In 2000, Michale Callahan was the newly promoted Investigations Commander over a nine county area in East Central Illinois. His first assignment, to review the fourteen-year-old murder of a young, newlywed couple, Dyke and Karen Rhoads, would change his life forever, shattering his faith in the department he had loved and had dedicated his life to. Rumblings from the Downstate Illinois Innocence Project, The Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University and an impending show on CBS's 48 Hours were that two men had been wrongfully convicted for these murders. This attention drew deep concern from the corrupt administration of Governor George Ryan and the politically compromised command of the Illinois State Police. During his career Lieutenant Michale Callahan had helped to put more than his fair share of criminals behind bars, but little did he know that the biggest adversaries he would ever face were those within his own department. This true story is about his fight to search for the truth, no matter where it may lead, to search for the real killers and help free the two innocent men he learned were railroaded into prison. As the story unfolds it becomes his and every citizen's worst nightmare when any crime is deemed "too politically sensitive "instead of justice for the victims. Callahan's fight continued with his personal battle against a corrupt and powerful state that was more interested in covering up the scandal and silencing its employees than seeking justice. His battle led to the United States Supreme Court, where he continues to fight for his and every American's First Amendment protection, the freedom of speech.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By J. Brooks
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm glad Mr. Callahan had the guts to write this GREAT book. I grew up in Paris and know first hand 'who' owns the town...we all do. It's sad that the 'in fighting' and 'back stabbing' of the ISP kept Herbie in prison all those years when he should have been out when Steidl was released. It's sad that my home town is so corrupt and that these 2 men were so disliked to have been framed for these murders and lost the best years of their lives!!! I hope those who had a hand in this travesty of justice are real proud. A MUST READ!!!! A+++++++++++
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A very well written book (despite a handful of typographical errors) and very overdue. It was a realistic look at the justice system in Illinois and very readable. It was one of those "can't put it down" books.
Michale Callahan was very courageous to write this and he should be applauded.
Michale Callahan was very courageous to write this and he should be applauded.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The corruption found throughout this book also applies to many other counties in downstate Illinois. In Coles county we had Paul Komada running for SA in 08. We also still have Ron Tulin handling criminal cases. Jack Eckerty still lives within Coles county. Charlie McGrew is Sheriff of Douglas county. Not one of these people have ever been reprimanded for their roles in the Edgar county injustice. Instead they are still practicing the same type of corruption TODAY! A close knit group of corruption still exists. Coles county SA Steve Ferguson had an assistant SA stealing drugs from evidence locker, and this was hidden from the public for over 2 years, and even when it did become public, nothing was done! Houseboats for all corrupt officials!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Rose Bybee
Format:Hardcover
This is one of those books that is very hard to put down. I lived in Paris for many years and some of those were in the house. A lot of things were brought to light and it was about time! I plan on reading this book again, because I am sure that there are things that will be come clearer the second time around. What a shame Mr. Callahan and his family had to endure what he did just so the truth could be told. Too bad he couldn't get anyone to listen and act.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By John Bercaw
Format:Hardcover
I left Paris, Illinois in 1960, when it was a sleepy little farming town. What the hell happened? "Too Politically Sensitive" illuminates the cesspool of Illinois politics and the very sorry state of corruption and lawlessness that apparently overwhelmed Paris. As I read through the book, I shocked and then shocked again at the level and the brazenness of the cover ups, the corruption, the greed and the complete disregard for the citizens of Illinois. It is seldom that I find a book of this nature to be in the can't-put-it-down category, but "Too Politically Sensitive" reads like a thriller.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Poitically Sensitive, Exposing corruption in a small town and the state of Illinois
April 30, 2010
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Since I was raised in the town, Paris, Ill., and occasionally go back there, the book was interesting to me. I spoke to a friend who still lives there and she was incensed that someone would write such a book and name so many names. I think she doesn't realize that this is all a matter of public record. She would not even discuss it. Her daughter who lives near Paris had bought the book and my friend read 5 pages. My friend would not discuss it any further as it makes her so mad. She thinks the 2 men were guilty!!! Wonder if she sat on the jury. She refused to discuss it other than what I just said as it makes her very angry. My take on it was it was the authors experience and an expose of corrupt people thoughout the system. I had seen the airing of the investigation on TV a few years back and before that I had not heard of the murders. I felt all in all this was an excellent book and I hope the author has found peace in his life. Some of the information was repetative but he had to make it clear all of the barriers he encountered...I had not heard of this book but my cousin who lives in Indianapolis got it from another cousin from Paris.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By ed hammer
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Lt. Callahan describes in details the hard work of an honest cop and how Illinois politics negatively impacted law enforcement, especially the Illinois State Police. Callahan depicts how he did nothing more than live up to his oath and did his job, but was ignored and harassed by the cowards in his chain of command who gained and maintained their ranks through politics. "Too Politically Sensitive," makes and excellent companion to my book, "One Hundred Percent Guilty, How and Insider Links the Death of Six Children to the Politics of Illinois Convicted Governor George Ryan" also available on amazon.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By moochie
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is a great read and shows how an honest person in law enforcement can and will stand up for what is right no matter what is at stake. TOO POLITICALLY SENSITIVE shows what can happen when top politicians go bad and the power of money and kickbacks.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Boring!
Too technical and repetative. Only read about half of it. Obviously written by an amateur. Would not recommend it to anyone.
Published 1 month ago by Judy Shoop
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just One of the many Interesting Tell All's of The State of Corruption...
Intriguing read. I couldn't put it down till finished. Interesting insider perspective.
Corruption touches, to some extent, every Official Office in the State of Illinois. Read more
Corruption touches, to some extent, every Official Office in the State of Illinois. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Owen Reeves
4.0 out of 5 stars
Too Politicaly Sensitive
Being from Central Illinois myself I like this book about a town and system I am familiar with. I am retired from local law enforcement and I knew/know some of the officers... Read more
Published 20 months ago by H. Joe Thompson
4.0 out of 5 stars
When politics overcome justice: an exposé
by Jack L. Kennedy (as published in The Joplin Independent)
Perhaps, the televised so-called reality shows have us a bit jaded when it comes to determining what is truth... Read more
Perhaps, the televised so-called reality shows have us a bit jaded when it comes to determining what is truth... Read more
Published on April 16, 2010 by M. Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Review of "Too Politically Sensitive"
The information in the book is shocking - especially since I grew up in Paris in the 1950's and early 1960's and the sleepy little town appeared to be wholesome and innocent. Read more
Published on August 24, 2009 by M. Pope
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Interesting
I purchased this book for my mother, who lived in Paris for many years, including the years chronicled in this book. Read more
Published on July 10, 2009 by Thea Malone
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Read
I saw an article in our local newspaper announcing a book signing by the author of this book. I knew a bit about the history and cover up of the murders of the young married couple... Read more
Published on June 23, 2009 by Cin Rothy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Too Politically Sensitive
I found this book to be extremely interesting. Since I am from Edgar County, Illinois several of the names I had heard of. Read more
Published on June 15, 2009 by David L. Riggen
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