Squad 7 : Memoirs of a Homicide Detective

Squad 7 : Memoirs of a Homicide Detective

Copyright 1-988134972

All rights reserved.  Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Copyright 2013 by Terrill Shaw

1-988134972

Ghostland Productions

Romulus, Mi

Visit our website at www.seeker1026.com

ISBN 978-1-304-40626-2

Dedication

I would like to dedicate Squad 7 Memoirs of a Homicide Detective to my wife Marjorie Frazier-Shaw.  I would also like to dedicate this book to my mother Katherine Shaw, Sister Marilyn Moncrief and (R.I.P) my brother Ronald T. Shaw. 

To you who had faith in me for whatever I did in life, you loved me and trusted me in my endeavors.

Thank you.

I would like to recognize the men and women of the Detroit Police Department because they have a very hard and thankless task of protecting the Citizens of Detroit Michigan.

Author

Terry Shaw

Terry started his career in law enforcement with the city of Detroit that lasted almost three decades (1977-2006).

He worked the streets of Detroit at the notorious 10th precinct, then on to the forfeiture section.

Ultimately he spent 10 years in the Homicide section - working Squad 7 – Squad 3 – and the Cold Case Squad.

Working Homicide was hard and grueling most of the time.

However in the long run it was rewarding for my hard work did not end in vain.

Introduction

After working Forfeiture section for almost five years, I was accepted into the Homicide section.

I was immediately assigned to the Felony Murder Squad 7.  There were six squads pertaining to the Detroit Police Department Homicide Section.

Squad 1, was directed to investigating the killings of prostitutes and serial killers of prostitutes.

Squad 3, was a generalized squad, investigating baby deaths and other Homicides.

Squad 6, was directed to investigate narcotic homicides, all dope related killings.

Squad 7, was felony murder squad, investigating homicides that came along with felonies, such as robberies, rapes, etc.

SAS, Special Assignment Squad, was investigating police shootings.

Cold Case Squad, was investigating all older cases.

In squad 7, we were called the hat squad because, all of us bought brimmed hats and everyone in homicide wore suits. We wore our badges either on our pockets or around our necks with the word homicide on the black leather holding the badge.

It seemed odd that most of us in the homicide section worked at one time at the 10th precinct.  That was one of the most experienced precincts of that time.  In fact a lot of officer’s that graduated from the academy didn’t want to go there.

Commander Slope had just left his position to lieutenant Race who was also from the tenth precinct.  Lieutenant Race was a very down to earth officer and very fair person. 

Every officer I knew on the department were interested in the protection of the citizens of Detroit, because it was deemed the Murder Capital at the time.

Some stories tell of the officer’s calling out runs to homicide scenes over the radio.  That’s not true.  They would call the homicide desk, by pay phone or cell phone.

The desk officer would inform the squads on each shootings and deaths that were suspicious in nature.

This story is based on true happenings, however the names and the places were changed to protect the innocent.

The first squad of investigators at the scene took over the case.  The Evidence Technicians were the experts in collecting the evidence at the scene.  They were good.  Very good at what they did.

The Patrol officer was the first responder and did a great job of preserving the scene.  Keeping people out, like channel 2 or 7.

These are the memoirs of a few ventures as a homicide detective.

Chapter 1.  Box cutter robberies

Finally, there I was the beginning of September, Indian summer my first day at the Homicide Section.  The beginning of ten years of diehard investigations and lifelong friendships derived out of mutual respect.

Little did I know as I was introduced to these new faces, we would become part of an extended family that would last a lifetime!!!

Memories Let’s move on.

The office was on the 5th floor of the headquarters building at 1300 beaubien.  The office looked like a scene out of the old Barney Miller show, (now I’m telling my age). 

For those who don’t know, Barney Miller was a detective and the show was a comedy.