National Police Memorial Day & A New Song For Them 

I know because I wore one myself.

Many people know me from radio, television, or my years in the car business, but long before any of that, I worked for the Dallas Police Department. I’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with officers who were willing to risk everything for people they didn’t even know. I’ve been there for the good days, the dangerous days, and the heartbreaking days when a dear friend I was supposed to be working with was savagely gunned down at the age of 24. Rest in peace Ron Baker.

And I’ve put the black tape on my badge for others more times than I ever wanted to.

If you’re not familiar with it, when an officer dies in the line of duty, fellow officers place a black mourning band across their badge. It’s simple, quiet, and powerful. No words are necessary. Every officer understands exactly what it means.

That image never leaves you.

Which is why the song I released this week is called “Black Tape on My Badge.”

I wrote it because there are some things you carry forever. For me, one of those things is July 7, 2016.

I will never get over that night.

Seven Dallas police officers were gunned down during what had started as a peaceful protest in downtown Dallas. Five officers were murdered. Others were critically wounded. It was one of the darkest nights in the history of our city and one of the darkest moments I’ve ever personally experienced.

Even now, nearly 10 years later, it’s hard to describe the emotions from that night. Shock. Anger. Sadness. Disbelief. But mostly heartbreak. Those officers kissed their families goodbye that morning expecting to come home after work, just like every other day.

They didn’t.

For those of us connected to law enforcement, it hit differently because we understood exactly what those officers were doing when the shots rang out. They weren’t thinking about politics. They weren’t thinking about headlines. They were thinking about protecting innocent people.

That’s what police officers do every day in America.

And despite everything they face today, the overwhelming majority still do it honorably.

That’s one reason I wanted to write this song. Not to make a political statement. Not to argue with anyone. I wrote it as a tribute to the people behind the badge and the sacrifices they and their families make every single day.

As I worked through the lyrics, memories came flooding back. Officers I knew. Funerals I attended. The sound of bagpipes. 21-gun salutes. Patrol cars lined up for miles. Family members being handed neatly folded American flags and trying to stay strong while their entire world had just been shattered.

You never really forget those moments.

The older I get, the more respect I have for the men and women who continue doing this job. Every shift starts with uncertainty. Every traffic stop carries risk. Every call could change a life forever, including their own.

Yet they keep showing up.

That deserves gratitude, especially today.

National Peace Officers Memorial Day is not about politics. It’s about remembering human beings who believed protecting others mattered more than protecting themselves. It’s about honoring courage, sacrifice and service.

And for some of us, it’s personal.

So, if you see an officer this Friday, take a second to thank them. It may mean more than you realize.

And if you have a chance, listen to “Black Tape on My Badge.” I wrote it from experience, from memories, and from a place in my heart that still aches for the officers we’ve lost, especially those we lost here in Dallas on July 7, 2016.

For every officer who never made it home, and for every family still carrying that loss, this song is for you.

Click on the photo below or here to listen to the song and see the lyrics →

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  Straight Talk and Honest Answers

CarPro Advice: Solving Problems At A Dealership

The good news is this: most problems can be resolved if you handle them the right way.

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   U.S. Auto Market

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  Kids & Pets In Hot Cars: A Deadly Reminder

It’s May and it’s getting hot, which means triple-digit temperatures are right around the corner. I make an impassioned plea to all listeners of both the DFW and National Car Pro Show every year as temperatures rise about leaving kids and pets in hot cars. 

PLEASE take a minute and read the statistics below and share it with anyone who has a small child or travels with pets in the car. I update this story every year in hopes that it may get into the hands of parents who leave small children or pets in the car and prevent another child or pet from suffering a horrible, slow, agonizing death. 

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  Legal Files

Suits & Settlements is a weekly feature highlighting recent automotive-related legal matters. Whether they impact customers and drivers, a specific automaker or have wider implications for the industry, they are important lawsuits and settlements I think you'll find as interesting as I do.

In this week’s Suits & Settlements, you’ll find the following reports:

• Class Action Targets Subaru for Repeated Battery Failures
• Judge Throws Out Nissan Leaf EV Fire Risk Lawsuit
• Goodyear Seeks FCC Waiver for Next-Generation Smart Tires
• GM Pays $12.75 Million in California OnStar Privacy Settlement

Read more →

  FAQ: This Week's Q&A Spotlight!

Q: Are Extended Warranties Worth it?

For Jerry's Answer: Click Here→

Q: Should I Buy Or Lease?

For Jerry's Answer: Click Here→

  Quick Shifts

Each week I bring you the top stories in the auto industry along with my commentary or sometimes amusing thoughts about the craziness that goes on in the world of cars.

Stories you’ll find today:

• Ticketing Speeders by Day, Speeding by Night
• 363 Tiny Cars, One Big Mystery
• The Cameras Are Watching… Everything
• Victoria’s Secret Called, It Wants Its Lambo Back

  Weekly Recalls

•  
• • GM **URGENT DO NOT DRIVE WARNING /CRASH RISK**→
  • Mercedes-Benz **CRASH RISK** →
  • Ram **CRASH RISK** →
  • Waymo **CRASH RISK** →
  • Takata Air Bags→

  Incentives Guide

Here you'll find our incentives and rebate guide which includes a link to every major manufacturer’s incentive page. Just enter your zip code to find the current incentives offered in your area. 

Current incentives By Automaker  

  Sell Or Consign Your Car For Top Dollar!

I hear from a lot of people who end up with an extra car for some reason. Sometimes it is due to a death in the family, or someone gets transferred overseas. I’ve seen many occasions where this happens. Well, now, we have two ways to dispose of a vehicle.

ThisCar has been with us for quite some time. They are terrific buyers and make the transactions very easy. They have helped many of our listeners and I’ve had terrific feedback. They are great, too, if you need a good idea what your car is truly worth and as I always say, a car is only worth what someone is willing to write a check for it. ThisCar writes checks, and lots of them.

Now, if you have more time, RetailMyRide.com is now an official partner of the Car Pro Show and they take cars on consignment. You’ve heard me recommend them in the past most likely, and they have helped many of our listeners. They market the car at all the right places, they get top dollar for it, take a little off the top, and you get the rest. It’s that simple. No people coming to your house, calling or texting, no worrying about how to complete the paperwork, they do all that for you.

So, the question is: Do you want quick cash or the most cash? We’ve got you covered either way with CarPro AppraisalPro OR CarPro ConsignPro.

It all starts at CarPro.com, click SELL A CAR at the top, or click here →

  Kim Komando Quiz and Interesting Info  

Besides the Car Pro Show and our weekly newsletter, my other favorite radio show and newsletter is Kim Komando’s.  We are on many of the same radio stations across America.  She does for her listeners and newsletter subscribers exactly what I endeavor to do:  Give you useful information to keep you up to date on the latest in cars, only she does it with technology and there is nobody who does it better.  Not sure how she puts out a top-notch newsletter seven days a week, but she does.

I recommend you subscribe to Kim’s daily newsletter. I learn something new every single day, and it’s free! Subscribe here →

💡Kim’s Quiz: 

Humanity built the internet, landed rovers on Mars, and we still communicate mostly through tiny pictures. Somewhere between flirting, fake-laughing at work messages and sending “thoughts and prayers” via one tap, the global emoji rankings got shaken up. The old champ, 😂 (Face with Tears of Joy), was recently dethroned.

Guess what’s the most-used emoji on Earth today? A) 🫠 (Melting Face), B) 😭 (Loudly Crying Face), C) 🔥 (Fire), D) ❤️ (Red Heart). Take your pic, the answer’s at the end.

*Answer below my closing message at the very bottom of this newsletter

💡Some Interesting Items I Found In Kim’s Daily Newsletter!

Each week, I comb Kim's newsletters and curate a list of her tips and advice that I think you'll find relevant and interesting.

This week: Drones making deliveries to prisons, and more! 

Here's what I have for you this week!→

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  True Stories From A Former Car Dealer

This is #13 in a series of 40 stories written by me about occurrences from my days in the car business. Each story had a lasting impression on me for some reason or another. Some because they were funny, some because they were sad, and some were just strange. But whatever the case, over the next 26 weeks, we’ll feature one of them, in order for you to enjoy.

Today, The Psychic. Something I did not believe it at all. But I was put in contact with one after I lost a tremendous amount of money, at least at that time. I walk you through this whole episode and whether or not I believed in psychics after the saga was over.

You can read #13 here: The Psychic→

Click here for the True Stories library →

  Closing Message From Jerry

Why I Do What I Do

People ask me all the time why I still do this.

Truth is, I ask myself that sometimes too—usually around the fourth straight hour of live radio on a Saturday when my voice is getting tired, my coffee has gone cold, and the phone lines are still lit up like a Christmas tree.

Five straight hours of talk radio isn’t easy. Anybody who thinks you just sit there and “talk cars” has never done it. There’s no script. No teleprompter. No producer whispering answers in your ear. It’s constant focus, constant listening, and trying to help real people with real problems in real time.

And after all these years, I still take it seriously.

Because I remember what it felt like to not know who to trust.

The car business can be intimidating. Especially for someone who doesn’t buy vehicles often. I hear it in people’s voices every weekend. Folks who are nervous. Confused. Sometimes flat-out scared they’re about to make a costly mistake.

And honestly, I especially understand it when I talk to ladies who may have lost a husband who always handled the car buying, or single moms trying to stretch every dollar they have, or widows who suddenly find themselves alone in a dealership wondering who’s telling them the truth.

That gets to me.

Maybe because I’ve seen both sides of this business.

I had a wonderful career in the automobile industry. Better than I ever could’ve imagined. I owned dealerships, served on national boards, won awards, made a good living, and met incredible people along the way. I’ve been blessed beyond anything I deserved.

Which means this:

I don’t do the radio show or the newsletter because I have to.

I could retire tomorrow if I wanted to. Sleep late. Learn golf. Fish, which I love. Stay home on Saturdays. Never answer another car question as long as I live.

But I genuinely enjoy helping people.

Always have.

I like helping someone avoid paying thousands more than they should for a car. I like warning people about bad financing. I like teaching someone how to save money on insurance, extended warranties, tires, repairs, or maintenance. I like hearing relief in someone’s voice when they realize they’re not getting taken advantage of after all. I love hearing from people who got a check because they learned from me what diminished value is. Or someone who knew how to make sure they got a good settlement amount from their insurance company after a wreck.

And every once in a while, somebody will stop me somewhere and say, “Jerry, you saved me a lot of money,” or “You helped my daughter buy her first car,” or “Because of your advice, we didn’t make a huge mistake.”

That means more to me now than a commission ever did.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved the business side too. I loved the competition, the energy, the excitement of a busy Saturday on the lot. There’s nothing quite like it.

But somewhere along the line, helping people became more important than selling cars.

Maybe that just comes with age. Maybe it comes from experience. Or maybe when you spend your whole life around people making one of the biggest financial decisions they’ll ever make, you realize how much trust they’re placing in you.

That trust matters to me.

Always will.

I know there are easier ways to spend this chapter of my life. But I still wake up excited to do the show. I still enjoy writing this newsletter every week. I still care about getting the facts right and helping people make smart decisions. Hey, I’ve turned more pages on the calendar of life than there are pages left. None of us get out of here alive. In the time it’s taken you to read this so far, over 200 people have died. 6,400 on average die every hour. Most didn’t know their time was almost over. That is why helping people is so important. It could be your last act, or it could be the last memory of the person you helped.

I especially care about the people who feel like nobody’s looking out for them.

Because everybody deserves somebody in their corner.

That’s really why I do what I do.

Not because I need the money.

Not because I have to.

Because after all these years, I still love helping people.

Straight Talk and Honest Answers — always.

 💡Kim Komando Answer: 

B) Loudly Crying Face 😭 Humanity has officially chosen one tiny sobbing face as the universal symbol for “I’m devastated,” “I’m crying laughing,” “this is too cute” and “I have absolutely no words.”

Talk about emotional range. According to 2026 global usage data, 😭 has overtaken 😂 as the most-used emoji on Earth. Translation: We’re all feeling a lot, and apparently, one aggressively weepy little face covers the full spectrum. 🔥 is the fastest-growing emoji worldwide.