ABOUT NEAL GRIFFIN
Growing up in west-central Wisconsin on a steady diet of Joseph Wambaugh novels and episodes of Police Story, Neal never considered any career other than being a cop. In fact, his whole purpose in joining the Marines at nineteen was to improve his chances of landing a job in police work. After an eight year hitch in the Marines, Neal applied for a number of agencies and landed in Southern California.
During his twenty-seven year career, Neal worked as a patrol cop, field training officer, member of SWAT, Hostage Negotiator, Narcotics Investigator, Gang Enforcement Specialist; and, Supervisor of a Homicide Unit. He was named Officer of the Year on two occasions. In July, 2016, Neal retired as the senior Lieutenant of 150-officer department. Neal holds a Bachelor’s Degree from California State University, San Marcos and is a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, where he studied police ethics and forensic science. Neal is an Adjunct Professor at Palomar College in San Marcos, California where he teaches Police Ethics and Patrol Procedures.
The son of a Quaker Philosophy Professor, Neal was taught early on to question authority, a trait not always popular with his police bosses, but one he puts to use as an author. Neal creates street savvy police characters with an authentic blend of courage and guile, but he pulls no punches in the portrayal of cops who have no business wearing a badge or gun. In his books, Neal tackles the serious issues that face American policing, leaving the reader with an untainted insider’s view. His work has won praise from many of the leading voices in the crime fiction genre to include Don Winslow, James Carlos Blake, Tami Hoag, Tess Gerritsen, T. Jefferson Parker, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Jon Land and Joseph Wambaugh.
Neal is married and has four children. He and his family reside in San Diego County and also keep a home in the woods of Burnett County in Northwest Wisconsin. They travel frequently throughout the country but feel especially welcome in Wisconsin, where Neal loves to write, as well as pursue his other great passions: beer, cheese and Packer football.