The Fence : A Police Cover-up Along Boston's Racial Divide

The Boston police officers who brutally beat Michael Cox at a deserted fence one icy night in 1995 knew soon after that they had made a terrible mistake. The badge and handgun under Cox's bloodied parka proved he was not a black gang member but a plainclothes cop chasing the same murder suspect his assailants were. Officer Kenny Conley, who pursued and apprehended the suspect while Cox was being beaten, was then wrongfully convicted by federal prosecutors of lying when he denied witnessing the attack on his brother officer. Both Cox and Conley were native Bostonians, each dedicating his life to service with the Boston Police Department. But when they needed its support, they were heartlessly and ruthlessly abandoned. A remarkable work of investigative journalism, __The Fence__ tells the shocking true story of the attack and its aftermathand exposes the lies and injustice hidden behind a "blue wall of silence." ## From Publishers Weekly Starred Review. Mired in the racial conflicts of a divided city, Lehr, coauthor of the bestselling __Black Mass__, details one of the most controversial cases in the annals of the Boston Police Department, involving a brutal assault on a black plainclothes officer by his fellow cops and the resulting 1998 civil rights trial against the police force. Not only does Lehr paint the racial and political turbulence of Boston at the time, but he explores the cultural backgrounds of the black officer, Michael Cox; his attacker and fellow officer, Kenny Conley; and Robert Smut Brown, a drug dealer involved in the killing that started it all. Cox, who responded to the murder and chased after the car carrying the suspects, was beaten very severely by his overzealous colleagues, waited for an administrative apology and got only a coverup by the department. What followed was a sensational trial with all of the key ingredients of police brutality and a solid blue code of silence, with no winners. Jolting, nightmarish and potent, this true cop yarn bests any bogus reality show or overblown tabloid tale with its hard-boiled spin. 8 pages of b&w photos; 1 map. __(July)__ Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. ## Review Jolting, nightmarish and potent, this true cop yarn bests any bogus reality show or overblown tabloid tale with its hardboiled spin. (Publishers Weekly (starred review) )

a Riveting, True-life Account Of Violence, Racial Injustice, And Betrayal Within The Ranks Of The Boston Police Department

the Boston Police Officers Who Brutally Beat Michael Cox At A Deserted Fence One Icy Night In 1995 Knew Right Away That They Had Made A Terrible Mistake. The Badge And Handgun Under Cox's Bloodied Parka Proved It: He Was Not A Black Gang Member But A Plainclothes Officer Who Had Been Chasing The Same Murder Suspect They Were.

while Cox Was Being Beaten, Officer Kenny Conley Chased Down And Captured The Suspect. Afterward, As Cox Waited For An Apology From His Department, Federal Prosecutors Accused Conley Of Lying When He Denied Witnessing Cox's Beating. Both Cox And Conley Grew Up In Boston And Had Dedicated Their Lives To Serving The Boston Police Department, But When They Needed Its Support, They Were Abandoned.

a Remarkable Work Of Investigative Journalism, the Fence Details The Shocking Story Of The Attack, The Attempted Cover-up By Police Officers Beholden To A Blue Wall Of Silence, And The Bitter Repercussions On The Lives Of Those Involved. It Follows Cox's 1998 Federal Civil Rights Trial Against The Boston Police Department And Features A Diverse Cast Of Characters, Including The Victims, Their Families, The Officers Accused In The Beating, City Officials, And The Actual Murder Suspect—all Set Against The Rich Backdrop Of Boston.

like J. Anthony Lukas's 1985 Pulitzer Prize-winning Classic common Ground, the Fence Examines Boston's Race Relations And The Unwritten Police Code Of Covering Up Through The Intimate Lens Of Those Who Experienced The Crime Directly. By Coming To Know The Officers And Criminals Brought Together That Night At The Fence—and The Families Whose Lives Were Changed Forever As A Result—we Sense How Deeply The Strains Of Prejudice Run In This City Still Haunted By Tribalism And Racial Tension.

publishers Weekly

mired In The Racial Conflicts Of A Divided City, Lehr, Coauthor Of The Bestselling black Mass, Details One Of The Most Controversial Cases In The Annals Of The Boston Police Department, Involving A Brutal Assault On A Black Plainclothes Officer By His Fellow Cops And The Resulting 1998 Civil Rights Trial Against The Police Force. Not Only Does Lehr Paint The Racial And Political Turbulence Of Boston At The Time, But He Explores The Cultural Backgrounds Of The Black Officer, Michael Cox; His Attacker And Fellow Officer, Kenny Conley; And Robert Smut Brown, A Drug Dealer Involved In The Killing That Started It All. Cox, Who Responded To The Murder And Chased After The Car Carrying The Suspects, Was Beaten Very Severely By His Overzealous Colleagues, Waited For An Administrative Apology And Got Only A Coverup By The Department. What Followed Was A Sensational Trial With All Of The Key Ingredients Of Police Brutality And A Solid Blue Code Of Silence, With No Winners. Jolting, Nightmarish And Potent, This True Cop Yarn Bests Any Bogus Reality Show Or Overblown Tabloid Tale With Its Hard-boiled Spin. 8 Pages Of B&w Photos; 1 Map. (july)copyright © Reed Business Information, A Division Of Reed Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.

A riveting, true-life account of violence, racial injustice, and betrayal within the ranks of the Boston Police Department The Boston police officers who brutally beat Michael Cox at a deserted fence one icy night in 1995 knew right away that they had made a terrible mistake. The badge and handgun under Cox's bloodied parka proved it: He was not a black gang member but a plainclothes officer who had been chasing the same murder suspect they were. While Cox was being beaten, Officer Kenny Conley chased down and captured the suspect. Afterward, as Cox waited for an apology from his department, federal prosecutors accused Conley of lying when he denied witnessing Cox's beating. Both Cox and Conley grew up in Boston and had dedicated their lives to serving the Boston Police Department, but when they needed its support, they were abandoned. A remarkable work of investigative journalism, The Fence details the shocking story of the attack, the attempted cover-up by police officers beholden to a "blue wall of silence," and the bitter repercussions on the lives of those involved. It follows Cox's 1998 federal civil rights trial against the Boston Police Department and features a diverse cast of characters, including the victims, their families, the officers accused in the beating, city officials, and the actual murder suspect'all set against the rich backdrop of Boston. Like J. Anthony Lukas's 1985 Pulitzer Prize-winning classic Common Ground, The Fence examines Boston's race relations and the unwritten police code of covering up through the intimate lens of those who experienced the crime directly. By coming to know the officers and criminals brought together that night at the fence'and the families whose lives were changed forever as a result'we sense how deeply the strains of prejudice run in this city still haunted by tribalism and racial tension. Boston journalist Dick Lehr has written a gritty, captivating true-crime story with unusual depth'a chilling exploration of what happens when fear of admitting mistakes combines with a police culture of lying to undermine justice A monumental account of an urban travesty.[It] has all the earmarks of a classic. Dennis Lehane, New York Times bestselling author of Mystic River and Shutter Island Dick Lehrs The Fence, subtitled, A Police Cover-up Along Bostons Racial Divide, is a shocking true story of racism, brutality, official lies and negligence, when the truth about the savage beating of black plainclothes policeman by white officers was hidden behind a blue wall of silence. Respected journalist Lehr, winner of the Hancock Award, the Loeb Award, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, and bestselling author of Black Mass and Judgment Ridge, sheds a brilliant light on all aspects of this powerful, disturbing event and its aftermath.