A Guide To Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs

Okay, like I promised in my previous post, I have scanned the law enforcement guide (Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs: A Guide) that was written in the late 70’s early 80’s and found its way into my reference library.

Anyone interested in perusing it (below is a sample page), please feel free to click here. 

You will find that the file is password protected and you can’t actually view it in your web browser but clicking on the DOWNLOAD link near the top left corner of the page and saving it to your computer will work.  

When it asks for a password, type in:  pdiblog

Please enjoy and keep watching Sons of Anarchy!  The Season finale is already next week!

Sons Of Anarchy & A Guide To Motorcycle Clubs

Ahh, I can't sleep.

I just finished watching the latest episode of Sons Of Anarchy on my DVR and I'm reminded why I started watching the show to begin with....great writing.  If you have never seen it, you should give it shot.  You can read more about the show here.  (Interesting tidbit:  Kurt Sutter, the creator of the show is married to the MOST AWESOME Katey Sagal)

I know quite a few people who have fallen in love with the show knowing nothing about outlaw Motorcycle Club's and they slowly learned the basics of being a member of one of these organizations through the progression of the show.  

I dug around my reference material and found some old FBI or Law Enforcement guides that explain the inner-workings of these clubs and I kind of thought it would be fun to post them here on my site.  

I'll be posting at least one of the guides here later this morning.  Please keep in mind that although it was probably written in the early 80's, the majority of the terms you'll see the in the guide are still used today (some will give you greater insight into the characters on the show and the positions they hold in the club or peripheral support).

Check back here later today for the PDF Guide.

I've only worked a couple of cases in the past involving members of some West Coast clubs, (mostly because the bigger clubs have their own legal teams) but I've always been intrigued by the lifestyle and the cases I worked were fascinating...not quite SOA fascinating but I'm hoping there is a day I can write about them here on a post.

Tragedy Strikes Fellow Investigator & Her Family

Breaking news from the St. Petersburg Times:

By Letitia Stein and Dong-Phuong Nguyen, Times Staff Writers 

TAMPA — A 32-year-old investigator, a rising star in the federal public defender's office, was accidentally shot and killed Saturday by her father while they were cleaning guns together…

My prayers go out to Melissa’s family, friends and co-workers.  I can’t imagine anything worse than losing a child like this and from the amazingly nice things her boss, Federal Public Defender Donna Elm, it seems like she is going to be sorely missed at an office where she was really appreciated and loved:

Melissa Kupferberg was writing a book about approaches to investigations that drew on her background in mental health, said Donna Elm, the federal defender for the middle district of Florida in the Tampa office.

She excelled at her job, a coveted position in the federal public defender's office, and was being invited to speak at national conferences. She was involved with the National Defender Investigator Association.

"At 32, this is all very remarkable," Elm said, adding that she was also beloved by her co-workers.

"She's one of those really optimistic, positive souls who always smiles and loves a joke and is very cheery."

And in the world of public defense, that's not easy.

We should all be so lucky to work with, and know someone like Melissa.