My good friend Marilyn Meredith shares her thoughts on this topic. So pleased to have her visit my blog today.
I thought the most appropriate place to give my thoughts on this to be right here on John Wills’ blog. Besides serving many years in various kinds of law enforcement, John is great family man, strong in his faith, and a friend to many—including me.
In addition to putting their lives on the line, men and women in law enforcement have to deal with people who have absolutely no respect for them.
What I’ve tried to do with my Rocky Bluff P.D. series, besides write an intriguing mystery, is to show the family lives of the characters and how what’s going on affects them on the job, and how what’s happening on the job affects their families.
Yes, I do know what I’m writing about. My uncle was a motorcycle cop and later a detective with L.A.P.D. When I was a kid, I had a regular babysitting job with the children of the police officer who lived two doors up the street. My son-in-law was a 15 year veteran of the police department and lost his life in the line of duty. I have a grandson who is a police officer and a grandson-in-law who is a deputy sheriff. I’ve had and still have many friends who work in law enforcement.
No, I don’t think all police officers are perfect, no more than any of the rest of us are perfect. What I know is they have one of the hardest jobs there is, and I’m so thankful there are still people willing to do this dangerous and often unappreciated job.
In this latest Rocky Bluff P.D. mystery, every family is dealing with something: Sergeant Navarro’s mother has broken her hip, Sergeant Ryan Strickland is appalled by a
stranger’s reaction to his baby, Officer Gordon Butler’s wife is not enthusiastic about his trainee, Detective Milligan is worried about his teenaged daughter, and even Chief Taylor has some doubts about her new love interest. And yes, there is a murder to solve.
Marilyn, who writes the RBPD series as F. M. Meredith
What’s inside? Too many people are telling lies: The husband of the murder victim and his secretary, the victim’s boss and co-workers in the day care center, her stalker, and Detective Milligan’s daughter.
Link: : https://tinyurl.com/yabj9z9f
Meet Marilyn: F. M. Meredith, who is also known as Marilyn, once lived in a beach town much like Rocky Bluff. She has many friends and relatives in law enforcement. She’s a member of MWA, 3 chapters of Sisters in Crime and serves on the PSWA Board.
Webpage: http://fictionforyou.com
Blog: https://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com
Facebook: Marilyn Meredith
Twitter: @marilynmeredith
I’m headed over to Creatures and Critters https://cncbooksblog.wordpress.com/ where I wrote about the real murder that may have influenced my mystery writing.
John M. Wills 
Got it. So glad to hear from you, you’ve been absent from Facebook and I’ve been worried.
Besides the election, is everything okay?
Marilyn
Marilyn Meredith aka F.M. Meredith
Latest books:
A Cold Death, a Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery
Tangled Webs, a Rocky Bluff P.D. mystery
Visit me at http://fictionforyou.com/
Blog: https://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/
All is well. FB was becoming hostile.
Once again, John, thank you so much for hosting me today. And after all the pontificating I did about my writing police procedurals–I should add that I am writing fiction.
You’re welcome, M. The fact that your work is fiction only enhances your stories.
Now I understand what makes this series so effective, Marilyn. Your first hand knowledge and behind the scenes glimpses into the lives of law enforcement officers when not protecting. I’m with you – I’m so grateful for their service. Wonderful post!
Just am finishing reading “Tangled Webs” and each time Marilyn has a new book out, I think it’s the best one ever. This one is no exception. I love her personal LEO connections and her ability to write police procedural so prolifically. I never read a blog she writes without being both impressed and also learning something. That takes talent and she’s blessed with it, not to mention her endless energy.
Good to be in touch you with again, John. I miss your posts on Facebook.
Thank you, Jackie and Lida, always makes me feel good when I know someone has actually read my blog posts.