streets 21:00 Becoming a Detective and Joining Federal Task Forces 28:00 Freeing the Innocent and Working Major Federal Cases 37:00 When the Justice System Gets It Wrong 42:00 PTSD, Burnout, and the Toll of Major Investigations 51:00 9/11 as a First Responder: What He Saw That Day 01:00:00 Leaving the NYPD and Moving to the ATF 01:07:00 Life as a Federal Agent and National Investigations 01:13:00 Cartels, Phoenix, and the Fast and Furious Era 01:23:00 Fallout, Consequences, and Career Crossroads 01:29:00 Leading ATF Teams and Responding to Mass Shootings 01:36:00 Cancer, Survival, and Facing Mortality 01:41:00 Retirement, Legacy, and Lessons From a Life in Law Enforcement Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:30.1	The stuff I saw happening in Phoenix would blow most people's minds.
0:33.6	What do you think was your first real moment as a police officer with the NYPD?
0:37.1	I would sit in these rooms with some really, really bad guys.
0:40.5	I mean, guys that were responsible for multiple, multiple murders.
0:43.1	And they would talk to us about all these things that they did.
0:45.4	Do you think it's easier or harder to go from a regular cop to a federal agent?
0:49.9	While I was in charge of the Miami office, we had Parkland, the shooting, the school shooting,
0:53.2	and we had the shooting at the Fort Lauderdale Airport.
0:55.0	When you're seeing things like that for the first time, is it hard to keep your emotions out of it? I was there that morning right after the first plane hit. What was one case that stood out to you as a detective during that career? And in the bathtub with her were two children, and they were skeletonized. For more than two decades, Peter Forcelli worked some of the most dangerous cases in America.
1:14.0	First, as an NYC... children, and they were skeletonized. For more than two decades, Peter Forcelli worked some of the
1:11.7	most dangerous cases in America, first as an NYPD homicide detective, then as a senior federal
1:18.6	agent for the ATF. What most people never see is the cost of that job. Peter, welcome to Lockton. Thanks so much for coming out here today.
1:28.9	I'm honored to be here. Thanks to having me. And thanks to Steve Murphy for connecting us.
1:32.0	Yeah, he's a good man. Yep. He's gotten us probably like 20 guests this past year.
	...

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