In honor of his heritage, main character in "To Live and Die in L.A."
has a Serbian surname, "John Vukovich".
Served as a Special Agent with U. S. Army Intelligence from 1967-1970,
and with the Secret Service from 1970-1985. In 1985 he retired to write
full-time.
US Secret Service Agent. (retired)
Father was a L.A. Police officer.
His brother John was decorated with the Star of Valor for bravery in
action during an intense shootout with a dangerous Hispanic gang in
L.A. County.
Brother -- Sgt. John Petievich -- was a Los Angeles Police Department gang unit detective. (retired).