A look at the worst LAPD scandal prior to the Rodney King beating describes how two well-regarded cops ran an out-call prostitution service, sold automatic weapons, and committed insurance fraud, armed robbery, and murder-for-hire. National ad/promo. Tour.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
The Los Angeles Police Department long had a reputation as one of the best in the nation. Then came the revelations in Edward Humes's Murderer with a Badge (Nonfiction Forecasts, Oct. 5, 1992), Norma Jean Almodovar's Cop to Call Girl (Nonfiction Forecasts, March 29) and the Rodney King beating. To that list can be added this shocking tale of two officers, both highly regarded by their colleagues and neighbors, who established a prostitution ring, trafficked in automatic weapons, perhaps committed an armed robbery and carried out at least one murder for hire. With eminent fairness, freelance writer Golab tells the story of Richard Ford and Robert Van Villas, both raised in dysfunctional families, both Vietnam War heroes, both loving husbands and fathers who betrayed their law enforcement trust and were found guilty of murder in 1988, and are now serving life sentences, pending appeals. A sobering and depressing, yet highly readable, book.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
At least some L.A. cops were abusing their trust long before the Rodney King case--as demonstrated in this riveting narrative of police-sponsored insurance fraud, armed robbery, automatic-weapons dealing, and murder for hire. Detective Richard Ford and Officer Robert Von Villas of the LAPD's Devonshire Division (nicknamed ``Club Dev'' to emphasize its contrast with rougher areas of the city) seemed pillars of rectitude: decorated Vietnam heroes; charming and caring husbands and fathers, beloved for their service to the community. Many were astonished, then, when, in 1983, the two were indicted for conspiring to murder and for performing a contract killing. Their chief accuser, Bruce Adams, appeared a lowlife by contrast: an auto mechanic having business difficulties with the two cops, who were his silent partners; a Vietnam vet with post-traumatic stress disorder and a troubled work history. Even with a wealth of circumstantial evidence and a wired Adams catching Ford in an explicit conversation about a planned sex-torture-mutilation murder, convicting L.A.'s ``killer cops'' wasn't easy: The cases cost city taxpayers $8-10 million, with the trials concluded only six years after the arrests. As the first L.A. cops convicted of first-degree murder, Ford and Von Villas received life without possibility of parole. Golab (a contributing editor to Los Angeles magazine) tells the tale primarily from the viewpoint of Adams, an ambivalent hero terrified of informing on Ford (and no wonder: unlike the Federal Witness Protection Program, with its deep pockets, the LAPD could spare only $7,000 to help Adams relocate, and he and his family continue to live in hiding). It's a truly scary cautionary tale, though Golab's attempts to see it as a harbinger of the Rodney King beating seem forced, except for his noting of the rogue cops' belief that their badges were shields of immunity. Narrated with little grace, but the bone-chilling horror comes through in this story begging for film or TV adaptation. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Case of the Convicted Cops,
By Acute Observer (N. Jersey Shore) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Dark Side of the Force: A True Story of Corruption and Murder in the Lapd (Hardcover)
This 1993 book is about two rogue cops in the LAPD. They ran prostitutes, sold automatic weapons, committed insurance fraud, armed robbery, and murder-for-hire. Their plan to kill an erotic dancer to collect life insurance failed, and exposed their schemes to Federal investigators. This landmark ruling expanded First Amendment rights for freelance writers in California. This book lacks photographs and an index.The crimes described here could not be excused as "overzealousness" or "emotional anger": human failings. They were well-planned and done in cold blood. These two officers had impeccable records, and had received many commendations. How could they have fooled their superiors and co-workers? Such villains are rare in police forces, even more so in the LAPD. This story was omitted from Darryl Gates' "Chief" (p.5). This true crime story could be the origin of the many dramatic stories in film, TV, and books since the 1980s. Page 12 tells of the destitute conditions of the Adams family. Partly due to poor choices in handling money (no mention of the effects of advertising on people's choices). Chapter 2 tells of experiences in Vietnam that won't be printed in your local newspaper. Page 87 tells how two policemen collected their rent money in downtown Los Angeles and avoided the threat of robbery by acting as if they were part of organized crime! There are a lot of pages devoted to personal history, as if the author was paid by the word. This slows down the story. Both Ford and Von Villas seemed to go bad after a personal tragedy and the stress that followed. The crisis occurred when Joany dated "Doctor A." and suspected he was trying to kill her! Bruce had contacted the ATF to protect himself. The ATF carefully checked out his story, and confided with the IAD of the LAPD (Chapter 13). On the night picked for the murder ATF agents went to watch the nude dancers; it was a dirty job but somebody had to do it (p.152). California tends to have much longer trials than in other states due to judicial and legislature decisions (pp.202-203). Jury selections can also take longer (p.218). A finding of guilt may not be based on circumstantial evidence unless they cannot be explained by innocent acts, and are consistent with guilt (p.259). The jury quickly reached a verdict: guilty on most counts (p.261). Both Ford and Von Villas were found guilty of murdering Thomas Weed (the body was never found). Some said the guilty verdict resulted from their prior convictions (p.316). A wide range of people presented testimony on their behalf during the penalty phase; this was unprecedented (p.317). Both were sentenced to life without parole (p.349).
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exciting and fast-moving thriller - and this story is true!,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Dark Side of the Force: A True Story of Corruption and Murder in the Lapd (Hardcover)
This was an extremely well-written book, a disturbing true story about some really really bad cops who engage in mayhem and murder, and the author does a great job of setting the locale for the reader. I know the parts of Los Angeles the author writes about, and his descriptions are authentic. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in true crime stories.
5.0 out of 5 stars
I worked for an attorney who defended Von Villas on this case.,
By nancy trense (Camarillo, California usa) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Dark Side of the Force: A True Story of Corruption and Murder in the Lapd (Hardcover)
Great to have a book that was about a case I was personally involved in. I worked for Donald Feinberg during this trial. He and Jack Stone defended Robert Von Villas. I worked for two years with the attorneys on this trial.
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