Cops and Characters in The Big Easy: True Stories Involving Celebrities, Criminals and Everyday People

by Gene Fields, HL Arledge (Editor)

Gene Fields spent 35 years of his adult life in law enforcement in the Metro New Orleans area. For 19 years, he served on the New Orleans Police Department beginning in 1961. In 1980, he retired, accepting a Deputy Chief with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. He retired again in 1995.This book chronicles Gene's memoirs, providing a compilation of criminal investigations, unusual incidents, terrorism, and humorous stories involving Gene, his friends and co-workers, and the occassional celebrity. Gene relives dramatic changes within the NOPD. He served the city during a transition period, as veteran officers who joined after WWII and the Korean War, retired, and a new, more ambitious breed, replaced them. Some of these recruits were better educated and more diverse.What you will read in this book is factual and supported by police reports, news clippings, and most importantly, the recollections of those involved in the stories. Some names have been changed to protect the identities and prevent unnecessary embarrassment. Some people may be aggravated or insulted by how they are described in certain cases, but Gene stands by his accounts, and the read is a fascinating one.

404 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 3, 2021

Reviews

[Pat613yahoo.Com · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memoirs of Chief Gene Fields

I got this book because I served under Sgt Milton Meyer in Auto Theft at JPSO, leaving JPSO after the birth of my son in 1981. I enjoyed reading about people I knew and respected. As very little was about JPSO I only knew a few of the people who served with Chief Fields in New Orleans and moved with him to JPSO. The only people I kept in touch with were Sgt and Mrs Meyer until my son started school. It was nice to follow the careers and lives of the few people I knew. Thank you.

[Aaron Jura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting memoir on policing in New Orleans. Covers the 60’s through the 90’s pretty well. Some stories repeated and some info mixed up, but if using it as research for a novel it’s a recommended read. I read it in 1 day.