Both this morning’s Coeur d’Alene Press and the Idaho Humanities Council have announced that New York Times online columnist and author Timothy Egan is scheduled to present the Idaho Humanities Council’s Northern Idaho Distinguished Humanities Lecture on October 8, 2009, at the Coeur d’Alene Resort.
Neither the Press article nor the IHC press release mentioned Egan’s book “Breaking Blue,” which should have as much local interest as his book about the 1910 Idaho fire.
“Breaking Blue” is the story of how the 1935 murder of Metaline Falls, Washington, town marshal George Coniff was not only covered up by the Spokane law enforcement community, it was a murder committed by one of the Spokane Police Department’s own. In 1989 Pend Oreille County Sheriff Tony Bamonte was a graduate student working on his master’s thesis, a history of Pend Oreille County sheriffs. Marshal Coniff’s murder caught his attention, and Bamonte began following up on a 54-year-old murder case. Egan’s book “Breaking Blue” describes the cultural and political obstacles then-Sheriff Bamonte overcame to ultimately solve Marshal Coniff’s murder.
More publisher’s reviews of “Breaking Blue” are available at Amazon.com.
Bill, “Breaking Blue” sounds like it supports law enforcement, in general. Is it surprising that this author also writes for the NY Times?
Comment by mary — May 14, 2009 @ 8:15 pm
Mary,
If you define “supports law enforcement” as being willing to expose the corrupt, dishonest, predatory, and deceptive behavior by unprofessional law enforcement officers, then the book supports law enforcement. I happen to think public exposure of misbehavior is exactly what needs to be done to “support law enforcement.” I have little tolerance for citizens who intentionally or ignorantly turn their heads on unacceptable behaviors and unprofessional practices in their law enforcement administrators and officers and then pat themselves on the back and brag that they “support law enforcement.” Citizens who think they are supporting their local law enforcement agencies by overlooking bad or outright illegal behaviors are doing just the opposite: They are reinforcing rather than correcting bad behaviors.
I received some criticism and three spiked tires after I posted Theft, Gunfire, and Death in Hayden, Idaho: Part II and Local Law Enforcement Agencies: Septic Tanks or Urban Wastewater Systems? on Whitecaps. I tried to persuade the Les Schwab tire store on Government Way to give me frequent visitor miles.
Comment by Bill — May 15, 2009 @ 6:37 am
I agree completely. Your clear thinking is refreshing!
Comment by mary — May 15, 2009 @ 10:42 am