From Cop to Robber: Davin Cole’s Comeback Journey from Injury to Addiction

I have shared many times a poster from Despair.com entitled “Mistakes.”  The company creates a line of “demotivational” posters, a sarcastic knock on an era that filled boardrooms, waiting rooms, and bathrooms with breathtaking images of nature and life, captioned with the wisdom of the ages.  Cops are finely tuned to dark humor, so this company became a favorite of mine.  The “Mistakes” poster has an image of the bow of a large ship poking up out of the ocean.  A shipwreck.  The caption states, “It could be that the purpose of your life is to only serve as a warning to others.”

I’ve used this poster many times to illustrate humorously that mistakes are inevitable; what we do with the lesson counts.  However, it is essential to note that some “mistakes” are far worse than others, and actions have consequences.  It is hard to classify committing a Robbery as a “Mistake,” but that is how this story goes.  The fact that an off-duty police sergeant committed the robbery only adds to the intrigue.  

In this deeply moving episode of The Coptimizer Podcast, I sat down with Davin Cole, a retired Sergeant from the San Francisco Police Department, to unravel the harrowing story of a life that spiraled out of control and the path to redemption that has followed.

Davin Cole dedicated over two decades to serving his community, including 15 years in the canine unit and a pivotal role in the Homeless Outreach Unit. But everything changed after a severe dog bite incident during a training exercise in 2010 left him with chronic nerve pain. Prescribed opioids for pain management, Davin quickly found himself in the grips of addiction—a battle that would last nearly a decade.

Despite his high-functioning facade at work, where he continued to excel in his duties, the addiction quietly consumed him. The breaking point came in 2021 when desperate for relief and fearing withdrawal, Davin made the fateful decision to rob a pharmacy for painkillers. His arrest and the subsequent fallout marked a turning point, leading to a difficult yet determined journey towards recovery.

This episode sheds light on the hidden struggles many first responders face, where the stigma of seeking help often exacerbates the problem. Davin’s story is a sobering reminder of the toll that addiction can take, but also a beacon of hope for those seeking to reclaim their lives.

Spending time in prison is bad enough, but as a cop, it would be downright terrifying.  Tune in to hear Davin's candid account of his battle with addiction, the support he received from the San Francisco Police Department, and his ongoing mission to help others by sharing his story. 

Let Davin’s story serve as the lighthouse that keeps the “mistakes” at bay and ships off the bottom of the ocean.