Richard B. Whitaker is a retired Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Detective III. During his many years working in law enforcement, he successfully fulfilled a wide range of roles, including uniformed patrol, plain-clothed special operations, administrative staff, and detective. In that last capacity, he worked on many assignments, including those involving robbery, homicide, burglary, juvenile crimes, and auto theft. Mr. Whitaker holds a Bachelor of Independent Studies (BIS) from Brigham Young University, and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Southern California. Mr. Whitaker is married, with seven children, and resides with his wife, Cheryle, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Conflict In Blue Behind the Badge is Mr. Whitaker's first published work of fiction.