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Echoes of Shannon Street: The Kidnapping and Murder of Officer Robert S. Hester
It is, to this day, the largest number of suspects to die in a non-riotous, local police action in this country.
Echoes Of Shannon Street is a true crime police procedural that tells the story of the abduction of two white police officers by black cult members in the racially divided city of Memphis in January, 1983 The event began a highly publicized and sharply criticized stand-off between hundreds of police officers and the seven suspects barricaded inside a small house in a predominantly black area of north Memphis.
For the next day and a half, negotiators attempted in vain to communicate with the leader of the cult, a mentally ill man named Sanders. Inside a local school, top police officials discussed their options. Outside, police officers stood in the cold, anxiously awaiting orders to go inside and rescue their fellow officer.
The wait was long and hard, made even more horrific by the fact that for five hours, the officer’s beating and his cries for help were heard through bullet-riddled windows and broadcasted through the officer’s own radio.
Thirty hours later, one of the abducted officers lies in a hospital, a bullet wound through his hand and face. The other is found dead in the living room of the house, cuffed with his own handcuffs, his bloody flashlight nearby. All seven suspects are dead, shot by the department’s all-white TACTICAL Unit.
In addition to actual crime scene photos, the interviews with patrolmen, negotiators, tactical officers, command personnel, dispatchers, along with
over 1,000 pages of documents from the case file, including crime scene
photographs, witness statements, and transcribed radio transmissions will
give the reader an authentic recreation of the deadliest event in Memphis
police history.
Echoes Of Shannon Street is a true crime police procedural that tells the story of the abduction of two white police officers by black cult members in the racially divided city of Memphis in January, 1983 The event began a highly publicized and sharply criticized stand-off between hundreds of police officers and the seven suspects barricaded inside a small house in a predominantly black area of north Memphis.
For the next day and a half, negotiators attempted in vain to communicate with the leader of the cult, a mentally ill man named Sanders. Inside a local school, top police officials discussed their options. Outside, police officers stood in the cold, anxiously awaiting orders to go inside and rescue their fellow officer.
The wait was long and hard, made even more horrific by the fact that for five hours, the officer’s beating and his cries for help were heard through bullet-riddled windows and broadcasted through the officer’s own radio.
Thirty hours later, one of the abducted officers lies in a hospital, a bullet wound through his hand and face. The other is found dead in the living room of the house, cuffed with his own handcuffs, his bloody flashlight nearby. All seven suspects are dead, shot by the department’s all-white TACTICAL Unit.
In addition to actual crime scene photos, the interviews with patrolmen, negotiators, tactical officers, command personnel, dispatchers, along with
over 1,000 pages of documents from the case file, including crime scene
photographs, witness statements, and transcribed radio transmissions will
give the reader an authentic recreation of the deadliest event in Memphis
police history.
- GenresTrue Crime
345 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2011
13 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 14, 2025
Riveting account of the torture/beating murder of a Memphis police officer in 1983 leading to a 30+ hour standoff between TACT squad officers, the MPD, and the weird ass religious group holding the officer captive.
Strictly by-the-book, nonfiction police procedural recounting mistakes made by cowardly cops, a spineless mayor and an inept police director in their efforts to rescue the officer- his screams echoing through the night over his police radio.
The one his captors were beating him with.
Grim stuff but a must-read for all Memphians.
Strictly by-the-book, nonfiction police procedural recounting mistakes made by cowardly cops, a spineless mayor and an inept police director in their efforts to rescue the officer- his screams echoing through the night over his police radio.
The one his captors were beating him with.
Grim stuff but a must-read for all Memphians.
November 26, 2013
Intriguing book which documents a horrific tragedy in Memphis. I recall the events as a child but wanted to know more as an adult.
September 2, 2016
Don't get me wrong. The two stars is in no way a reflection on the subject matter. Let me start by saying that I really wanted to like this book. My stepdad was the Officer Vidulich mentioned in the book, so obviously I was rooting for it.
My main issue with the book is that the information was not presented in a reader-friendly, engaging way. I've grown up all my life around law enforcement, and I'm from Memphis, so I was very familiar with the subject matter. Even still, there were moments where I got glossy-eyed from the lingo and colloquial nature of the language. It also flip-flopped between telling things in a very matter-of-fact way and a narrative. Also, there was a portion that seemed to suppose what Officer Hester was thinking in his last moments. That seemed a little off to me. I don't know that I would've speculated something so intimate.
The format was another thing. I appreciated the inclusion of exact quotes and recordings. However, these became quite lengthy and sometimes hard to follow. So much information was included that it sometimes hid what was important. I would've suggested explaining what was important or distinctive. Then I would've placed the transcripts in the back of the book as appendices. For example, the chapter that shared each officer's account of what happened inside was incredibly redundant. Simply stating what, if any, discrepancies were present would have been easier on the eyes. I'd also add that including crime scene sketches and photos would maintain reader interest. Although I can understand that it may increase production cost.
My last criticism is the editing. There were many grammatical and technical errors throughout. Some would only be noticed by a keen eye for grammar; others were glaring. Another edit would be greatly beneficial.
Again, the content was not the issue. In fact, I learned several new things I had not previously known about the case. It is Memphis lore, and although it was before I was born, I grew up hearing the story. I'm glad that Officer Hester's memory can also be memorialized in this book.
My main issue with the book is that the information was not presented in a reader-friendly, engaging way. I've grown up all my life around law enforcement, and I'm from Memphis, so I was very familiar with the subject matter. Even still, there were moments where I got glossy-eyed from the lingo and colloquial nature of the language. It also flip-flopped between telling things in a very matter-of-fact way and a narrative. Also, there was a portion that seemed to suppose what Officer Hester was thinking in his last moments. That seemed a little off to me. I don't know that I would've speculated something so intimate.
The format was another thing. I appreciated the inclusion of exact quotes and recordings. However, these became quite lengthy and sometimes hard to follow. So much information was included that it sometimes hid what was important. I would've suggested explaining what was important or distinctive. Then I would've placed the transcripts in the back of the book as appendices. For example, the chapter that shared each officer's account of what happened inside was incredibly redundant. Simply stating what, if any, discrepancies were present would have been easier on the eyes. I'd also add that including crime scene sketches and photos would maintain reader interest. Although I can understand that it may increase production cost.
My last criticism is the editing. There were many grammatical and technical errors throughout. Some would only be noticed by a keen eye for grammar; others were glaring. Another edit would be greatly beneficial.
Again, the content was not the issue. In fact, I learned several new things I had not previously known about the case. It is Memphis lore, and although it was before I was born, I grew up hearing the story. I'm glad that Officer Hester's memory can also be memorialized in this book.
April 26, 2018
Thank you
JR, thank you so much for writing this book. I was an officer the late 90s early 2000’s… What I heard when I was there and what I read are two totally different accounts… Not to say that anyone was making things up… Just that no one really wanted to elaborate on anything… Thank you so much for telling the sides of the story from all those involved… I only wish I knew the story while I was there working with some of these great men and women… I hope they can find some peace someday....
Semper Fi
JR, thank you so much for writing this book. I was an officer the late 90s early 2000’s… What I heard when I was there and what I read are two totally different accounts… Not to say that anyone was making things up… Just that no one really wanted to elaborate on anything… Thank you so much for telling the sides of the story from all those involved… I only wish I knew the story while I was there working with some of these great men and women… I hope they can find some peace someday....
Semper Fi
July 13, 2021
A good account of one of US Law Enforcement’s darkest days
The story of the kidnapping, torture, and death of Memphis TN PD Officer Robert Hester is a story I’ve heard my entire career. This book is as detailed of an account as I’ve seen of those horrible days in 1983 when this incident occurred. Any Officer or student of police tactics should read this book.
The story of the kidnapping, torture, and death of Memphis TN PD Officer Robert Hester is a story I’ve heard my entire career. This book is as detailed of an account as I’ve seen of those horrible days in 1983 when this incident occurred. Any Officer or student of police tactics should read this book.
August 25, 2018
Good overall info of this event. Some narrative passages were rather esoteric, caused the book to feel a little disjointed and probably could have been left out all together (particularly the Hester narrative from inside the house). What was the Greasy-man? Was he a cop? Some areas could have been covered in further detail. I don't believe there was sufficient info on the ballistics from the TACT unit raid. The narrative description seemed like a running battle throughout the house, but all the dead ended up in a line in one bedroom? Was any determination made as to the distance from which they were shot or the deceased estimated posture at time of shooting? It would also seem the lack of noise coming from the officer after the first 6-8 hours would make a bigger impact to the command staff. This is definitely a story that should be told.
June 13, 2016
The Shannon Street Murder of a Memphis Police Officer
I would certainly recommend this book not only to history readers but to anyone that has any doubt about the work that our police face on a daily basis. I am a born and bred Memphian and remember this tragedy. Reading about it has brought back the sadness I felt as it happened. The author does not spend time pushing his personal opinion of this tragedy not does he try to prove he simply has all of the facts organized to inform the reader of events. This book was a real page turner but not a subject one might want to read before sleep which is not the fault of the author but the event. Very informative.
I would certainly recommend this book not only to history readers but to anyone that has any doubt about the work that our police face on a daily basis. I am a born and bred Memphian and remember this tragedy. Reading about it has brought back the sadness I felt as it happened. The author does not spend time pushing his personal opinion of this tragedy not does he try to prove he simply has all of the facts organized to inform the reader of events. This book was a real page turner but not a subject one might want to read before sleep which is not the fault of the author but the event. Very informative.
January 14, 2016
This is the story of an event that rocked the Memphis Police dept. and the city. The kidnapping of Officer Hester is told from the officers who were on scene. It gives you their feelings and thoughts as events transpired. It also shows that the men and women who put on the uniform are part of our community and not just a badge.
September 5, 2016
Decent read, but leaves some questions unanswered, like, how six guys killed in a TACT squad assault all managed to end up laying in a line along a wall, all with GSW in the head.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews