In this powerful first installment, the Heroes Behind the Badge team speaks with Les Vitale about his brother Harold, a decorated police officer whose life was tragically cut short during a routine traffic stop in 1985.
Les shares the meaning behind "Vitale Pride" - the family code of honor that Harold lived by - and recounts in vivid detail the events of that fateful night when a 19-year-old suspect with an outstanding warrant made the deadly decision to flee with Officer Vitale's arm trapped in the car window.
This episode provides a rare and intimate glimpse into what happens to a law enforcement family in the aftermath of tragedy, including their frustrating journey through a justice system that ultimately failed them when Harold's killer received only a manslaughter conviction despite clear evidence of premeditation.
Join hosts Dennis Collins, Craig Floyd, and Bill Erfurth for this heart-wrenching but essential reminder of the risks officers face every day and the true cost of the oath they take to protect and serve. Part 1 focuses on Harold's life, service, and the tragic circumstances of his death, setting the stage for the inspiring story of legacy and healing that follows in Part 2.
