Choir Practice Podcast
First Responders, and Public Servants, share the most extraordinary experiences from their careers. Here on Choir Practice our mission is to preserve our guests personal legacies for friends and family, sharing their stories for anyone who might be curious or interested in a career in public service.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 162 minutes
- Episodes
- 203
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
Jay Dobyns (Retired ATF Agent)
Look him up! Jay's career was extremely successful, but it did not come without personal and professional costs! Danger, intrigue, smoke and mirrors...living an under cover lifestyle w…
David Jones (USN, City of Tucson Communications Retired, UofA Police Aid, TSA screener, USBP Communications, Pima County Forensic Tech)
This young man is a jack of all trades...
He was on episode 124 with his wife, Orchid, but needed to come back and go into more detail about his life and professional experiences.
I am ho…
Paul Dietzel is back! All new stories (Retired Pima County Sheriff Deputy)
As a former guest, and one of the biggest fans of the show, Paul contacts me regularly to tell me his thoughts on the most recent episode. Each new episode brings back fond memories for…
Bill Phillips (Retired Pima County Sheriff Lieutenant)
Bill began his public service in the United States Marine Corps. Then spent time getting his degree and learning/ practicing Judo before starting his career with Pima County.
Patrol, SW…
Wes Helvig (Retired Oro Valley Police Department Detective, Current Golder Ranch Fire Inspector/ Arson Investigator)
Wes began his public service working a hot shot crew during fire season when he graduated high school. Eventually, once he was old enough, he applied and was hired as a reserve for the …
Marcos Lares (Retired Tucson Police Communications Dispatcher 91-2022)
Marcos began his career in Police Records. While there, he overheard several coworkers chatting about going through the dispatcher training. He became obsessed, studied everything he co…
Jim Kirk (Retired Tucson Police Sergeant)
Jim began his career in the late 80's after a rough start at childhood. He said he was wild and, just the old movies, his dad sent him off to boarding school. New Mexico Military straig…
Greg Roland (Retired Pima County Sheriff's Dept Sergeant, Huachuca City PD)
I met Greg way back in 1998! He taught the Economic Crimes classes when I was in the academy. Aside from one other occasion, I don't know that our paths crossed until he arrived at the …
Dan Barry (Retired Tucson Police Detective, US Air Force)
Dan began his professional life serving his country in the United States Air Force. While enlisted, he felt he needed a change that would challenge him, but in a capacity where he could…
Jessica Stoneham (Retired Tucson Police Officer)
I was very glad Jessica agreed to be not the show. She spent a majority of her career in the Division that is very near and dear to my heart, Operations Division South! That's where I m…
David and Orchid Jones (Retired City of Tucson Communications, PCSO Forensic Technician)
It was my honor to host this couple who agreed to be my very first dispatchers on the show. David and Orchid had extraordinary stories that led them to public safety, and the fact they…
Greg Bustamante (Retired Drexel Heights Fire, US Marine)
Greg Bustamante is a Tucson native, Rincon HS graduate who didn't know what he wanted to do in life, so he joined the toughest branch of the military...The Marines. Once he fulfilled hi…
Paul Dietzel Rides again (Retired Pima County Sheriff Deputy)
All new stories, all new good times...It's Paul Y'all!
He's been here before , and much like Joe Knipp, if you listen to the show regularly it tends to remind you of some of your own exp…
Joe Knipp Retired Pima county Sheriff Sergeant, current San Diego PD Motor (I've lost count but think this is episode 5.5???) jk
Joe is back and I must say that I'm a bit sad, feeling a sense of loss for the show because he FINALLY ran out of stories to tell! That means I'll have to wait until he retires again to…
Timmy Gilder (Retired Tucson Police Lieutenant, SWAT, Customs, Air Force)
Timmy had to come back because there wasn't enough time to cover his career the first time he was in the hot seat... We had a great time, shared a few bourbons and put a nice little bow…
Chester "Chet" Henderson (Retired Navy Seal)
Chet was introduced to me by his wife, Meghan Henderson-Greene, who used to be a Detective at the Tucson Police Department. He's a Canyon Del Oro HS grad, and University of Arizona Grad…
Gary Lynch (Retired Tucson Police Lead Police Officer)
Gary Lynch worked for the City of Tucson for 37 years, and said he would've kept going had the circumstances worked out. He trained 176 officers in his prolific career. He was much like…
Timmy Gilder (Retired Tucson Police Lieutenant, Former US Customs and Air Force Security Police)
It's time for me to introduce the newest member of The Squad, the guest for episode 117....drumroll... Retired Tucson Police Lieutenant Tim Gilder!
Joining the show at a time when we're …
John Patla (Retired Tucson Police DUI Sergeant)
I learned a lot about John this week. I knew him as the DUI Sergeant on the Tucson Police Department and as my Community College Criminal Justice instructor... but I also learned he was…
SPECIAL EPISODE (Mark Bustamante and Joe Knipp, Retired Pima County Sergeants)
Santa was very good to me and brought me additional microphones and headphones so I could start inviting more than one guest to be on the show, creating a true Choir Practice environmen…