President Teddy Roosevelt’s speech1 about the “Man in the Arena” rings true with everyone at some level, but perhaps loudest with anyone who has played a role in the investigation or prosecution of a significant criminal case. I often toiled in those arenas during my career. Battling in the moment, while sharpening and improving my skills in preparation for the next encounter. Most often, but not always, I, and the talented people I worked alongside, realized the triumph of victory. I value and treasure every experience, challenge and encounter associated with my profession. Working in partnership with assistant district attorneys, local police, medical examiners, crime lab technicians and specialists and expert witnesses, I gained experience, knowledge and experience that can’t be purchased; only learned and earned!
This past month was perhaps the most rewarding one in my professional career. It began with an invitation from Worcester County District Attorney Joe Early to speak with his staff of assistant district attorneys (a/d/a’s) and support personnel. The talk was about the crucial importance of collaboration and teamwork in the furtherance of justice. I featured the case of Commonwealth vs Crouse. The story of the investigation and prosecution of a murder case that was featured in my book, “When the Smoke Cleared”. It is a classic circumstantial case with more than 50 witnesses taking the stand to present more than 200 pieces of evidence, every bit of it necessary to convince a jury of the defendant’s guilt.
As a young investigator I knew of the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association (MDAA) and their Annual Conference. I have many memories of a/d/a’s speaking with great appreciation of the speakers and the content of their lectures. I was a bit envious that I was never invited to attend. This year was different! I received the honor of my career when I shared the speaker’s podium with Adrienne Lynch, the head of the homicide unit in Middlesex County. We were the keynote speakers at the Conference and delivered our talk to more than 400 District Attorneys and their a/d/a’s. Once again, the emphasis was on the importance of a collaborative effort from the crime scene through the investigation, trial preparation and the trial.
My speaking tour wrapped up this past week. First, with a meet and greet book signing at an independent bookstore in my hometown. The last stop was at the Boston University School of Medicine with a lecture to Dr. Tom Andrew’s forensic anthropology students about death investigations and the critical role the forensic sciences play in guiding criminal investigations.
My writings and podcasts are designed to blend police and courtroom procedurals and take the reader or listener from the crime scene through the jury verdict and a bit beyond. While at the MDAA Conference I spoke with several District Attorneys who told me they had each purchased numerous copies of the books and either distributed, or made them available, to their folks as a primer or example(s) of thoroughness in the investigation, case preparation and trial tactics. Their praise for the writing was unexpected and rewarding, and told me that every minute I spent in the 6 years of writing the storyi was time well spent.
The books were written to educate and enlighten the reader to a real-world view of the how and why the criminal justice system is constructed and functions. And while it may be imperfect, it is unquestionably the fairest system in the world.
Finally, our podcast, powersonpolicing, is back! Jordan Rich and I discuss current and topical themes about police investigations and how they relate and connect to criminal and courtroom procedures. We recently released two episodes about evidence in general. Among other things, we spoke of what is, and what isn’t, evidence, and how a trial judge determines relevancy of the content as well as the competency of the witness before it can be presented to a jury.
The next episodes are in production and take a deep dive in to all aspects of “search and seizure” and how the Constitution, as well as case and statute law set the parameters that must be respected. Particularly, how the rules provide an important template to follow for the discovery, collection and testing of evidence.
All of the episodes (25 and counting) are no more than 30 minutes in length and are available on all major podcast platforms, as well as here on my website .
Please don’t hesitate to connect with me through the website with questions, comments or suggestions for future speakers and topics. I am also available to speak in classrooms, conferences, book clubs etc.. Just ask!!
- Citizenship in a Republic is the title of a speech given by Theodore Roosevelt, former President of the United States, at the Sorbonne in Paris, France, on April 23, 1910.
One notable passage from the speech is referred to as “The Man in the Arena”:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”