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N O V 2 0 1 5 D E C
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Lessons Learned from the “Law Dogs”continued from page 22
continued on page 24
rather than submit to his lawful authority.
Reeves an indomitable gunfighter sent those
fourteen on to a much higher venue than
Parker’s Court.
Bass Reeves’ was successful, because of his
innate sense of justice and being perennially
duty-bound. Bass knew the only way to bring
peace to a lawless land was to bring the law-
less to justice. A contemporary newspaper
said of him, “place a warrant for arrest in his
hand and no circumstance could cause him
to deviate.”
At the time of his death Reeves was described
as being, “absolutely fearless knowing no
master, but duty.”
Lesson Six – Know what your duty is, then
do it!
LESSONS FROM FRANK HAMER
Frank Hamer was another Texas Ranger,
who possessed such a reputation in his day
that the Rangers gave him leave of absences
to perform special assignments upon request.
During one of these, he single handedly
cleaned up the city of Navasota. During an-
other he became a special investigator for the
City of Houston. After each job was done he
returned to the Rangers.
Lesson Seven – A good horse gets rode.
Frank was even pursued for special assign-
ments after his retirement. Quite famously,
Frank was responsible for the demise of Bon-
nie and Clyde. In his pursuit of these killers
he applied Lesson number eight.
Lesson Eight – To find a fugitive determine,
the places they can’t stop visiting and the peo-
ple they can’t stop seeing. Concentrate your ef-
forts on these places and these people.
Because of Frank’s long career coupled with
his aggressive pursuit of justice, Frank found
himself in many gun fights. Some historians
claim he killed as many as 75 and others cal-
culate it probably more realistically at 15.
Frank was beyond proficient in the use of all
the weapons he carried. He preferred to have a
long-gun in his hand if he knew a gun fight was
imminent. He also preferred using his sights
because he could not see, “spraying the coun-
try-side with lead, when one shot would do.
Lesson Nine - If you plan on confronting dan-
gerous men, you better be dangerous as well.
Frank was so successful in the pursuit of
criminals that two hit men attempted to as-
was shared by many and eventually achieved.
Following joint operations in 1933 and 1934
where unacceptable casualties occurred,
Hoover initiated the first FBI National Acad-
emy in July 1935. This training endeavor
would eventually help make the dream of a
“Law Enforcement Profession,” a reality.
Lesson Eleven – Agencies that train together,
succeed together.
LESSONS FROM DETECTIVE
PIERCE BROOKS
Pierce Brooks was a groundbreaking Detec-
tive from The Los Angeles Police Depart-
ment. Early in his career he investigated a
man named Harvey Glatman, who posed as
a True Crime magazine photographer to lure
beautiful women to him. Glatman paid them
to pose provocatively, while they were bound.
Once these ladies were physically restrained
he would sexually assault them, strangle them
and dispose of their bodies.
This case inspired Detective Brooks to do ex-
tensive research, during which he discovered
a reoccurring phenomenon. Some killers, kill
often for no reason other than the pleasure of
the kill. He described them as being, “Serial
Killers,” effectively coining the phrase.
Throughout his career Brooks was known for
his ability to get detailed statements and un-
bridled cooperation from suspects. This was
the result of his lifelong practice of lesson
twelve.
Lesson Twelve – You have heard of the “Good
Cop, Bad Cop” routine. To get statements
eliminate the “Bad Cop!”
Brooks believed, practiced and taught that a
major crime is a major event in the life of a
criminal. Once they commit the crime they
have an overwhelming need to do two things.
Many have a need to share the details with
someone they have bonded with. Pierce
Brooks even though he was a police officer,
was able to become that person criminals
bonded with and confessed to.
The second thing criminals had a need to do
is to minimize their guilt. Brooks used this
need to get suspects to implicate accomplic-
es, and in doing so, psychologically pass off
a major portion of the culpability to them.
Lesson Thirteen – Police Officers need to
understand they can take control their own
survival by avoiding the “Ten Deadly Errors.”
After being the Lead Investigator on “The
sassinate him October 1, 1916, when he was
in Sweetwater, Texas with his wife Gladys. Af-
ter being ambushed Frank became embroiled
in a deadly struggle with one would be killer,
while another armed assassin silently flanked
him. Frank’s wife Gladys opened fire on the
second man, saving Frank’s life.
This would not be the last time Gladys would
have Frank’s six. After Frank’s death, Hol-
lywood depicted Frank as a bungling, vin-
dictive law man in the movie “Bonnie and
Clyde.” Since Frank could not defend him-
self, and he would have,” Gladys sued the
studio for their dishonest portrayal of her be-
loved Frank and she righteously received an
undisclosed settlement.
Lesson Ten – Never forget the supreme impor-
tance of your most reliable back-up…family.
LESSONS FROM JAMES HUME
James Hume started his career in the 1860’s
as a Deputy Sheriff in the Wild West. He
ended his career as a Detective for Wells
Fargo. He was the Wild West’s version of
Sherlock Holmes, before that fictional inves-
tigator existed.
Hume was a great man-hunter like many in
his era, but after he caught them he was a
master at obtaining convictions. He did this
by becoming an expert at gathering physical
evidence and explaining its significance.
Hume would sketch footwear impressions at
the scene, while gathering buck shot and bul-
lets fired by suspects. After the suspects’ cap-
ture he would compare the impressions and
bullets to the boots the suspects were wearing
and the ammunition they were carrying at
the time of their apprehension.
Hume also would compare the handwriting
and misspellings on notes left by robbers to
exemplars obtained from the suspects. Some
of the techniques Hume employed would not
be embraced by law enforcement for decades
after his passing.
Lesson Ten – Unlike witnesses, physical evi-
dence does not lie and it never gets confused.
LESSONS FROM J. EDGAR HOOVER
Hoover was a man who took an obscure
federal bureaucracy, “The Bureau of Investi-
gations,” and built it into one of the great-
est investigative agencies in the world, “The
Federal Bureau of Investigation.” His vision
of all law enforcement becoming a profession