The Officer's Daughter

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At sixteen, Elle Johnson lived in Queens, yearning for a close bond with her popular cousin Karen from the Bronx. Coming from a family of black law enforcement officers, Elle believed Karen would understand her uniquely. Elle's father, a protective parole officer, and her uncle, a homicide detective, shaped her upbringing. Their lives changed forever when Karen was tragically shot during a robbery at the Burger King where she worked. The NYPD and FBI launched a nationwide manhunt for her killers, and the ensuing trials shattered Elle's childhood innocence. Thirty years later, Elle resides in Los Angeles as a television writer, primarily on police procedural shows. She receives an unexpected request from her older brother: to write a letter opposing the parole of one of Karen's murderers. This prompts Elle to confront her past, including the family's silence about the murder and its lasting impact, the buried secrets, and her complex relationship with her father. This memoir delves into the limitations of parental protection, the lasting effects of violence on survivors, and the profound journey toward forgiveness amidst unimaginable tragedy.