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Lessons Learned from the “Law Dogs” continued from page 22

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

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

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-

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