3 Deputy Sheriffs

Editor's Note: One of the authors is a former servicmember.

September 28, 2007 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists over 750 state and local police officers who have written books. The website added three former deputy sheriffs from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

In 1962 Stephen Beeler joined the United States Army, serving in Germany. After his discharge in 1965 he joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. During his law enforcement career with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department he served in patrol, administration, court services, community relations, press liaison and hostage negotiations. In 1986, he retired from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department because of a duty-related injury. From 1987 to 1995, he was the business manager for the Arizona Department of Corrections in Winslow. Stephen Beeler is the author of The Firestone Syndrome.

According to the book description of The Firestone Syndrome, it is “a story based on actual events about an ambitious Los Angeles County Sheriff's lieutenant, Steve Butler, during the late 1970's who is manipulated by his superiors to return to the notorious Firestone Sheriff's Station in south-central Los Angeles to build evidence on suspected Sheriff's deputies his superiors believe are systematically murdering local criminals. Steve Butler is hesitant to return to Firestone because of his tour there as a deputy when he faced the Firestone "Elitists'" scorn for his perceived inability to "pull the trigger" when necessary. His return to Firestone brings about intrigue, murder and an ironic twist with a surprise ending as Steve Butler is used as a pawn by the mysterious killers.”

Allen P. Bristow began his law enforcement career as a military policeman during the Korean War. After the war, he joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He left the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to become a professor of Police Administration at the California State University, Los Angeles. During his academic career, Allen P. Bristow authored a number of books about policing. Following his retirement from education he has authored a number of fictional books about law enforcement in the “old west.” Allen P. Bristow is the author of the academic works: The Search for an Effective Police Handgun, Effective Police Manpower Utilization; Patrol Administration; Police Disaster Operations; Rural Law Enforcement; Field Interrogation; An Introduction to Modern Police Firearms, A Handbook in Criminal Procedure and the Administration of Justice; You and the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics; Police Film Guide; and, Decision Making in Police Administration. He was the editor of Police Supervision Readings. He is the author of the fiction works The Pinkerton Eye and Playing God. And the author of the biographical look at a Western figure, Whispering Smith.

According to the book description of Whispering Smith, “The fictional adventures of the heroic railroad detective called Whispering Smith have entertained readers, motion picture enthusiasts and television viewers for many years. The colorful name of this character had such appeal that it has been adopted by musical bands, apparel manufacturers and emblazoned on the nose of World War Two bombers. But was there a real Whispering Smith? Was he the heroic champion of justice on the western plains as depicted by Hollywood or was he instead a sinister and tragic recluse? Traces of his confrontations with western outlaws are found throughout Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Yet in his search for justice did he become a centurion that confronted frontier lawlessness with a hangman's rope? Was the real Whispering Smith actually a cold-blooded killer, frustrated duelist, devious plotter and pugnacious braggart?”

In 1970, Terry E. Gingerich began his career in law enforcement when he joined the Metropolitan Police Department (Washington, DC). In 1972, he became a deputy sheriff with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He retired from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department after 24 years as a sergeant having worked in custody, patrol, administration and detectives.

Terry E. Gingerich has a Doctorate from Washington State University, a Masters in Criminal Justice from Cal State, Los Angeles and a BS from the University of San Francisco. Currently, Terry E. Gingerich is an assistant professor at Western Oregon University. Terry E. Gingerich is the co-author of Law Enforcement in the United States.

According to the book description of Law Enforcement in the United States, it “presents a unique balance of theory, history, and practice of American law enforcement. It provides readers with updated, important information ranging from the evolution and theory of social control to the training, function, and strategies involved in modern policing. The authors also examine the gray areas of law enforcement, ethics, forces in society that impact policing, and the laws governing police behavior.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 753 police officers (representing 346 police departments) and their 1616 police books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.