THE OLD COP

About the Book

The book follows the exploits of an octogenarian, Agustín Lara Camelia, a retired law enforcement executive living as a widowed recluse in the Pennsylvania countryside. An ill-advised response to an “escort” ad, ends tragically, and he finds himself facing a prison term for manslaughter. Because of his unique international background he is recruited as an unofficial infiltrator within Mexico by Agents of the US Department of Homeland Security Investigations who are investigating a sex trade organization with connection with a Mexican cartel controlling human trafficking between northern Mexico and the US. The old man finds himself conflicted while trying to atone for his crime and also follow the strict rules of HSI. Camelia relies on his experiences as a rookie police officer on the streets of Salinas, California. It was there that he last felt self-assured and learned that humanitarianism is the cornerstone of law enforcement, the part that gives purpose throughout a policeman’s life.

About the Author

Before starting a 24-year career with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Cañas was a police officer and detective for the Salinas, California Police Department. With DEA he was posted overseas twice in Guatemala and twice in Mexico. In the US he served in San Francisco, CA, Santa Ana, CA, Washington DC, Phoenix, AZ, and Johnstown, PA. He also held various positions with the US federal and state governments, including Special Advisor, Latin American Division of the CIA, Director of Counterterrorism and Counternarcotics at the White House NSC, Director of National Drug Intelligence Center, and Director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. He is a graduate of San Jose State University, and has a Law Enforcement Teaching Credential from the University of California at Berkeley. Other books published by Authorhouse are Jaguars, a Tale of El Salvador, Shift- The End of the Drug War, Homeland Security at the State Level, and Choosing Exile 1930-1950 (El Salvador).