Episode 5
Season 3
"1%er Newsletter, Bible For Cops"
with former Gang Detective - MIKE LYNES
In this episode, Jason, (former Hells Angels), and Mooch, (former Mongol), sit down with one of their most controversial guests yet: former Utah gang detective Mike Lynes.
Mike shares his journey from growing up in Southern California to a career in law enforcement, explaining what inspired him to become a police officer and eventually specialize in gang investigations. The conversation explores his work combating street gangs, drugs, graffiti, and organized criminal activity before turning to the world of outlaw motorcycle clubs.
Mike discusses the creation of his widely known and often-debated newsletter documenting outlaw motorcycle clubs—a publication embraced by many in law enforcement but sharply criticized within the biker community. Together, they examine the ongoing debate over what is fact, what is perception, and where the lines between intelligence gathering and misinformation can become blurred.
The discussion also tackles one of the most hotly debated topics in motorcycle culture: the difference between the terms "outlaw motorcycle club" and "biker gang," and why those words carry such different meanings depending on who's using them.
This is an honest, respectful, and thought-provoking conversation that brings together two very different perspectives on a world that has long been surrounded by secrecy, controversy, and misunderstanding. Whether you agree or disagree, this episode challenges listeners to hear both sides of the story.
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MIKE LYNES BIO
Mike Lynes began his law enforcement career on August 23, 1999, with the private prison company Management & Training Corporation (MTC), which was contracted through the Utah Department of Corrections in Draper, Utah. Mike was assigned as the Security Threat Group Officer, also known as the gang officer, while employed with MTC.
Mike left MTC on July 1, 2000, and began his career with the West Valley City Police Department in West Valley City, Utah, on July 10, 2000. During his time with the West Valley City Police Department, Mike worked as a patrol officer, school resource officer, detective with the High Enforcement Apprehension Team (HEAT), detective with the Neighborhood Narcotics Unit, and detective with the Salt Lake Area Metro Gang Unit. Mike also worked as a detective in the Community Oriented Policing Unit (COP), where he served as the direct enforcement officer and worked 100% proactive cases that he generated.
Over the course of his career, Mike became a court-certified expert witness in criminal street gang cases, outlaw motorcycle gang cases, graffiti crimes, and narcotics cases. Mike retired in good standing from the West Valley City Police Department on December 31, 2024.
After retiring from police work, Mike worked as the Corporate Director of Security for the Wasatch Group, a $4 billion property ownership, property management, and investment company. In this role, Mike handled security operations for multiple shopping centers, including the large Valley Fair Shopping Center in West Valley City, Utah.
During his time away from law enforcement, Mike focused on improving his mental and physical health. When Mike initially retired from police work, he weighed 401 pounds and was not healthy. Mike spent 14 months away from police work focusing on his mental and physical health and lost over 150 pounds. He now works out four days a week and is in the gym by 5:00 a.m.
In April 2026, Mike was recruited by the Taylorsville City Police Department in Taylorsville, Utah, to return to police work. He has since been working again as a police officer in the patrol division at the age of 52.
Mike is also an adjunct instructor for Tooele Technical College in Tooele, Utah, where he teaches the Gangs 1010 class to law enforcement cadets in the police academy.
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