Saturday, September 29, 2007

100 Military Books

September 29, 2007 (San Dimas, CA). Military-Writers.com is a website committed to listing servicemembers who have authored books. With the addition of two Marines and a Soldier, the website now lists 100 books by servicemembers.

In 1951 and at the Age of 17,
Lee Ballenger enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. During his first year in the Marine Corps he trained with the 3rd Tank Battalion. Shortly after his 18th birthday, Lee Ballenger was shipped out to Korea, arriving in January 1953. After a short stint “with the 1st Reconnaissance Company, he returned to tanks in time to participate in the Nevada Cities fighting at the end of March.” Lee Ballenger continued as a tank crewman until the end of fighting in Korea. He re-enlisted in the Marine Corps and served as a military police officer until his discharge in 1957.

After his discharge
Lee Ballenger began his law enforcement career with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He retired in 1989 at the rank of Lieutenant. Lee Ballenger is the author of a two volume set on the Korean War: The Outpost War: U.S. Marine Corps in Korea, 1952 and The Final Crucible: U.S. Marines in Korea, 1953.

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 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.

In 1969,
Charles “Sid” Heal joined the United States Marine Corps. After serving a combat tour in Vietnam, he returned home, joined the Marine Corps reserve and attended college. Commander Charles “Sid” Heal began his law enforcement career in 1975 as an investigator for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. In 1977, he joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy sheriff. During his law enforcement career, he has worked various assignments within the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, including Men’s Central Jail, Firestone Station and Industry Station.

Upon being promoted to Sergeant in 1983, Commander Heal worked at Crescenta Valley Station and the Special Enforcement Bureau. After being promoted to Lieutenant in 1989, Commander Heal worked Central Property and Evidence, Firestone Station, Lennox Station, Hall of Justice Jail, Transit Services Bureau, Walnut Station, Emergency Operations Bureau, Special Projects Unit, and Field Operations Region III Headquarters. In January 2000, he was promoted to Captain and selected to command the Special Enforcement Bureau.

During his 35 years in the Marine Corps he has served in over 20 countries including military operations in Vietnam, Desert Storm, Somalia and Iraqi Freedom. Charles “Sid” Heal retired from the United States Marine Corps at the rank of Chief Warrant Officer (CWO5).

Commander
Charles Heal holds an Associate of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Pasadena City College, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Police Science and Administration from California State University, Los Angeles, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, and a Master’s Degree in Management from California Polytechnic University, Pomona. He is also a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy. Commander Charles “Sid” Heal is the author of Sound Doctrine: A Tactical Primer and An Illustrated Guide to Tactical Diagramming.

Military-Writers.com currently lists 50 current, former or retired military servicemembers and their 100
military books.

Police Tactics and History

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

September 29, 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
law enforcement officials who have written extensively about police tactics and/or police history.

In 1969,
Charles “Sid” Heal joined the United States Marine Corps. After serving a combat tour in Vietnam, he returned home, joined the Marine Corps reserve and attended college. Commander Charles “Sid” Heal began his law enforcement career in 1975 as an investigator for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. In 1977, he joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy sheriff. During his law enforcement career, he has worked various assignments within the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, including Men’s Central Jail, Firestone Station and Industry Station.

Upon being promoted to Sergeant in 1983, Commander
Charles Heal worked at Crescenta Valley Station and the Special Enforcement Bureau. After being promoted to Lieutenant in 1989, Commander Charles Heal worked Central Property and Evidence, Firestone Station, Lennox Station, Hall of Justice Jail, Transit Services Bureau, Walnut Station, Emergency Operations Bureau, Special Projects Unit, and Field Operations Region III Headquarters. In January 2000, he was promoted to Captain and selected to command the Special Enforcement Bureau.

During his 35 years in the
Marine Corps he has served in over 20 countries including military operations in Vietnam, Desert Storm, Somalia and Iraqi Freedom. Charles “Sid” Heal retired from the United States Marine Corps at the rank of Chief Warrant Officer (CWO5).

Commander
Charles Heal holds an Associate of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Pasadena City College, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Police Science and Administration from California State University, Los Angeles, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, and a Master’s Degree in Management from California Polytechnic University, Pomona. He is also a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy. Commander Charles “Sid” Heal is the author of Sound Doctrine: A Tactical Primer and An Illustrated Guide to Tactical Diagramming.

According to the book description of Sound Doctrine: A
Tactical Primer, “In recent years, law enforcement has suffered a number of tactical fiascoes. Besides the loss of life and deterioration in public confidence, officers and agencies have been the subject of both civil and criminal actions. Unlike most tactical books, which reach tactics as a “skill set,” this book emphasizes an intuitive application of fundamental principles. These principles have evolved over the centuries of tactical operations and form a body of sound doctrine.”

Steven Wayne Knight’s 19 year law enforcement career included being a police officer in Newport Beach (California), a deputy sheriff in Washoe County (Nevada) and a Deputy Marshal for the Los Angeles County Marshal’s Department. Steven Knight is the author of 1857 Los Angeles Fights Again and 1853 Los Angeles Gangs.

According to Midwest Book Review, “1853 Los Angeles Gangs by Steven W. Knight is an impressively written, historical novel of the lawless gangs of Los Angeles, and the determined Rangers who stood against them. The superbly drawn story of a turbulent "yesteryear" city is populated with such memorable characters as Juan Flores who intends for his gant to dominant a rapidly expanding and ethnically diverse city by first killing off the Chinese, and then the Americans; Don Thomas Sanchez struggling to preserve political power in the face of American landgrabs; and Horace Bell with his implacable dedication to the law. Drama, action, bloodshed, love and great courage fill the pages of this exciting and entertaining saga from cover to cover.”

Captain
John A. Kolman, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (ret.), is the founder and first director of the National Tactical Officer’s Association. John Kolman is the author of The Trials And Tribulations Of Becoming A Swat Commander, Patrol Response to Contemporary Problems: Enhancing Performance of First Responders Through Knowledge And Experience and Guide to the Development of Special Weapons and Tactics Teams.

According to Commander
Sid Heal, The Trials And Tribulations Of Becoming A Swat Commander, “is clearly modeled after "Duffer's Drift" and fills a gap in those texts that deal with essential material and the more interesting fiction by combining an interesting scenario with an abundance of lessons learned. Consequently, it should be considered a "must read" for law enforcement SWAT personnel, but especially entry-level and first-line supervisors. The lessons are durable, reliable and relevant for all domestic law enforcement but are focused on that critical first-line supervisor.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 756 police officers (representing 347 police departments) and their 1623
law enforcement 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.

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.