Connie Dial is a highly accomplished American author, best known for her mystery and thriller novels. She is particularly famous for her Fallen Angels and Mike Turner Mystery series. Dial has had an illustrious career before becoming an author, having worked as a journalist and a reporter/photographer for a chain of newspapers in the San Gabriel Valley. She later worked as an editor for a trade magazine and briefly wrote news for a local television station.
Dial's law enforcement career began when she joined the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) as a policewoman in 1969. However, she left the force because at that time women couldn't promote higher than sergeant and were given very limited assignments. She returned to the LAPD in 1973 as a police officer, becoming one of the four women in the first academy class who were allowed to work as patrol officers, with unlimited promotional opportunities. Dial's career with the LAPD was marked by several significant achievements, including working as an undercover officer for the intelligence division, where she reported on groups who planned the overthrow of the U.S. government. She also served as a detective in the narcotics division, where she arrested street drug dealers, served search warrants, and made undercover buys. Dial's work as a lieutenant watch commander in the Newton Division in South Central L.A. during the Rodney King riots was also noteworthy. She worked 12-hour shifts for a month following the riot, keeping the city intact and innocent citizens safe during a very challenging time.
As a commanding officer, Dial's career included serving as the captain for the Field Enforcement Section in the Narcotics Division and as the area commanding officer for the Hollywood Division. She received several commendations for community policing and recognition for her work in the community, including the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Women of Distinction award. Dial is a graduate of Citrus Jr. College; the University of West Los Angeles; California State University; LAPD’s Command Development School and FBI National Academy. She currently resides in Southern California with her husband, retired Police Detective Jon Dial and their two Yorkshire Terriers named Bogart and Bacall.