I was born and raised in Los Angeles. A 30-year veteran with the LAPD, I am a qualified gang expert specializing in the development of gang information, the investigation of gangs and gang-related crime, and the training of law enforcement professionals, agencies and private companies. During my law enforcement career I have interviewed thousands of gang members and led hundreds of gang-related investigations involving murder, robbery, rape, extortion, felony assault, witness intimidation, kidnapping and attacks on police officers.

For the past 16 years, I have acted as detective supervisor at the LAPD. I currently supervise a surveillance unit whose mission is to seek out and apprehend violent gang members and career criminals. I am also a court qualified gang expert and a licensed private investigator in the state of California. Throughout my time at the LAPD I have conducted formal law enforcement training on gangs in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

While assigned to the LAPD-Gang Detail from 1982 through 1986, I was nicknamed “Pacman” by gang members because of the yellow Plymouth Fury police car I drove. Due to my reputation and my work in the area of gangs, my nickname and replica police vehicle were actually used in the movie, Colors.  Please click here to read an article about this event.

The feedback for my book has been positive beyond my expectations. I've written the book to be a positive and thought-provoking resource for you, the person in life's trenches. So much about gangs, law enforcement and life in general can be negative and impact you adversely that I decided to share some of my philosophies and experiences because after 28 years of working around gangs, I'm still laughing, happy and productive despite the countless challenges. I am also getting extremely positive feedback from those outside of law enforcement as many of the principles in the book can be applied by "normal people" in the course of their "everyday lives".

The gang problem has spread dramatically from the "big cities" to the suburbs and rural areas of our country. There exists a real need in the law enforcement community to learn, train and upgrade methods in dealing with gangs. There is also a serious need in our communities to develop methods focusing on prevention, intervention and suppression. I am working to help other law enforcement officers and professionals in their efforts to deal with this problem that has infected our communities.

Gangs throughout North America may differ, but the factors that enable them to exist are basically the same. Many of the traits and characteristics I have encountered in dealing with gangs in the Los Angeles area I have seen mirrored in gang members throughout the country. For that reason, the methods I have developed and employed in investigating, suppressing and working with gangs can assist in making others more effective in their efforts.

I am fortunate having the opportunity to learn from and work with some of the most innovative and progressive law enforcement professionals in the world. Over the years, I've had thousands of contacts and with hardcore, violent gang members. I have also been involved in countless investigations involving gangs and gang-related crimes. I've worked hand in hand with some of the most dedicated and talented professionals in law enforcement. I've also learned through my own experiences and mistakes what works and what doesn't. For these reasons, I feel that I can help make other law enforcement professionals and service providers better and safer at what they do. To this day, I still practice what I preach in my everyday dealings working gangs.