The author was born and raised in Brooklyn, the oldest of four children of an often absent merchant marine father and a working mother. His parents’ relationship was marked by vitriol and conflict,...view moreThe author was born and raised in Brooklyn, the oldest of four children of an often absent merchant marine father and a working mother. His parents’ relationship was marked by vitriol and conflict, and the contentious marriage ended in divorce leaving emotional scars on the author. At the age of nineteen, the author enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, and later served twenty-three years with the New York City Police Department. While working full time, the author earned his Bachelor’s degree and a law degree.view less