Jerry Hooten

Four years in the U.S. Navy as an electronics specialist in autopilot and guidance systems with Guided Missile Group I. Several years as the Assistant Chief of the Fort Madison Police Reserve unit. Forty years with the U.S. Postal Service, 21 of which was with the Postal Inspection Service, the law-enforcement branch of the postal service. Security Specialist with the Inspection Service, installing security systems and covert equipment such as cameras, wire taps, and recording equipment. Worked with other federal agencies, including the FBI, Customs, AT&F, IRS, Drug Enforcement Agency as well as state and local law enforcement agencies around the country. Videotaped search warrant executions and conducted computer searches for illegal activities.

Was on the security team for the Universal Postal Congress in Washington, D.C. in 2000. First ever use of fiber optics for a security system that combined access control, intrusion detection, video surveillance and audio systems. The team provided security for members of the 130 countries involved, plus displays from the Smithsonian Museum and the U.S. Postal Service.

Worked on many cases with the U.S. Attorneys office for courtroom security and setting up electronic equipment for evidence presentations. Also worked on internal cases, and cases involving bank fraud and robberies.

Spent the last three years of his career as the Security Coordinator for the U.S. Postal Service serving the Midwest Area. Set up security budgets, training, worked with construction companies and architects to ensure new projects met security standards. Set up Security Control offices in postal facilities in the eleven states of the Midwest Area. Coordinated security projects with the postal service and the postal inspection service and aided with investigations involving security issues, including the shooting incident at the Milwaukee Post Office.

Became involved with mystery writers after emailing Michael Connelly about his novel, "The Poet". Worked with Mr. Connelly on many of his best selling novels. Also worked with Jim Swain, Julie Smith, Barbara Seranella, M.J. Rose and others providing information on police procedures, covert installations and doing research in various areas of forensics and electronic surveillance. Met with Michael Connelly in Las Vegas for his novel, “Void Moon”, which involved a burglary in a Las Vegas hotel. Arranged for a tour of the security control center at MGM Grand, which is the security control center for many of the casinos and hotels on the strip.

Was a character on the TV series, “Level 9”. Jerry Hooten played by Romany Malco. The show was about a secret government agency that investigated High tech crime. The character, Jerry Hooten, was a member of the government group as a postal inspector from Chicago. The show was written by Michael Connelly and Josh Meyer, a reporter for the LA Times.

After working with mystery writers, wrote first book, “Don’t Talk to Strangers”, a thriller about a bitter man, nearing retirement that accidentally kills his boss and goes on the run as an identity stealing killer. The sequel, “Dead End” came out in 2007. Currently working on several other novels.

Belongs to Mystery Writers of America, American Society for Industrial Security, occasionally does investigative and security work, still active with security and stays up to date through meetings, correspondence and magazine subscriptions. Two web sites, www.tech-conrite.com, the security website, and www.jerryhooten.com , the website for mystery writers.