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Welcome to 'The Truth in This Art,' where insightful conversations take center stage; I'm your host Rob Lee, and today's guest is a talented reporter  Brandon Soderberg, a Baltimore-based reporter, and co-author of "I Got a Monster: The Rise and Fall of America's Most Corrupt Police Squad," sheds light on crime and policing in the city. Through his book, Soderberg delves into the corrupt practices of the Baltimore Police Department's Gun Trace Task Force, exposing their tactics to target and harass young black men. He addresses the impact of data-driven policing and the rebranding of police units in perpetuating racism. Soderberg emphasizes the significance of observation, storytelling, and style in his reporting, which has been featured in reputable publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, Vice, and The Intercept.

The explosive true story of America's most corrupt police unit, the Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF), which terrorized the city of Baltimore for half a decade.

When Baltimore Police Sergeant Wayne Jenkins said he had a monster, he meant he had found a big-time drug dealer - one who he wanted to rob. This is the story of Jenkins and the Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF), a super group of dirty detectives who exploited some of America’s greatest problems: guns, drugs, toxic masculinity, and hypersegregation. 

In the upside-down world of the GTTF, cops were robbers and drug dealers were the perfect victims, because no one believed them. When the federal government finally arrested the GTTF for robbery and racketeering in 2017, the stories of victims began to come out, revealing a vast criminal enterprise operating within the Baltimore Police Department. 

Cops planted heroin to cover up a fatal crash that resulted from a botched robbery. They stole hundreds of thousands of dollars, faked video evidence, and forged a letter trying to break up the marriage of one of their victims to keep his wife from paying a lawyer. And a homicide detective was killed the day before he was scheduled to testify against the crooked cops. 

I Got a Monster is the shocking history of the rise and fall of the most corrupt cops in America from Baynard Woods and Brandon Soderberg.

Within this episode:

• We delve into the troubling reality of pretextual stops, uncovering how police commonly employ such tactics, like claiming seatbelt violations or smelling marijuana, as a pretext to justify illegal searches.
• Join us as we expose the shocking truth behind Baltimore's Gun Trace Task Force, where corrupt practices, including drug and money theft from targeted individuals, are brought to light in this gripping podcast episode.
• Explore the controversial world of data-driven policing and its alarming consequences on racial profiling and targeted communities, as we examine real-life cases in this eye-opening podcast episode.
• Unveiling the dark underbelly of law enforcement, this podcast episode investigates the unsettling trend of police unit rebranding, enabling the continuation of racist practices under new names.
• In a thought-provoking discussion, we dissect the complex factors contributing to Baltimore's high homicide rate, shedding light on why increased police presence alone may not be the ultimate solution, making this podcast episode a must-listen for anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of the issue.

Tune in now and join the conversation on our latest podcast episode with Brandon as he discusses his work covering crime and policing in the city. He shares insights from his book, "I Got a Monster: The Rise and Fall of America's Most Corrupt Police Squad," which explores the corrupt practices of the Baltimore Police Department's Gun Trace Task Force. Soderberg highlights the tactics used by the police to target and harass young black men, such as pretextual stops and illegal searches. He also discusses the role of data-driven policing and the rebranding of police units to perpetuate racist practices. Soderberg emphasizes the importance of observation, storytelling, and style in his reporting.

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Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard.

Episode illustration by Alley Kid Art.