Officer Friendly by Saralyn Richard

In the business of writing mysteries, a person can hardly avoid the police. I know. I’ve written seven mysteries, eight if you include my children’s book, which is a bit of a mystery. Throughout the journey, I’ve relied on advice from various law enforcement personnel to help me tell an authentic, believable story.

Sometimes I consult with coroners, sheriffs, jailers, FBI agents, or courtroom professionals, but the people I have the most questions for are police officers, and, fortunately, I’ve never met a single one who turned me down.

I even received a phone call once from the Chief of Police in West Brandywine, the real-life version of Chief Paul Schrik, who heard I was writing about his department, and wanted to make sure his officers were giving me good information.

Depending on which U.S. state the story takes place in, I may need specific procedural information that requires consultation with experts. For example, in some states, there are coroners, while in others there are medical examiners. Certain crimes may be misdemeanors in one state, but felonies in another.

One of the bright lights in my research work is a dear friend, who happens to be a captain in the local police force. I met him when he was teaching a class in criminal justice next door to my class in creative writing. Over the years he’s responded to my calls for literary assistance hundreds of times. There’s probably more of him in Detective Parrott or Sergeant Schmidt than anyone else on the planet.

This week I had the pleasure of visiting the local police station, where historical artifacts lie in glass cases and on the walls. I met with a dispatcher and lieutenant, who permitted me to ask questions and take photos. They also pointed me in the direction of a wonderful Facebook group of retired police officers, who maintain a bank of historical information in their heads.

Everyone has been super friendly and accommodating. They apparently have a vested interest in the veracity of my portrayal of the department, and I couldn’t be happier to have them as partners.

The book takes place in 1903 Galveston, when the city was rebuilding after the Great Storm of 1900, still the most devastating disaster on U.S. soil in history. Here are some photos I took.

If you have any stories to share about immigrants, hurricanes, or crime at that time in history, please share them with me at saralyn@saralynrichard.com.

Saralyn Richard writes award-winning mysteries that pull back the curtain on settings like elite country manor houses and disadvantaged urban high schools. Her works include the Detective Parrott mystery series, Bad Blood Sisters, Mrs. Oliver’s Twist, A Murder of Principal, and Naughty Nana, a children’s book. An active member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America, Saralyn teaches creative writing and literature. Her favorite thing about being an author is interacting with readers like you. For more information, check https://saralynrichard.com.