Most men and women who aspire to be police officers begin their careers with a noble dream of community service, upholding the law, and helping those in need. Yet over time the rigors and emotional strain of dealing with society's worst element wear on even the most idealistic officers like a sheet of sandpaper, until what used to be a compassionate human being is slowly rubbed away. A few become corrupted and slip into criminal behavior, directly contradicting their oath to guard the public. Even worse, there are some who hide behind their badges to commit the most heinous crimes imaginable.
In a shocking true-crime narrative that reads like a thriller, former police officer, former detective, and mystery writer Stacy Dittrich tells eighteen stories about cops who kill. From the brutal to the bizarre, the senseless to the extreme, these men and women abused their power, took human life, and are now paying the consequences.
Some killed for love, others for money, and still others because of seemingly trivial personality conflicts. Dittrich profiles, among others:
-Drew Peterson, unquestionably, the most profiled --and allegeged murder-by-cop mystery of this century.
-New Orleans cop Antoinette Frank, who brutally murdered three innocent people, including a fellow officer
-Canton, Ohio police officer Bobby Cutts Jr., who murdered his former girlfriend when she was nine-months pregnant
-California highway patrolman Craig Peyer, who pulled over San Diego State college student Cara Knott over a frivolous traffic violation, then murdered her.
-Columbia, Missouri officer Steven Rios, who slit the throat of his gay lover, after he threatened to tell everyone of their relationship.
As a veteran police officer with seventeen years of experience, Dittrich is careful to emphasize that the vast majority of law enforcement officers dutifully uphold their oath to protect the public trust. The fascinating stories she tells are examples of the few whose character flaws turned them into the very criminals they themselves at one time pursued.
"Murder Behind the Badge reveals the dark underbelly of the cop-shop, the evil that can lurk within. Some of these cases you may have heard about, many you have not. Now, learn the inside details of how a murderer gets a badge and is sometimes protected by fellow officers.
Only another cop could walk the public through how a psycho gets on a police force in the first place. Only another cop could explain how the mindset of the thin blue line is sometimes so similar to the mindset of the truly disturbed. Author Stacy Dittrich is that cop. This is the book.
In the realm of true crime this is a must-have!" --DIANE DIMOND, Investigative Journalist/Author of Be Careful Who You Love: Inside the Michael Jackson Case
"As a crime victim myself who went on to become a felony prosecutor, police have been a constant in my life for many, many years. They are some of the most honorable people I have ever known. This book exposes the dichotomy between police who fight crime every day vs. those who have become criminals themselves...a real mind-twister!" --NANCY GRACE, Former prosecutor, host of HLN Prime Time's Nancy Grace and author of the New York Times best seller Objection!
"Murder Behind the Badge reveals the dark underbelly of the cop-shop, the evil that can lurk within. Some of these cases you may have heard about, many you have not. Now, learn the inside details of how a murderer gets a badge and is sometimes protected by fellow officers.
Only another cop could walk the public through how a psycho gets on a police force in the first place. Only another cop could explain how the mindset of the thin blue line is sometimes so similar to the mindset of the truly disturbed. Author Stacy Dittrich is that cop. This is the book.
In the realm of true crime this is a must-have!" --DIANE DIMOND, Investigative Journalist/Author of Be Careful Who You Love: Inside the Michael Jackson Case
About the Author
Stacy Dittrich (Mansfield, OH) is an award-winning veteran law enforcement officer, author, media consultant, and former detective specializing in sex crimes. In 2002, she received the Victims of Crime Award from former Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro. She is the author of the CeeCee Gallagher thriller series about a female detective. She has been featured on HLN's Nancy Grace show, Fox's Geraldo at Large, and other programs.
Stacy Dittrich is an award-winning 18-year law enforcement officer, author, media consultant, and former detective specializing in sex crimes. With past training by a former FBI Behavioral Specialist, Stacy is certified through the National Institute of Truth Verification as an examiner (CVSA- lie detector). Stacy has also been assigned to a federal drug task force and has been involved in the investigations of numerous homicides. In 2002, she received the Victim's of Crime Award from former Ohio Attorney General, Jim Petro and is a certified law enforcement instructor and in 2009 was honored with a commendation by the Ohio House of Representatives for personal achievement. She has instructed on topics ranging from sexual assaults to "stranger dangers." Stacy retired early in 2008 to focus solely on her writing and media commitments. However, she is still a sworn special deputy with the Richland County Sheriff's Department in Mansfield, Ohio and is assigned to running the voice stress analysis tests for new hires and criminal suspects. Growing up in a family stocked with police officers created a unique upbringing for Stacy. Her father and three uncles began their career as police officers in 1969 after they returned from Vietnam. She saw firsthand the dangers of the job in 1979 when her uncle, James, was shot in the line of duty. Although he survived, he ultimately had to go out on disability. However, the other three brothers remain officers now and have an incredible 120-years combined experience. Fascinated with law enforcement at an early age, Stacy frequently accompanied her father to work, and began investigating her own "crimes" at age 8, after reading the story of serial killer Ted Bundy. With a hand-me-down kit of fingerprint powder, microscope, and handcuffs, she scoured the neighborhoods in search of the ultimate crime scene, often performing crude autopsies on unsuspecting insects. By the time she graduated high school, Stacy had been on the scene of more "real" crimes than most police rookies, spending her weekends taking part in a ride-along program with her father. Stacy graduated the police academy as class president, at the top of her class. In 1997, the Mansfield News Journal did a 2-page feature story on Stacy and her father, "Like Father, Like Daughter: The Beat Goes On." Stacy is the author of the CeeCee Gallagher thriller series about a female detective. She and her first novel in the series, "The Devil's Closet", were featured on CNN and Fox. Based on an actual case Stacy investigated, the novel debuted in October, 2008. The highly anticipated follow-up, "Mary Jane's Grave", debuts in May 2009. Stacy's first true-crime book, "Murder Behind the Badge: True Stories of Cops Who Kill", will debut in September, 2009 (Prometheus, Hardcover), and is already receiving rave reviews:
"As a crime victim myself who went on to become a felony prosecutor, police have been a constant in my life for many, many years. They are some of the most honorable people I have ever known. Dittrich exposes the dichotomy between police who fight crime every day vs. those who have become criminals themselves... a real mind-twister!" --Nancy Grace, HLN Host of "Nancy Grace"
"Murder Behind the Badge reveals the dark underbelly of the cop-shop, the evil that can lurk within. Some of these cases you may have heard about, many you have not. Now, learn the inside details of how a murderer gets a badge and is sometimes protected by fellow officers. Only another cop could walk the public through how a psycho gets on a police force in the first place. Only another cop could explain how the mindset of the thin blue line is sometimes so similar to the mindset of the truly disturbed. Author Stacy Dittrich is that cop. This is the book. In the realm of true crime this is a must-have!" --Diane Dimond, "Entertainment Tonight" Investigative Anchor/Journalist and Author of "Who You Love: Inside the Michael Jackson Case"
Stacy's memoir about her life as a female police officer, Stumbling Along the Beat, debuts in Spring 2010 (Kaplan): "Humorous and shocking, Stacy Dittrich's account of life as a female police officer and growing up in a law enforcement family will undoubtedly grab your attention. A fascinating read!" --Ray Liotta, award-winning actor and star of Goodfellas
Stacy is a member of the International Thriller Writer's Association, Sisters in Crime, and is a regular contributor on Women in Crime Ink, a new web blog by an impressive group of award-winning true-crime authors, print and broadcast journalists, crime novelists, producers for CNN and CBS News, television personalities, and criminal justice professionals. Stacy is also a guest contributor at OfficerResource.com. Stacy is co-host of Justice Interrupted Radio--aired weekly on blogtalk radio; a media and advocacy team along with LA Deputy District Attorney, Robin Sax. Justice Interrupted is currently being developed for television.
Stacy has appeared as a law enforcement commentator on Fox, "The O'Reilly Factor, CNN, Fox's Geraldo at Large, The Nancy Grace Show, Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell (HLN), E! True Hollywood in Crime, The War On Crime, The Dana Pretzer Show, "That's Life" with Cleveland's Robin Swoboda, and hundreds of radio stations nationwide. She has appeared in the pages of SELF magazine, Women's World magazine, Allure Magazine, The Boston Herald, The UK Observer, and The Miami Herald to name a few.
Stacy has given her expert and professional opinion on cases ranging from the Jon Benet Ramsey and Caylee Anthony case, to the Manson Family and Natalee Holloway. She has spoken on topics ranging from the American Mafia to Islamic honor killings, and just about everything in between.
Stacy Dittrich currently resides in Ohio with her husband, Rich--a police officer, and their two daughters.
This review is from: Murder Behind the Badge: True Stories of Cops Who Kill (Hardcover)
Murder Behind the Badge: True Stories of Cops Who Kill offers a true-crime narrative that reads like a thriller and comes from a former police officer and detective who tells eighteen stories about cops who kill. Any library strong in either law enforcement or social issues will find this a solid, intriguing coverage of what motivates cops to kill.
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This review is from: Murder Behind the Badge: True Stories of Cops Who Kill (Hardcover)
Sherlock Holmes maintained that when doctors go wrong, they are the first of criminals, having nerve and knowledge. After reading Stacy Dittrich's MURDER BEHIND THE BADGE, TRUE STORIES OF COPS WHO KILL, I think the Holmes statement needs to be revised. Dittrich's book details the life and crimes of 18 policemen/women who resorted to murder, dishonoring every principle of police work. It's a sad, disturbing tale for several reasons.
The 'boys in blue' murderers found in Dittrich's book include Charles Becker, Gerald Schaefer, Lawrencia Bembenek, Bobby Cutts, Len Davis, Roy Kipp and Charles Oswalt. As appalling as their crimes were, it's even more mind-boggling that those people were ever accepted for police work! MURDER BEHIND THE BADGE is not just about murder, it's about the system failing to protect society. Time after time, slipshod or non-existent hiring procedures in cities across America let walking time-bombs like David Camm and Keith Washington pass unchallenged. Just about all the individuals covered in Dittrich's book had serious psychological problems or criminal records(!) before they were hired and yet they were given a badge and gun. Then too, in many cases, the victims were harassed by their soon-to-be murderers but when they tried to get help from police, government agencies, etc., their pleas were ignored or downplayed. If there is a hopeful note in Dittrich's book, it is that almost all of the killers ended up with lifelong prison terms or were executed.
Dittrich does a workmanlike job of presenting each case clearly and dispassionately. Given the subject of the book, I was surprised by the lack of photographs of many of the killers but that's just me.
In short, I can't say I enjoyed reading MURDER BEHIND THE BADGE but I did find the book informative. It did shine a light on a disturbing subject. Recommended.
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