Cops and Characters in The Big Easy

Gene Fields spent 35 years of his adult life in law enforcement in the Metro New Orleans area. For 19 years, he served on the New Orleans Police Department beginning in 1961. In 1980, he retired, accepting a Deputy Chief with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. He retired again in 1995.

This book chronicles Gene's memoirs, providing a compilation of criminal investigations, unusual incidents, terrorism, and humorous stories involving Gene, his friends and co-workers, and the occassional celebrity. Gene relives dramatic changes within the NOPD. He served the city during a transition period, as veteran officers who joined after WWII and the Korean War, retired, and a new, more ambitious breed, replaced them. Some of these recruits were better educated and more diverse.

What you will read in this book is factual and supported by police reports, news clippings, and most importantly, the recollections of those involved in the stories. Some names have been changed to protect the identities and prevent unnecessary embarrassment. Some people may be aggravated or insulted by how they are described in certain cases, but Gene stands by his accounts, and the read is a fascinating one.

Eugene Fields served with the New Orleans Police Department from 1961-1980, retiring as a Lieutenant in the Major Offense Bureau. At the time he was number two on the Civil Service list for promotion to Captain.

In 1980, he accepted a position with Sheriff Harry Lee, Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office as a Deputy Chief in command of the Investigations Bureau, remaining in that position until his retirement in 1995.

He majored in Criminal Justice at Loyola University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, US Secret Service Dignitary Protection Course, the US Customs Cross Training Course, Texas A &M Polygraph Examiners School, and the LSU Law Enforcement Institute.

He has lectured at the LSU School of Law, Xavier University, School of Pharmacy, LSU Law Enforcement Institute, University of Louisville, Alabama Criminal Justice Academy, New Orleans Police Academy, Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Academy, and the Hancock County, MS Sheriff's Department. He served as an ad hoc member on the LA Governor's Drug Policy Board from 1989-1995. He has served on the Investigations Committee, International Association of Chiefs of Police since 1983.