The Black Band

The half inch wide black velvet band that is placed around the Peace Officer’s badge symbolizes the grief and pain that grips the heart behind the badge. The Black Band begins at the graveside service of Officer Augustino as he is laid to rest. The sound of the bagpipe drifts over the departing crowd as they drift back to their duties fighting crime, corruption or mourn with friends and family. The story brings the reader into the hearts and lives of these cops at work and at the cop bar where they tell stories to unwind and try to make sense out of the lives they lead. The stories bring insight into the anxiety while working their beats and at home where wives and children wait to hear news of which officer was slain. The Black Band portrays cops at work, catching burglars in the act of committing crimes, discovering evidence of a robbery/homicide during a routine parole check and attempting to clean up prostitution and drug dealing.

About the Author Albert vande Steeg was born in the Netherlands at the beginning of the Nazi occupation of Holland during World War II. Suffering deprivation of food, freedom and justice during those formative years created a keen sense of justice and desire to provide justice to all who wish for a fair shake in life. At age twenty four he joined the Chino, California Police Department as a reserve officer. He then served the City of Ontario for fourteen years; six in patrol and seven as a detective and one year as a training officer. His work in the Detective bureau uncovered corruption and revealed how politics affect law enforcement. He served eight years on the Board of the Ontario Police Officer’s Association, seven as president. He was very active in politics and serving the needs of the membership. This earned him the moniker “the Policeman’s Pal.” He and his wife host the annual retiree party, for anyone who worked at the Ontario Police Department and helped develop the Ontario Police Museum, currently serving on that board.