Retired Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama (former Oklahoma City PD Deputy Chief) joins Host Marlon Marrache on The IA Guy A Police Podcast for a candid conversation that goes far beyond IA horror stories. From growing up in Texas, surviving Oklahoma’s tornado culture, and rising through the ranks, Chief Balderrama shares the agonizing reality of adjudicating terminations, why he overturned six recommended firings (and which ones came back to haunt him), the alcohol crisis in law enforcement, and why the hardest part of being chief wasn’t gang sweeps — it was deciding someone’s career and family’s future. A rare chief’s perspective on fairness, second chances, the stigma of Internal Affairs, and what aspiring cops need to hear before they pin on the badge. Raw, honest, and deeply human. #policeforce #copstories #cops #lawenforcement #crime #policeofficer #internalaffairs #police #podcast #lapd #deputy Marlon's Info: Website: https://www.bluconsultinginc.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iaguypodcast/?hl=en Linked IN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlon-marrache/ Paco's Info: Website: https://www.chiefpaco.com/ Website: https://elmatadorconsulting.com/ Linked IN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paco-balderrama-2779ab104/ Time Stamps: 01:10 Tornado Alley Stories 04:20 Why Internal Affairs is Always Taboo 06:30 The 6 Terminations He Overturned 11:15 Firing Cops Kept Me Awake 19:20 Academy Lies About IA 42:30 Saved a 30-Year SWAT Vet 57:30 Worst Call: Man Dies in His Arms 1:05:50 Final Advice