Protector: The Harry Belluomini Story

by Matt Hader

In 1990 and 1991, a criminal dubbed “the Bearded Bandit” went on a bank-robbing crime spree. The man who was arrested for the crimes was a former police officer. He and his wife were alleged to have robbed eight banks in the Chicago area. On the sixth day of the accused criminal’s federal trial, he slipped his restraints, battered a US marshal and grabbed her weapon, and murdered another federal marshal as he attempted to escape. He also murdered a retired Chicago Police Department detective named Harry Belluomini, but as he was dying, Belluomini managed to fatally wound his killer. Two movies were made about the Bearded Bandit and his wife, as if they were a latter-day Bonnie and Clyde. No one had much to say about the man who did what no rational person would ordinarily do—who moved toward the sound of gunfire, who put himself between an armed killer and the public. Like countless police officers before him and since, Harry Belluomini selflessly faced lethal danger on behalf of others. While the alleged bank robber and murderer was glamorized on screen, the man who stopped him, a dedicated family man who was building his dream home in northern Wisconsin has largely been ignored. Protector sets that record straight.

“Hader’s writing exhibits the ability to paint a moment in time, harnessing emotions with his words and capturing the mood with originality.… Matt gives life to his depictions, which made me feel as if I was right there participating in his conversations.… The memoir [is] perceptive and engaging. He aligns his thoughts in such a way that the story has a beautiful flow.” —Keith Mbuya, Readers’ Favorite

255 pages, Hardcover

Published June 14, 2022

About the author

Matt Hader's circuitous route to becoming a professional writer followed an unlikely path through post-collegiate classes at The Second City, on-air shifts in Chicago-area radio station studios, and working as an emergency 9-1-1 Communications Officer. He's had numerous screenplay options and production deals over the years, and in 2011 his first novel, Bad Reputation, was published, followed by six more stories that expanded the Bad Reputation universe. Matt's novel, Two-Seven Remainder, was published in 2015, and a follow-up titled God Loves a Madman, which continues the "Pies" Jakubowski series, will be available in 2017. Matt previously served on the board of directors of the nonprofit American Screenwriters Association, and he's a current member of The International Association of Crime Writers (North America Branch).

Reviews

[Doug Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a thorough and well-written story of a much respected and loved Chicago police detective who tragically lost his life back in July, 1992. Matt captures everything Harry Belluomini stood and lived for: family, friends, fellow colleagues, doing the right thing / making the right decisions, regardless of what was at stake. Harry Belluomini was a HERO to so many in both his personal and professional life, and was a blessing to all who knew him - Harry truly upheld the motto, 'To Protect And Serve'. The entirety of this story could only be described with one word, 'Superb'.

[Joyce Young]

great book about a very interesting person!

[Sarah Koz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keith Mbuya, Readers’ Favorite: “Hader’s writing exhibits the ability to paint a moment in time, harnessing emotions with his words and capturing the mood with originality.… Matt gives life to his depictions, which made me feel as if I was right there participating in his conversations.… The memoir [is] perceptive and engaging. He aligns his thoughts in such a way that the story has a beautiful flow.”