Cartels, China, and the Pills Killing Our Kids

Former NYPD/CPD leader Garry McCarthy sits down with retired CPD gang investigator Terry Almanza and former DEA Special Operations chief Derek Maltz for a blunt conversation about America’s synthetic-drug crisis. They compare “overdoses” versus poisonings, unpack cartel–China pipelines, debate border and national-security gaps, and talk plainly about loss: both Garry and Terry lost daughters. Almanza explains how she pushed Chicago to pursue drug-induced homicide cases and built a national advocacy network; Maltz brings hard numbers and a strategy for education, accountability, and data-driven enforcement. It’s tough, personal, and focused on fixes.

“Wearing the Badge” is hosted by former Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy in partnership with Fox 32 Chicago. McCarthy, who began his law enforcement career with the NYPD, is now the police chief in Willow Springs, Illinois. Beyond breaking down the latest crime trends and the policies that shape strategies, McCarthy and seasoned law enforcement officials share what it really means to wear the badge—revealing both the challenges and rewards of serving on the front lines.