Walking With the Devil: The Police Code of Silence [Paperback]

Michael W. Quinn (Author), Margot T. Willett (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2004

As Peace Officers we willingly lay our lives on the line for each other and the public we serve. Yet, we walk away or turn our heads when we see another officer doing something that could end their career, their marriage, or their freedom. Because we don't rat on another peace officer. AS OFFICERS we have taken an oath to protect and serve the public and each other. Yet, the number of officers that commit suicide is much greater than the number of officers killed by felons. Some of those suicides are the result of being under investigation for crimes or unethical behavior. Behavior that other cops were aware of and never reported, and did nothing to stop, because we don't rat on other cops. AS DEPUTIES, we have sworn to protect those in our custody. Yet some of us will go to prison every year because of acts that could have, and should have, been stopped by other deputies because we don't rat on other deputies. AS TROOPERS, we have sworn to protect and serve by keeping our highways safe. Yet some of us will die in traffic accidents because we drive too fast for all the wrong reasons and some of us will be stopped, but not arrested, for drunk driving because we don't rat on other troopers. AS SPECIAL AGENTS, we have sworn to uphold the constitution. Yet some of us will go to prison this year because we did nothing when we saw other agents involved in criminal or unethical behavior because we don't rat on other agents. AS GUARDS, we protect each other against men and women convicted of the most heinous crimes. But we will ignore unethical or even criminal conduct of other guards. Because we don't rat on other guards. There is a code of silence in the criminal justice system that infects all levels, and the cost in lives destroyed or lost is enormous. It is not an infection we can cure, but it is an infection we can fight, by making a commitment to protect each other against ourselves as well as others. Michael W. Quinn

Editorial Reviews

Review

I firmly believe that Mike Quinn s book should be mandatory reading for all recruits attending a police academy and on the International Association of Chiefs of Police professional development reading list. Whenever the opportunity presents itself I give this as a gift to young people as they prepare to start their career in Law Enforcement. --Richard Thomas, Chief of Police, Port Washington, Wisconsin and former Educational Consultant for the State of Wisconsin, Department of Justice, Training and Standards Bureau

Quinn s book reveals what really goes on behind the scenes. I learned stuff I never knew, including about one case I handled in the grand jury. Quinn describes police falsifying reports, committing perjury, and covering these acts by the Code of Silence. It's cover your partner's ass, because next time you may need the partner to cover yours. When Quinn saw misconduct, he went to superiors, first line supervising sergeants, lieutenants, and even deputy chiefs, getting no satisfaction. So, what s so important about this book? Itis that every judge should read it and understand the pressures and motivation that foster the police misconduct that defense lawyers seeevery day. Let s face it, these judges are incredibly naïve about police misconduct. They think the police tell the truth and defendants lie. When I was a third year law student doing a prosecutorial internship I was assigned a marijuana possession case. The defendantwas arrested in his living room and the police found the pot in the bedroom. This was just after the Supreme Court decided Chimel v. California in which the court said a search incident was limited to the arrestee's arm s reach. When I told this to the cop who seized the evidence, he said, Well, then, I found the pot in the living room. Needless to say I was shocked at his readiness to commit perjury and dismissed the case. Quinn details case after case of this sort of thing. Quinn makes the point that one cop can make a difference. He cites examples in which misbehaving police were told by coworkers to stop. The misconduct would stop in front of the complainant. Color me cynical, but who knows what happened elsewhere. Read this book and pass it on to the bench. It is a rare glimpse at a world that is indeed shrouded in the Code of Silence. --John C. Brink, Attorney Former Hennepin County Prosecutor, 2003-2010 Super Lawyer

Quinn challenges ethical officers with a simple, practical strategy for confronting an unethical environment. Walking With the Devil instills a sense of hope for cracking the blue code of silence. I recently referenced Quinn's concepts as I taught police ethics to the command staff of a police agency in a developing country. Without a doubt, Quinn's message is universal. A powerful read for those who believe in the ethical obligations of the police. --Chief Frank Kaminski (ret) Evanston, Illinois Police Department

About the Author

Mike Quinn has been in law enforcement for 25 years, 23 1/2 of those with the Minneapolis Police Department and 18 months with the Minnesota Police Corps where he oversaw the design and development of the federally sponsored Police Corps Academy.

During his tenure with the Force Mike worked in some of the toughest and highest-profile units, serving over 300 high- risk warrants without a critical incident, conducting successful raids on armed and dangerous suspects, and diligently investigating allegations of internal criminal and departmental violations.

He is the recipient of numerous awards, including departmental Commendations, Awards of Merit, and a Unit Citation; an Outstanding Service Award from the FBI, a Leadership award from the Urban League, two Meritorious Masts from the United States Marine Corps, and the Lifetime Achievement in Law Enforcement Training award from the Association of Training of Officers of Minnesota. He is an acknowledged contributor to The Tactical Edge by Calibre Press and he regularly teaches and has testified as an expert witness on such topics as Self Defense for Civilians, Search and Seizure, Firearms, Rappelling, Defensive Tactics, Pressure Point Control Tactics, Deadly Force, Chemical Agents, High Risk Warrants and SWAT Tactics.

Mike was a member of the Emergency Response Unit for 17 years and was part of the joint FBI/Minneapolis Police SWAT team for 8 years. An active member of the Hibbing Community College Law Enforcement Advisory Board, Mike is still trying to make a difference in police training. A lifelong resident of Minneapolis, Mike lives with his wife of 30 plus years, with whom he shares a love for distance running, mountain biking, and the great outdoors.

Mike's success in law enforcement is reflected in the passion and commitment he brings to being an ethical cop. Walking with the Devil is another example of this commitment.

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Quinn and Associates; Second edition (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097591250X
• ISBN-13: 978-0975912508
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #574,177 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mike Quinn retired after 23 ½ years as a decorated sergeant of the Minneapolis Police Department. He also served 1 ½ years as the Deputy Director of the Minnesota Police Corps and 5 years as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal. He was a certified trainer in the use of force, deadly force, firearms, chemical agents, basic swat tactics, rappelling, officer survival and high risk warrants.
Mike was a member of the Minneapolis Emergency Response Unit for 17 years. He served over 350 high-risk warrants as a supervisor/team leader. He was also a member of the joint Minneapolis Police/FBI Swat team for 8 years. From 2006 to 2008 Mike wrote a monthly ethics column for Officer.com.
He has been an invited speaker on the subject of police ethics and accountability at Northwestern University's Center for Public Safety, the RCMP Police College, National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE), National Association of Canadian Police Boards Conference, Hamline Law School, Normandale Community College, Minnesota State University at St. Cloud, Minnesota State University, St. Cloud, Hibbing Community College, Loras College - Dubuque, IA., the Gulfport, Mississippi Police Department, and the 2009 National Police Accountability Conference, Calgary, AB.
He is an active member of the Hibbing Community College Law Enforcement Advisory Board, adjunct faculty member at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, community faculty at Metropolitan State University, editorial board member of the Law Enforcement Journal, and a member of the International Association of Police Ethics Trainers.
He is proud to be called husband, father, and grandfather.
You can reach Mike at [e-mail].
Visit his website at Booksbyquinn.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential reference for civilian review board members and concerned members of the general community, July 5, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Walking With the Devil: The Police Code of Silence (Paperback)

Michael W. Quinn is a retired Minneapolis police officer who is determined to bring to the attention of the public an informed and informative expose of what he calls the "police code of silence" in his book Walking With The Devil: What Bad Cops Don't Want You To Know And Good Cops Won't Tell You. Deftly edited by Margot Willett, Walking With The Devil reveals why this police version of "omerta" comes about and is enforced by the dangers of the job and the (sometimes misplaced) loyalties that arise from them. From training in a police academy, to the investigations of Internal Affairs, to scandal driven precinct shake ups, Willett lays out everything in language and example that is accessible to the non-specialist general reader. Of special note is the section devoted to ten myths about policing which range from "street justice teaching people a lesson" to once being a part of a police "Code of Silence" you can't extricate yourself, to the necessity to be macho if you want to be effective in law enforcement. Willett does more than just outline and document the problems, he also offers advice for police administrators and line officers as to what can be done to weed out lawlessness from law enforcement. With the inclusion of a Glossary, References, and an Index, Walking With The Devil should be considered required reading for all police academia curriculums, and is highly recommended for anyone who is "on the job", as well as an essential reference for civilian review board members and concerned members of the general community.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars right on, July 25, 2006

By 

Jefrey Boyce - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Walking With the Devil: The Police Code of Silence (Paperback)

This book is right on. The code of silence is an evil thing that subverts the truth. The ends do not justify the means. I can't recommend this book highly enough because the code of silence exists and not just in the police force. It is a very important issue.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun, but not that helpful in the end, June 19, 2010

By 

Big Blue 6 (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Walking With the Devil: The Police Code of Silence (Paperback)

This book is well-written; the author's conversational style makes this an easy read. It's both believable and useful: The author writes about police corruption and the code of silence from the real world, not a faculty office on some campus. The book does a nice job of painting a picture of exactly why good cops look the other way when bad cops act like bad cops.

This work is entertaining and provides a pretty good description of why there's a code of silence. But it's only somewhat helpful to police managers or internal investigators looking to address the problem. The book starts with many pages of examples of the code in action and many describing how it works. But in the end it flames out - it only skims the surface of possible solutions to the code of silence.