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The Missing Piece
The Missing Piece is a story of tragedy that engulfs those involved when a peace officer uses a weapon in the line-of-duty. The author weaves a story filled with small town values, big city police work, influence of political decisions, and racial overtones, which come together as the story's characters make life changing decisions.
It’s the story of Chris Martin, a young Austin, Texas police officer who kills a black man who attacked him with a pistol. When investigators arrive, the man's weapon is missing. Martin begins a journey that includes defending his actions, seeing political expediency become more important than the facts, questioning the entire law enforcement system, and ultimately questioning his own actions that fateful day.
The story shines a glaring light on the rationalization, politics, and investigative short comings inherent in many high profile police use of force cases. It also gives an insider's view of police union politics and decision-making when members' personal political views conflict with a police union's ability to best serve those members.
It’s the story of Chris Martin, a young Austin, Texas police officer who kills a black man who attacked him with a pistol. When investigators arrive, the man's weapon is missing. Martin begins a journey that includes defending his actions, seeing political expediency become more important than the facts, questioning the entire law enforcement system, and ultimately questioning his own actions that fateful day.
The story shines a glaring light on the rationalization, politics, and investigative short comings inherent in many high profile police use of force cases. It also gives an insider's view of police union politics and decision-making when members' personal political views conflict with a police union's ability to best serve those members.
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First published December 14, 2014
About the author
Larry Watts
70 books6 followersLarry Watts resides on the Gulf Coast of Texas. As he describes on his blog site larrywatts1@wordpress.com, "I try to reinvent myself about every 20 years. From country boy, to big city cop, to labor negotiator, and now an emerging author."
Watts puts his vast experience from all his professional identities to use in writing novels about social justice and crime. As Rick Bradstreet, former Director of Psychological Services for the Austin, Texas Police Department says,
"Your descriptions of the details of investigations and the details of prison life were very enlightening. I have never seen that level of 'here's how it really works', before. That alone is a big contribution to the literature.
I also appreciated your characters, and how their private agendas, burn out, idealism, etc. impacted the case. This is rarely discussed in police depts. Your last chapter is a good model for all Cadet training and In Service training."
Watts puts his vast experience from all his professional identities to use in writing novels about social justice and crime. As Rick Bradstreet, former Director of Psychological Services for the Austin, Texas Police Department says,
"Your descriptions of the details of investigations and the details of prison life were very enlightening. I have never seen that level of 'here's how it really works', before. That alone is a big contribution to the literature.
I also appreciated your characters, and how their private agendas, burn out, idealism, etc. impacted the case. This is rarely discussed in police depts. Your last chapter is a good model for all Cadet training and In Service training."
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