Joseph McNamara: R.I.P.

Joseph D. McNamara, a former San Jose police chief who gained national attention for his progressive views on community policing, drugs and gun control, died in his sleep early Friday at his Monterey home of pancreatic cancer. He was 79.

Joe McNamara, who started his career as a Harlem beat cop in New York City and earned a doctorate from Harvard University, served as San Jose's police chief from 1976 until retiring in 1991.  Before coming to San Jose, he served as Kansas City's police chief. He worked as a research fellow at Stanford's Hoover Institution from 1991 until his death, and wrote five novels dubbed cop noir.

His books include: The First Directive, Fatal Command, The Blue Mirage, Code 211 Blue, Love and Death in Silicon Valley. 

Mystery Readers NorCal was privileged to host Joe McNamara at a special Literary Salon for the publication of The First Directive.

Read SF Chronicle Obit here.