Mike Colón Media

“Don’t call me Papi.”

In Episode 391 of Mic’d In New Haven — The Beat: Profiles of Police Nationwide, Volume 22 — retired Passaic County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Anthony Damiano pulls back the curtain on what it was really like being followed by COPS cameras on patrol.

What started as a rainy night with low expectations quickly turned into television history. With a cameraman up front, sound man in the back, and binoculars in hand, Damiano spotted a familiar face in the projects — leading to the now-classic “Don’t call me Papi” moment.

Damiano explains what viewers didn’t see: the tactical realities, the misconceptions about the arrest, and how that one night led to 12 episodes with COPS, several of which never even aired.

A candid, funny, and revealing look at policing, television, and the split-second decisions that don’t always translate on screen.

Outro Song: Redman – Funkorama (1996)

FULL INTERVIEW HERE: