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John Foxjohn

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John Foxjohn has investigated more than 300 homicides during his ten years in law enforcement. Born and raised in Nacogdoches in East Texas, John quit high school and joined the U.S. Army, spending six years as a Ranger in Vietnam and Germany, and becoming one of the youngest sergeants in the Army, at that time.  After his military service, John FoxJohn returned to Texas and joined the Nacogdoches Police Department.  Later, he became a member of the Houston Police Department.

Upon leaving law enforcement, John Foxjohn attended Stephen F. Austin State University, received a degree in history, and began another career teaching and coaching. He retired from teaching in 2003 and is a full time writer. John FoxJohn is the author of Cold Tears; Journey of the Spirit; Code of Deceit and Color of Murder..

According to the book description of Color of Murder, “When an Angelina County deputy videotapes his own murder, David Mason has to track down the killers. Leading an inexperienced FBI team with Melissa Adams as his second in command, David must overcome his own guilt over the murder. An East Texas Sheriff and his deputies, a Texas Ranger, and strife inside his own team all stand in David's way. As suspects and witnesses die, David believes he has an agent leaking information. He had put his career and reputation on the line to get Melissa on his team. Would she betray his friendship and trust? His investigative path brings him to a startling conclusion and a suspect that threatens to tear apart David's moral fiber.”

According to the book description of Cold Tears, “A Dangerous Job - A Deadly Mistake - And a Ruthless Killer on the Loose Will David be able to save his reputation, his sanity, and Beth, the love of his life, before time runs out? A veteran Houston homicide detective's unfortunate mistake causes a woman's death. When a woman shoots David Mason he returns fire, killing her, but he can't escape her accusing eyes. Beth Porter, David's fiancée, already feared his dangerous job, and when he's wounded the fear escalates and she separates from him. His mistake that threatens his career now endangers the relationship with the love of his life. With the help of Melissa, a beautiful FBI agent, David must stop a ruthless killer preying on women. As he struggles to track down the killer and get Beth back, he must cope with a mutual attraction to his female partner. When the investigation gets too close the killer abducts another woman. He gives David forty-eight hours to find her or she dies. With little evidence and no suspects, David's only hope is for the killer to make a mistake. Now he has. He abducted Beth.”

Midwest Book Review said of Cold Tears, “John Foxjohn spent his childhood in Nacogdoches, Texas. He quit high school and joined the army at 17, where he was an Army Ranger in Vietnam and Germany. After he left the Army he became a police officer and worked homicide. He solved many cases and developed an interest in forensics and fingerprinting. He went on to graduate from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches in history and moved on to teaching and coaching. He is now a full-time writer and speaker who instructs writers in forensics, crime scene investigations, and writing mystery and suspense. COLD TEARS is his third novel and second David Mason mystery.

David Mason is a Houston homicide detective who has a reputation for solving a high percentage of his cases. He has also had to kill a few people in the line of duty. While performing a neighborhood sweep, David comes face to face to a grieving woman with a gun, who shoots him several times. He returns fire and kills her, and her eyes haunt him. His fiance, Beth Porter, panics after David is shot and breaks off their engagement. In the meantime, a serial killer is zeroing in on David, and taunts him with notes before he brutally abuses and kills his victims. A senator's daughter is one of the victims, so David finds he has to deal with Washington politics that threatens his investigation. To add to the mix, a beautiful rookie F.B.I. agent is assigned to work with David:

"She knew why they had to do it this way, but she didn't have to like it. He'd surprised her. Although she'd read his file, she hadn't expected as much cooperation as she received from the detective. She'd heard horror stories of agents who attempted to work with locals. She also knew it wasn't all the local's fault. In her experience, field agents tended to come across as arrogant, and most looked down on local law enforcement."

COLD TEARS is a realistic, suspenseful, crime scene investigation mystery written by a veteran police officer who understands violence and how it rips lives apart. Foxjohn's experience with politics also stands out in this book that can't be put down once started. Foxjohn is also a sensitive writer who does a wonderful job plotting his novels. David Mason is sort of a renegade detective, but he is extremely likeable as the hard-working, blue collar hero he is. COLD TEARS.”

According to the book description of Journey of the Spirit,A Native American legend - An Epic Struggle The journey of a white boy into a foreign land - The land of the Lakota Experience the compelling history of Crazy Horse, from boyhood until his untimely death, through the eyes of a fictional white boy named Andy - as he takes a heartfelt journey of the spirit. In 1858 Andy's family departed on a perilous wagon train excursion toward the Montana gold fields - a trip they would never finish. A nighttime Indian attack on their camp took the lives of everyone, except young Andy. Alone on the vast prairie, Andy was captured by a young Indian known as Curly. The Lakota didn't take prisoners, yet the light-skinned Indian took him back to his village, believing the boy was a spirit sent to him by the Great Whankan Thanka. Re-named Wrong Hand by his adoptive Sioux family, Andy grew up alongside his strong and brave warrior brother. When soldiers encroached on the Indian's hunting grounds the young man had to choose - leave with those of his own race, or stay in the culture he'd come to call his own. Deciding to stay and work alongside the Lakotas to save their land, Andy experienced tribal politics and epic battles, including the Battle of Little Big Horn. After many victories, and in Lakota tradition, Andy's Indian brother earned a new name. Though not an imposing sight, the mention of his name drove a dagger of fear through the hearts of whites. The brother's name is Crazy Horse.”


Cold Tears
John Foxjohn  More Info

Color of Murder
John Foxjohn  More Info

Journey Of The Spirit
John Foxjohn  More Info
Code of Deceit
John Foxjohn  More Info

According to the book description of Code of Deceit, “David Mason, up-and-coming detective in the Houston Police Department, has a career that is on a meteoric rise. Now he comes face to face with two of the toughest challenges of his life. First, circumstances force him to decide if he will break the code that Texas police officers adhere to: protect their brother officers. He believes fellow officers have committed a homicide. If he betrays them, he will encounter the wrath of the officers in the department. For David, the decision is simple. He has to do what is right. The consequences are not simple. In the midst of this controversy, a cunning sniper wounds David and starts to murder his police friends. Determined he will find the killer, he begins to encounter resistance and jealousies in his own department. With no evidence to go on, he knows he has to stop the killer before someone else dies.”

One reader of Journey of the Spirit said, “Vietnam veteran, former police officer and teacher John Foxjohn presents Journey of the Spirit: Crazy Horse's Epic Struggle to Defend the Lakotas' Existence, a historical fiction novel following the life of legendary Lakota warrior and leader Crazy Horse. Told through the eyes of a fictional white boy named Andy, Journey of the Spirit follows the Lakota struggle to save their land and the rise of Andy's adoptive Indian brother, who earns the new name of Crazy Horse. Vividly told, Journey of the Spirit is an engaging novel that captures the essence of the moment, whether that moment is in the heat of battle or the peace of sharing family bonds.”

About the Houston Police

Department

The Houston Police Department is organized into four main entities: Administrative Operations; Patrol Operations; Investigative Operations and Support Operations.  The Patrol Operations has the largest number of personnel and is divided into two commands: North Patrol Command and South Patrol Command.  The Investigative Operations are also divided into two commands: Criminal Investigations Command and Special Investigations Command.  The Criminal Investigations Command organizes the detectives like many police agencies, that is, by type of crime.  Detectives in the Criminal Investigations Command of the Houston Police Department work: Auto Theft; Burglary and Theft; Homicide; Juvenile and Robbery.  Because they are seen as more sensitive areas, major police departments tend to break out certain types of investigative functions under a specialized command, or with some specialized police command oversight.  Houston Police Department has chosen this path in its Special Investigations Command which is responsible for Criminal Intelligence; Gangs; Major Offenders; Narcotics and Vice.

The City of Houston was founded by Augustus and John Kirby Allen brothers in 1836 and incorporated as a city the next year, 1837. As the city quickly grew, so did the need for a cohesive law enforcement agency. It was in 1841 that the Houston Police Department was founded. The first HPD badge issued bore the number "1."

The early part of the 20th century was a time of enormous growth for both the City of Houston and for the Houston Police Department. Due to growing traffic concerns in downtown Houston, the HPD purchased its first automobile in 1910 and created its first traffic squad during that same year. Eleven years later, in 1921, the Houston Police Department  installed the city's first traffic light. This traffic light was manually operated until 1927, when automatic traffic lights were installed.

As Houston became a larger metropolis throughout the 1930s and 1940s, the Houston Police Department found itself growing and acquiring more technology to keep up with the city's fast pace. The first homicide division was established in 1930. During that same year, the Houston Police Department purchased newer weapons to arm their officers: standard issue .44 caliber revolvers and two Thompson submachine guns. In 1939, the department proudly presented its first police academy class. The Houston Police Officers Association was created in 1945. This organization later became the Houston Police Officers Union.

Throughout the turbulent 1960s and 1970s, the Houston Police Department also experienced its own highs and lows. The first Houston Police Department bomb squad was created in 1966. The next year, 1967, saw massive riots at Texas Southern University. During the riots, one officer was killed and nearly 500 students were arrested. It was as a result of these riots that the still-active Community Relations Division was created within the Houston Police Department. In 1970, the Helicopter Patrol Division was created with three leased helicopters. That year also marked the department's first purchase of bulletproof vests for their officers. The Houston Police Department first Special Weapons and Tactical Squad (SWAT) was formed in 1975.

Sources:

houstontx.gov/police/

wikipedia.org

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