Trump Plaza, Undercover Narcotics, and Near-Death Shootouts | Detective Balestrieri

🎥 Episode 120 In this gripping interview, retired NYPD Detective Louis Balestrieri shares his extraordinary journey from hustling in the streets of Brooklyn to becoming a decorated detective in one of America’s toughest police forces. Raised among mob ties, Louis takes us through wild stories of public hustles, street justice, undercover narcotics cases, near-death shootouts, and working on Donald Trump’s Plaza Hotel drug sting. This raw and unfiltered conversation exposes the gritty realities of law enforcement, street survival, and the personal choices that define legacy. 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more inside stories from America’s law enforcement elite. To watch more interviews with retired and active duty cops and law enforcement, watch here:    / @reasonsweserve   ⏱️ Chapters & Timestamps: 00:00 – Near-Death Experience on Patrol 01:05 – Meet NYPD Detective Louis Balestrieri 01:26 – A Family of Cops and Criminals 02:59 – Running Numbers at 5 Years Old 04:26 – Early Hustles and Street Schemes 07:30 – Growing Up Around Wise Guys 10:44 – High School Pranks and Street Smarts 14:35 – Selling Pantsuits, Sod, and Car Tires 18:49 – Street Hustles at the Mall 24:10 – The 30-Foot Ladder Sting & Getting Out 25:41 – Insurance Scams and Shady Deals 27:13 – Getting Hired by NYPD Despite It All 29:00 – Why He Never Took a Bribe 30:33 – Heavy-Handed Policing in the 80s 33:42 – Earning Respect on the Streets 36:23 – Becoming an Informant Master 38:41 – Surviving a Shooting and Choosing Not to Kill 40:01 – Working in High-Crime Areas 41:40 – "Boss Fighter" Mentality Explained 43:00 – The Trump Plaza Cocaine Case 49:05 – Side Gigs and Recognition from Trump’s Security 50:18 – Dream Job: Hostage Negotiator 52:39 – Cops, Floaters, and Bridge Jumpers 55:28 – Working with NYPD’s Best in the 7th Precinct 57:15 – Deep Dive: Operation Wasteland & Chinese Gangs 59:55 – Undercover Work and NYPD Politics