For decades, Police Explorer Programs have promised young people a safe path into law enforcement through mentorship, ride-alongs, and a chance to serve their communities. But beneath that promise lies a disturbing pattern showing how these programs have repeatedly failed to protect the very teens they were designed to serve.
This episode begins in Indianapolis, Indiana, on November 2, 2015, when 18-year-old Heidi Gatliff, a high-achieving Police Explorer was found dead in her family’s home. In the days that followed, investigators discovered troubling behavior by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officer Francisco Olmos, who had frequent private contact with Heidi, accessed her phone after her death, and deleted critical messages. But, as the investigation expanded, another name emerged. Daniel Bullman was the officer who ran the IMPD Explorer program and became deeply embedded in Heidi’s family’s life. Bullman was later arrested and convicted on multiple felony charges unrelated to Heidi, raising serious questions about unchecked authority, access to minors, and institutional blind spots.
But Heidi’s case is only one piece of a much larger story.
From New Hampshire to California, and dating back to the 1970s, this episode examines multiple allegations involving officers who used Explorer Programs to groom and exploit teens, often during ride-alongs, late-night messaging, or unsupervised one-on-one interactions.
This is not just one case- it’s an investigation into a system that has operated in plain sight for decades and the urgent changes needed to keep teens safe.
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Key Episode Moments:
0:00 – 1:26 – Case Intro
1:27 – 4:12 – Heidi Gatliff’s Death
4:13 – 6:59 – Francisco’s Suspicious Behavior
7:00 – 9:54 – Phone Locked & Messages Deleted
9:55 – 12:16 – Francisco Interrogation
12:17 – 15:24 – Daniel Bullman Enters the Picture
15:25 – 18:09 – Texts Between Heidi & Daniel
18:10 – 21:08 – Domestic Violence Charges Against Daniel
21:09 – 24:07 – Francisco Pleads to Obstruction
24:08 – 28:00 – Explorer Program Oversight Failures
28:01 – 32:16 – Kate’s Explorer Program Abuse
32:17 – 35:03 – Officer Acquitted at Trial
35:04 – 40:00 – Pattern of Explorer Program Misconduct
40:01 – 45:20 – Systemic Failures & Lack of Accountability
45:21 – 1:06:40 – How Explorer Programs Can Be Safer
1:06:41 – 1:09:57 – Outro
——–
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Our current ‘system’ is beyond broken must be dismantled. There will never be true effective change if it’s allowed to remain with bandaids. The atrocities we KNOW about is just a small percentage. How can anyone feels safe with COPS breaking laws, sexually assaulting children, getting a slap on the wrist, spending tax payer money for all payouts, or going completely unpunished. Victims being shamed and held to higher standards than the perpetrators. Defunds the police. We need NEW civil programs to take place. With HIGHER and personal consequences for these offenders. No more tax payer money for your law suits. No immunities.
My ex brother n law was a cop for 16 years and was an instructor in police academy. He molested my niece (not biological daughter) for 4 years. My sister who was also a cop was oblivious to what was going on. He started by grooming and convincing my sister to get custody of her. He also had addiction to teen pornography. That’s part of the whole problem also. He did 7.5 years of a 15 year sentence but could’ve gotten a minimum of 25 years for each of the 13 counts. There is no justice.
Thanks For telling us about hidi
31:40 🎭 🏆
Mm
I wasn’t ever in the explorers program but I did work with Scouting America in the boy scouts in 2021 AFTER that report about the rampant abuse. Me and my childhood best friend fell victim to a shared groomer and we tried to report him. Nothing came of it and I later learned he’d been fired the year after for “inappropriate behavior with a minor”. He destroyed my friendship with my best friend by pitting us against each other and he drastically changed the trajectory of my life and I have no hope of restitution or justice.
Delphi Anyone?
Ive never heard of this stuff happening in girl scouts of usa and i am an active member of 20+ years. Did anyone come across cases there too or just boys scouts