Good Cop, Dead Cop

Detective Lieutenant Jake Reed runs Hollywood Detective Division. He's pondering the brutal rape and murder of a young woman in the Hollywood Hills when he is stunned to receive a call form Mitch Thacker, a former partner from twenty years ago. Jake had assumed Thacker was long since dead from alcoholism. When Mitch finally persuades a reluctant Jake to meet the next day for a cup of coffee, the two men begin to resolve old differences. Their renewed friendship gets feisty on occasion and humorous on others. They unintentionally get involved in a minor incident which quickly develops into a complex investigation involving high placed corrupt officials, crooked cops, a headless corpse and the Mafia. The story is based on real events and told by the guys who've been there. A major investigation full of twists and turns, a variety of characters and the real dialogue of street smart detectives reveals the real L.A.P.D.

About the Authors: Bob Ruchhoft moved around the Midwest as a youngster and then settled in Southern California for his high school years. In 1960 he joined the Long Beach, California Police Department after a stint in the Army and a few odd jobs. Worked a raio car a few years with Phil. He then was assigned to an elite unit that worked the waterfront amusement zone known as the Pike. The two men walked 'the beat', known as the toughest mile on the West Coast. In 1964 Bob moved to the Los Angeles Police Department. After promoting to Lieutenant, he worked in the prestigious Metropolitan Division, ran the Gang Squad for seven years and then was assigned to Robbery Homicide. He was Commanding Officer of Hollywood Detective Division when he and Phil reconnected, after years of no contact. They quickly re-established their friendship. When Bob was promoted to Captain he commanded several detective divisions and closed out his thirty four year career as Commanding Officer of the Organized Crime Division. Phil grew up as a 'Navy Brat' during World War II. He spent his high school years in Southern California, sailing and surfing and spent his college years doing the same thing. He joined the Long Beach Police Department, one of the larger departments on the West Coast. After his police job he went to work as personal security for one of the large hotels in Las Vegas and after that a number of little adventures including deep sea diver, security consultant for a national firm, salesman, dishwasher. After he got sober, he settled down a bit in the business world. Now he lives on an old, but sturdy sailboat on a pretty bay in Southern California with a Springer Spaniel.