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Gregory M. Cooper

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Gregory M. Cooper was the Manager of the Investigative Support Services Division of Motorola, Inc., overseeing the development of intuitive investigative software applications, as well as providing on-site  training and consultation to law enforcement agencies worldwide in crime analysis, criminal behavior and police administration.

 

Before joining Motorola he retired from law enforcement having served in  a range of positions including; Assistant Federal Security Director for Law Enforcement in the Department of Homeland Security; Chief of Police in Provo, Utah and Supervisory Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation. During his career with the FBI he served as the supervisor of the Investigative Support Unit (Criminal Profiling) in the Critical Incident Response Group; National Program Manager of the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (VICAP) at the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, and as an FBI National Academy Instructor of Criminal Psychology and Criminal Investigative Analysis in the Behavioral Science Unit, FBI Academy,Quantico VA. Before joining the FBI he also served as the Chief of Police in Delta, UT and started his law enforcement career in Provo, UT as a police officer.

 

Greg has consulted as an FBI Profiler on over 1,000 violent felonies and has instructed at the Utah Police Academy, Utah Valley State College, Salt Lake Community College and the University of Virginia.

 

Greg is an international speaker, consultant and a published author. He has testified as an expert witness in crime scene analysis and criminal investigative analysis. He has participated in multiple appearances for the news media as an expert commentator on criminal cases including the Discovery Channel, MSNBC, and Fox News.

According to the book description of Predators: Who They Are and How to Stop Them, “An inmate, incarcerated for the rape of seventy-five women, reveals in an interview that if his victims had simply put a pair of old construction boots at the front door, he would have passed by and never even considered them as potential targets. The grieving father of a murdered seventeen-year-old woman admits that he should have been more involved in his daughter's life and paid attention to the "friends" in her immediate circle. Most of us only half-listen to the public service announcements about safety in the home. We lock our doors at night, but do little else to change habits that may make us the next victims of the dangerous individuals who are always on the watch for their next opportunity.

This book takes readers through the mindset of predatory criminals--their motives, various plans of attack, and way of thinking--and then teaches simple lifestyle techniques that will help reduce the risk of becoming victimized. Criminal behavior specialists Greg Cooper and Mike King provide expert analysis based on real-life cases, in addition to moving insights from victims and criminals themselves. The authors make the point that the people who commit these crimes aren't much different from the predators of the wild, preying on the weak and unsuspecting. What makes these individuals more dangerous than their instinctive wildlife counterparts, however, is that they consciously choose to inflict their will on the more vulnerable members of their own species. To protect our loved ones and ourselves requires that we truly educate ourselves about the predators who live in our society and then take appropriate action. This excellent, in-depth study will help readers lead safer lives.”

One reader of Who Killed King Tut?: Using Modern Forensics to Solve a 3,300-year-old Mystery said, “The two super sleuths certainly have impressive credentials, Michael King is State Regional Intelligence Supervisor for the Department of Homeland Security in Utah, and Gregory Cooper his partner in this investigation is Assistant Federal Security Director for Law Enforcement, also a former profiler for the FBI's Criminal Profiling Unit. Given the vita of both individuals, it should come as no surprise that what they add to the much-discussed conundrum of King Tut's demise, is their capacity as profilers.

As the preface by Harold J. Bursztajn (Co-director of the Harvard Medical School Program in Psychiatry and the Law at Massachusetts Mental Health Center) notes, the authors are able to look at the situation as professional homicide investigators. They avoid premature commitment to any theory and instead examine the situation in terms of "risk profile." From low risk to high risk, is the individual likely to have been a victim of murder, suicide, natural causes or accident? And if murder is suspected, who is likely to have been the perpetrator at the victim's risk level? If high risk, it is more likely to be a crime of opportunity by an assailant unknown to the victim; if low risk, it is more likely to be someone known to the victim. The commentator also points out that unlike many historians investigating the case, the authors approach the victim's profile as an evolving situation, looking at a more dynamic profile of risk over the individual's lifetime.

From my own perspective, I found the book a marvelous trip through memory lane. Much of the book is dedicated to the first impressions of the two gentleman with respect to Egypt: it's modern culture, it's impressive monuments, it's exotica. With trips to the various tombs, visits to Khan el Khalili Suq for tea in the city's oldest tea shop, a visit to (probably) the famous Groppy's ice cream parlor for coffee and treats, the smiling children trying to sell you anything they can at exorbitant prices, their demands for "pens," the two authors reminded me of myself when I first visited the country. There is so much to see and experience, your mind goes into overdrive, and you find yourself exhausted beyond belief at the end of every day. For anyone who has not had the experience, this is a good way to enjoy it vicariously, as the men's experiences are very common, and their assessments very astute. I'd read the book before I visited for the first time; it will prepare you for the experience better than any travel book.

For those who enjoy a good "who-dunnit" and have not read anything about the history of pharonic Egypt, you need not worry. Neither of the authors knew anything at all about ancient Egypt prior to this experience. They were, however, very well coached by specialists hired as historical resources for them. They were also motivated enough by their own curiosity and their professional background to do reading beyond the materials they were given. In short, they showed considerable initiative in preparing themselves for the mission. The reader will find that what the two learned in the progress of their study and from the specialists who assisted them is presented in a clear and coherent manner for the reader. The beginner will be more than able to understand some of the political venue and personalities of the 18th dynasty as they are presented.


Predators: Who They Are and How to Stop Them
Gregory M Cooper  More Info

Who Killed King Tut?: Using Modern Forensics to Solve a 3,300-year-old Mystery
Michael R. King  More Info

Analyzing Criminal Behavior
Gregory M. Cooper  More Info

Cold Case Methodology
Mike King & Greg Cooper  More Info

Analyzing Criminal Behavior received the following reviews:"
A comprehensive overview into serial crime motivation and methodology. It is easy to understand and very beneficial. Highly recommended." -- Philip Carlo, Author: The Night Stalker, Stolen Flower, The Real Devil, East of Evil and Writer/Director of the Tony Award winning, Things That Should Be Said

"This fascinating book shows one how to investigate the criminal mind. A compelling and intriguing read for anyone.” -- Kate Botting, Documentary Producer Atlantic Productions, London, England

"This is a book for professional investigators, by professional investigators. Even a great book for psychologists, therapists and counselors." -- Dr. Fred Cowie, Ph.D., Former Liaison to Law Enforcement for Terrorism, Liaison to Indian Nations

A comprehensive overview into serial crime motivation and methodology. It is easy to understand and very beneficial. -- Philip Carlo, author of the "Night Stalker", Lexington Books

About the Provo Police Department

The Provo Police Department is a full-service law enforcement agency with 100 sworn personnel and over 50 civilian employees.  The Provo Police Department is organized into Administration and Four Divisions:  Public Safety Information; Support Services Division; Patrol Division; and, Criminal Investigation Division.

According to the Provo Police Department, “Public Safety Information manages administrative activities such as budget oversight, purchasing, volunteer coordination, crime prevention, and public and media relations.  The Records Section of the Police Department is also managed by the Public Safety Information Division as is the Victims Assistance Program. Victims Assistance provides valuable individual help to the victims of crime and their families.  Within the Victim Assistance program employees are trained in crisis intervention and services are available to deal specifically with the issues of children that are victims of crime, as well as adults.

The Support Services includes many essential aspects of Police work.  The Dispatch Center, which receives all 911 and Police emergency calls, falls under this Division.  The Property Bureau, which is responsible for the documentation and analysis of crime scene evidence, is also part of Support Services.  With digital technology, one fingerprint can now be compared to a database containing over 4 million fingerprints. These comparisons provide the potential of matching suspects to fingerprints found at a crime scene and identifying unknown persons who are wanted.

The Patrol Division is overseen by a Captain who is assisted by Lieutenants and Sergeants.  We are a 24 hour operation with three shifts; Days, Swings, and Graves.  Each shift is assigned a Lieutenant and two Sergeants.  There are 50 uniformed officers, ten supervisors, two Office Specialists and one Crime Analyst.  The Patrol Division is also supplemented with Reserve Officers.

The patrol consists of numerous specialty teams including Community Oriented Policing, Bike Patrol team, Traffic Enforcement, Parking Enforcement and Animal Control.  The Traffic Investigation team is housed under the Patrol Division.

The Criminal Investigation Division is charged with the responsibility of investigating all criminal activity in the City of Provo.  They remain dedicated in serving the needs of our city and actively solicit the support of the community in our quest to keep this a great place to live. All investigations require that sufficient evidence be gathered to identify the perpetrator through witness interviews, interrogations and physical evidence. The primary goal and function of this division is to ensure that all investigations are complete and properly prepared for prosecution.”

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