Blue Lives Matter is a book that explores the line-of-duty deaths suffered by the law enforcement "blue" family. This book examines the deaths of eight police officers and one police canine in Los Angeles County. The chapters portray the fallen officers and the canine as true heroes who each made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their community. The cases include the murder of two officers solved over 40 years later; an officer murdered in front of his young son; two officers kidnapped and taken to an onion field where one officer is executed; an undercover officer murdered during a multi-million dollar drug transaction; an off-duty officer murdered by two gang members while riding his bicycle; and a cop-killer who fled to Mexico to avoid prosecution.
Co-authors Steve Cooley and Bob Schirn discuss each case in detail. Each chapter discusses the incident that cost the officer his life. The court proceedings are reviewed, including victim impact testimony of the effect of the officer's death on family members and fellow officers. A Lessons Learned segment in each chapter is designed to increase officer safety and awareness of dangerous situations.
Steve Cooley is a career prosecutor who served three full terms as the District Attorney of Los Angeles County. He was a reserve police officer for LAPD. He is uniquely positioned to discuss his involvement in each case and eminently qualified to provide perspectives and opinions on each case.
Steve Cooley served as the 41st District Attorney of Los Angeles County. With more than 2,000 employees, including roughly 1,000 prosecutors and nearly 300 investigators, the L.A. County D.A.'s Office is the largest local prosecutorial office in the country. Cooley was a career prosecutor and nearly three decades later he was elected District Attorney. In 2008, he became the first Los Angeles District Attorney in 70 years to be re-elected to a third consecutive term.
He is a graduate of Cal State Los Angeles and the University of Southern California Law Center. While studying at USC, Cooley joined the Los Angeles Police Department's Reserve Officer Program and proudly served for six years.
Cooley has been repeatedly honored by the legal community and civic groups for his innovation and transparent approach in securing justice for all. Blue Lives Matter - In the Line of Duty is his current attempt to garner justice and understanding for the men and women of blue. He currently serves as President and CEO of Steve Cooley & Associates, a consulting and problem solving company. He and his wife Jana have been married for 40 years. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.
Bob Schirn is a graduate of Princeton University and UCLA School of Law. He joined to Los Angeles District Attorney's Office and prosecuted more than 60 felony jury trials with a 90% conviction rate during his tenure. He was eventually promoted to Head Deputy and supervised the Pomona and Van Nuys Branch Offices, Central Trials, Major Narcotics, Gangs and the Appellate Divisions. Schirn retired as a full-time prosecutor in 2006 and has dedicated himself since that time to creating understanding across the country on law enforcement work.
