Retired NYPD Undercover Narcotics Detective-Jim Quinlan 

This is literally better than 95% of the movie scripts out there. What a spectacular channel! 👏👏👏

The diversity Mark gives us w/ this channel is so well rounded, thank you for showing all sides of the human experience.

This channel is a safe place…always helps me remember we all go through the struggles…

I absolutely LOVE these retired police interviews, they are so interesting 😊You rock, Mark!❤❤❤❤❤

Back in the 70s, the police use to follow my father home from the bar every nite to make sure he made it home OK. If he couldn't physically drive they drove him home in the cop car and some other cop followed with my dad's car. Never once got a ticket and was literally every single nite. They knew if his car wasn't there in the morning he wouldn't go to work. Then guess who suffered? My mother and us 3 kids. So I never really figured out even today if this was good or a bad thing. Almost every Friday a police officer was there to pick up my mom and drive her to where my father worked and pick up his check, if we didn't do this his entire check went towards beer and drugs. But there were quite a few times we made that walk with mom. Then walk to the grocery store and mom would buy as many groceries as her and 3 kids could carry all the way home! Police were totally different back then. Good...bad?? I'm not sure.

Probably one of your best interviews ever.And you very rarely had to prompt Mr Quinlan. He just laid it all out for you.

This guy is 100% correct about what he says with respect to rehab and 30 days not being enough! Respect.

I love how honest he is and how he takes responsibility. We all know how cops are and he gives insight to how someone could get wrapped up in this. It’s like rejuvenating hearing the truth for once

Great interview. I’m the words of Vonnegut, “We should be careful who we pretend to be.”

I really appreciate the honesty in this man's story. ❤️👊

Great story! I was right there with you Jim! I grew up in New York. Right outside East New York. I would ride my bicycle into the 75 percent to deliver newspapers. I remember the TNT squad. I worked with a guy named Bruce. We drove cabs. He was a TNT officer who was shot 9 times during a bust. Amazing you made it out alive. Godspeed!

Gratitude & respect for this interview, both of you. Could we have a part 2 ? I would love to hear more.

I love the way this age group from NY talks. They’re always so good at telling stories. Kinda reminds me of Joey Diaz. This was honestly the only video of yours I was interested in watching because it’s a different perspective on the same issue that’s already so familiar. But I had no idea how far the debauchery went with cops back then and how much being involved in narcotics affected them despite them not even using the narcotics..

Thank you. Life is a razor blade with a slippery slope. I've lived it. Jim's testimony is spot on. Thank you Mark and Jim. God bless you both.

Love this man's honesty! And I want to honour his life by thanking him for doing a job MANY people wouldn't ever do. I wouldn't. Thank goodness he's still alive. Jim, YOU are a REMARKABLE human. Thank you.

This was one of the best interviews. This guy didn't hide anything he was telling it straight up how it was... And he is absolutely spot-on on the heroin epidemic I've seen so many people that were prescribed prescriptions and end up on heroin

Mark, your photography is of the highest art. Rare to witness a true master at work. Thank you

Yep! While many of us are out here just trying to make an honest living, there's a underworld that's literally imploding of filth and despair. It's really sad.

Im still speechless. This interviews has been one of the best. Best wishes to him. He deserved so much better.

THE BEST INRERVIEW!!! Thank you sir! Law enforcement family here. DEA, FBI task force, local k9. 20 years. We understand.

Totally relatable. Different city, same jungle. Same PTSD. God bless him and give him peace the rest of his life.

"It takes a moment to learn something and a lifetime to unlearn it."....It's about time, Mark.

This is one of the best interviews I have ever seen. Might be the best. I have seen over 1000. Fairly solid educational background as well. We need more like him.

I can't tell you how many movies I've wasted precious minutes out of my life, where at the end I truly felt I wasted those minutes, hours, knowing it was terrible. These interviews connect with humanity's core ... the good and the bad. You see the bits and pieces of lives we could have easily lived.

Wow. What a great interview and a free form of a confession from a retired narcotics detective. This was so good and it is very bittersweet. I hope you interview him, again, or some other retired law enforcement can talk to you on your show. As a civilian, I really don't know what goes into being part of the badge, but he's right when he says that no one wants to do this kind of work. I can see why and I can really respect the police for that. Their stories fall silent on the public's knowledge/ears. Thank-you, Jim and Soft White Underbelly.

Man I really get what he’s talking about towards the end. I can tell The guys been out there. 28 days in treatment isn’t close to enough I’ve been sober for 20 years and it took me 10 years to stay away from “ people places and things “ white knuckles for ten years. I had a girl friend “ beautiful “ destroyed by the life. Thanks for the interview

First off I want to say being an undercover(I was one) in a buy and bust operation in the ‘80s in NYC was probably the most dangerous job in the NYPD. Police work in of itself is dangerous. But B&B was exponentially far more dangerous. Especially when you’re out there alone buying a vial of crack cocaine and some junkie saw that you just purchased some product and wanted to steal it from you. That set aside, when you come on “the job” you took an oath. An oath that had a clearly drawn line in the ground that you cannot ever cross without suffering the consequences of it. How you were able to avoid being found out is beyond reason. Then again given the NYPDs history of going after corrupt cops, of which you were, was chronicled in the movie “Seven-Five” in which Michael Dowd was found out and only one person tried to do something about it but the job ignored it all until Dowd was collared by another agency forcing the NYPD to cover up their actions or lack thereof. So who protected you ? You’re co workers at Brooklyn South Narcotics ? Were supervisors at BSND involved ? The night before you took the test to get into the NYPD you drank and did an 8-Ball of coke and went right to taking the test. You laid low for a short time. You were probably given a heads up that you were going to be given a physical which included a drug test. You passed that. Then went into the academy. You laid low there and stayed clean and then went to patrol. You got into a SNEU unit with just one year on and then went into narcotics as an “uncle”. Yes you were a very good undercover as was I. Let me ask you. The 8-balls you purchased for your personal use, did you protect those drug dealers ? You bet you did. You didn’t protect those dealers who sold to you during the B&B. Why is that ? Was it because they were savages ? I bet if they supplied you with an 8-ball “to taste” then that would’ve changed everything. Did you do your personal transactions outside the BSND office ? If you did you put the lives of your fellow officers in jeopardy. Did you really steal $2,000 dollars Jimmy ? I’m sure that wasn’t your first rodeo. You had just a few years to go to retire yet one day you just decided to vest out, for no apparent reason. Giving up a full pension and the variable. Did you hear the loud footsteps of job looking int o your buys ? I’m not saying that’s the case but perhaps your buys were coming up short. In other words the product you purchased and vouchered didn’t match with the money spent. Maybe you were given a heads up. I’m sure an “Angel” had more info on that if that “Angel” were called on the carpet. You even mentioned how female cops were a liability in narcotics and were good administratively. Not naming names but there was a strong rumor of one of the female admin detectives was on restricted/limited duty having a lesbian affair with a female doctor at health services. Again rumors, but your own words are quite clear. I’m reading all the comments here and its astonishing to see how some of them were acknowledging how brave you were for coming out. I’m sure you checked to make sure the statue of limitations had run out before you bragged about being a corrupt member of the NYPD. Those are your own words. YOU stole money and purchased drugs. That doesn’t make you a hero. But hey don’t look at what I’m doing. Look at that guy over there who threw that pen and pencil set out the window or the guy who shot up the moose head. I’ll name one name. Bobby Gallo. He was right when he said you were dirty cop. So what’s the real reason for being so braggadocious ? Are you looking for a movie role like Dowd ? If I was the interviewer I would look into everything you said before paying you once cent from the GoFundMe. You better hope Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez doesn’t see this video, trust me he will, because every case you testified in needs to be looked into and its likely convictions will be overturned. Getting back to the drug testing. If they had then the testing they do today, no way would you get hired. Your urine didn’t test hot but your hair wouldn’t lie. Vito Palazzo Retired Detective, NYPD, 20 years.

Good interview, he speaks from the heart and no bullshit! Thank you for your police service 👍🇦🇺

I always wanted to hear my dad's stories from him being a detective. He never brought it home though. I love listening to these interviews.

My dad, John Frank Rizer was Sergeant of Mt. Laurel police department in NJ for 27yrs. This makes me ache for him..... He's in Heaven now...... I love everyone who is reading this..... 🙋🏼‍♀️ Jill

This was awesome, Jim, thanks so much for sharing some of your stories. We would love to hear 5 memorable stories in each return you do with Mark :)

Love love loved this interview, i enjoyed it thoroughly from start to finish. What a charismatic and open and honest storyteller. Could listen to him talk all day.. Thank you for sharing.

Great interview! What a career. It reminds me of the quote from the movie Training Day, "To protect the sheep you gotta catch the wolf, and it takes a wolf to catch a wolf."

Good interview. Please bring this man back.

The real interesting thing is that he still calls them monsters and yet he doesn’t see himself as a monster. The mental gymnastics is what I always find interesting. Don’t be lulled into thinking that things have changed. I guess I should reserve my judgment until the end.

I can totally understand how your world can revolve around the lifestyle you work in. Thank you for your service my friend

All old school NYPD detectives have lived a colorful life.

Mr. Quinlan is a man’s man. You don’t see that much anymore. Excellent video.

Thanks Jim for taking time to do this.

thought this was gonna be boring, but the genuine tone of this interview really fascinated me! Great interview!

Great interview. I worked with a cop who retired early and man, he had the best stories. If you started asking too much, he'd shut down, but when he was sharing, they were better than anything out there

15 years pretending to be a junkie - that’s a skill in itself. Glad to see he still has his marbles and can have a laugh. Great story / interview.

Childhood trauma is responsible for the majority of drug and alcohol abuse. Then it becomes a vicous circle because the abused and addicted have children and then their children experience trauma. My prayers go out to all those who are in emotional pain 🙏 💔 Let the Lord take your pain and know that you are loved.

Front line experience of the drug issue in the United States. Prayers for the Officer. Thank you for your service and talk with the People.

Most people who were in the drug game would tell me that the police were basically just a rival gang mostly doing all the same stuff just doing it with a badge. This guy seems to back that up pretty well.

Thank you for your honesty, Jim. God bless.

I was an NYPD lieutenant detective commander in brooklyn. I was on the job at the same time. I retired at 20 years and one day. I never looked back. Its a difficult job and cops see more than they should. I remember trying to balance work and homelife. After i retired i was paranoid about answering the phone, i never carried my gun again. I transitioned to female (not because of the job) i ultimately became a librarian. All i wanted was peace. I read a lot now and study history and religion and rescue cats. My wife left me a long time ago but my kids were always by my side. The younger two dont even remember me as a cop and i like it that way.

That movie "Bad Lieutenant", I think this guy took that movie to heart.

One thing he said that really resonated with me was, "people and places", as a recovering addict that's been the main thing that has helped me stay clean, I had to cut off everyone from that life and delete a lot of phone numbers. It sucked at first but it's been worth it.

Mark is a brilliant interviewer . He just shuts up and lets them talk.

Incredible, superb, honesty! Thankyou Jim.

Mark, absolutely the best interview. Well done and more like this would be stellar.

I admire all the positive comments from all your interviews. Your exposing all the good in people. Thank you!

Jim, I see this could have gone on for hours. There MUST be more parts, please. I can see you on a national tour with Mike Dowd! Thank you for sharing your life with us. When you said about missing the comradery is something all of us nearing retirement age must consider. Please come back soon Jim! Peace brother.

15 years! Thanks for sharing your story without holding back. The sad thing is those neighborhoods are ten times worse today. There is no victory lap despite all the hard work and danger these brave detectives put themselves in.

This is a wonderful interview ... this guy is so forthcoming that it makes it clear to see that he is or was a "savage" who worked incredibly hard to convince himself that he was a "good" guy; but it is also clear that he is at least to some extent aware of that fact. He and his fellow cops who allowed themselves to partake in criminal and immoral activity were just as bad as those they were paid to apprehend, but actually much worse because they were supposed to be the good guys.

This is the most fascinating interview you've ever done hands down. The brutal honesty. The realization that's there's a fine line between what and who is perceived as good and bad.

"But the line in between what's right and wrong gets blurred" NAILED IT!!!!Mark, thx for the content.

I'm also a native New Yorker and a retired officer. This guy was spit on and great! Good job.

I respect and greatly appreciate his honesty in this interview.

Super interesting. It makes sense to me that the lines become blurry. Thanks for sharing your story/honesty. Thank you Mark for bringing us these people.

Wow. That was 15 years on a rollercoaster. Thanks for sharing

So he's basically telling us about the life of a crooked Cop and how it was and still is, so normal. I wish more would come out.

This is one of the best ones yet.

I've been hooked for years and still get amazed by Mark's choices ! Love the soft white underbelly

Thank you for doing what you do, Mark.

Outstanding storyteller. Thanks for uploading these types of content.

I just love this guy. This was just amazing to watch on every level. Thank you!!!!

It's funny. I never went to rehab. I just relocated to a different State. That worked for me and I never looked back.

OMG . Get a picture of Officer Jim Quinlan from back it the day!! What a rugged man. I would love to see some pictures of him when he was working in the 1980's, etc. He's still rugged and handsome.

I admire and respect Jim Quinlan for his honesty and for sharing his insights on the war on drugs. I make no judgments. If it were not for Quinlan so openly sharing his stories, the world of policing and drug dealing would be left to Hollywood - the last place you want to go for the truth. I think most, but not all, if they were in the same position as Jim, would do the same. Gracias, Mark!

Wish this interview was an hour longer. Really enjoyed it, thank you

Mark, it would be interesting if you could get an interview with a cop and talk to them specifically about all the BS going on with policing right now.

TV, and Movies make this job look glamorous.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, DETECTIVE QUINLAN!

Thanks for sharing Jim. First one I've listened end to end.

Great interview, so honest. Interesting how cops & mob guys say they only hurt people in the game.

The women he mentioned that got killed - her name was Maria Hernandez- the building where she lived & was murdered is adjacent to a park in Bushwick that now bares her name.

The old adage that if you wrestle with a pig you’re bound to get dirty perfectly describes how the boundaries blur between cops and criminals.

Great channel - another fantastic storyteller with fascinating stories to tell!

What an excellent guest! He sums it all up at the end when he says you retire and you’re out.

Wow! I LOVE it when you interview ex-police officers! This is truly one of your best ones yet! This is amazing! Love your content, made sure to like this. It is so cool to hear the truth.

Here I am again on Sunday evening ..watching your channel. I really enjoyed this video because I was born and raised in New York.

Absolutely fascinating. The amount of "you could get your head blown off" is off the charts

Sending a subpoena to yourself so you could go on a vacation with another woman. This man is a genius. Thank you sir

This gave me an insight into what can sometimes go wrong with police versus civilians. I really appreciate having this information. Thank you so much for doing the interview and thank the interviewee for being so forthright.

Speaking as a lifelong New Yorker , this goes to show the hypocrisy of the actions of these undercover mofos. Doing coke, running around drunk, pocketing drug money, manipulating their timesheets, beating up people . Scary shit. I've been a victim of these guys.

Reading these stories from 70's & 80s reminds me of even as late as the early to mid ninetys at least in my small home town, dui's were nearly unheard of unless you really earned it. I remember a high school kid hit a bridge piling on the main road & they finally started getting really serious about it due to outside pressures. Obviously now they hand them out at family bbqs for leaving your keys in the ignition while having a beer in the back yard but it's crazy how times change so much before your eyes & you don't realize it until you look back & think about it

This was an excellent interview! You hit the jackpot with him. 🍻

Trying to convince himself and admitting to things he knows he did wrong must be hard. In some way or another we all do that.

Mark this is the best channel on utube. Hands down the most entertaining with diversity daily. Keep it up no matter what they try to do.

We need a part 2 with this guy he was great or atleast some other guys that been in this line of work

Truth may hurt but it must be told.... Thank you for your courage to tell the truth

As i read these comments, its amazing to me how people are so understanding when its a clean cut officer with fair skin. Police are the biggest gang you can join. The game never changes, only the players.

I could listen to this guy talk for hours. Please have him back on!

Each person has such a different story to tell. This was a good one.

This is so real and genuine this guy was completely honest. Great video Mark

A profound interview. Very enlightening. Powerful insight. Thank you!

I appreciate this man's honesty. He understands right and wrong and isn't trying to justify his wrongdoings.

I absolutely love the former cop interviews, fascinating. Thank you.