Joseph Aloysius Wambaugh, Jr. is a highly acclaimed American author, best known for his crime fiction, mystery novels, and true crime non-fiction. Born on January 22, 1937, in East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Wambaugh's life took a significant turn when he joined the U.S. Marines at the age of 17. After serving for three years, he got married and pursued higher education, obtaining an associate degree from Chaffey College and earning Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from California State University, Los Angeles.
Wambaugh's career took an exciting turn when he joined the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in 1960. During his 14-year tenure with the LAPD, he rose through the ranks from patrolman to detective sergeant. His experience as a police officer provided him with a wealth of material for his future writings. In fact, two of his novels, "The New Centurions" and "The Blue Knight," were published while he was still serving as a police officer. Some of his notable works include "The Onion Field," "Echoes in the Darkness," and "The Black Marble." He has a knack for creating police officers with flawed personalities, which adds depth and realism to his stories.
After leaving the LAPD, Wambaugh became a full-time writer and has since published over twenty works of fiction and nonfiction. His writing style is known for its gritty realism, technical accomplishment, and ambitious storytelling. In 2004, he was named Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America, a testament to his significant contributions to the genre. Despite his success as an author, Wambaugh remains deeply connected to his past as a police officer. He still prefers the company of police officers and interviews hundreds of them for story material. Wambaugh currently resides in southern California, where he continues to write and teach screenwriting courses at the University of California, San Diego.