Summary: <a href="http://jerriwilliams.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/cropped-JERRI-WILLIAMS-iTUNES.jpg"></a><br> I’m excited to be celebrating my 50th episode of <a href="http://jerriwilliams.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FBI Retired Case File Review</a> this week, along with the success of my crime novel <a href="http://a.co/5WpYmRZ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pay To Play</a>. While producing and hosting my true crime – crime fiction podcast over the last year, I’ve conducted interviews with my retired FBI colleagues about the high-profile cases they worked while on the job. And during almost every interview one of us comments about some aspect of the case or an investigative method that had been portrayed in books, TV, and movies as a cliché or inaccurately. I noted at least ten (10) misconceptions about the FBI that were repeatedly discussed. Just as some attorneys don’t read or watch legal dramas, and some doctors avoid medical shows and novels, for this special episode I’m joined by retired agent Bobby Chacon, a technical advisor for the TV show Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders for a lively discussion about why some FBI agents might not be reading that bestselling book series or watching that popular show depicting the FBI (In episode 8, I interviewed Bobby about working Jamaican drug gang cases and leading the FBI dive team).<br> Most people will never meet an FBI agent. The only connections they have with the FBI are the ones they make through books, TV, and movies, along with, of course, the news.<br> So, what if fictional portrayals of FBI agents are clichés or inaccurate? Does it really matter?<br> <br> <a href="http://jerriwilliams.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/10-Reasons.png"></a><br> <br> I believe it does. If fictional FBI agent characters are regulated to investigating only one or two types of violation or if they are written in negative and unflattering ways, when real FBI agents call someone on the phone or show up at a business or home to investigate actual cases, the response or cooperation they receive will no doubt be influenced by that last book that person read or TV show they watched about the FBI.<br> FBI agents and FBI cases are often used as inspiration for writing fascinating thrillers and crime stories.<br> As a matter of fact, the FBI currently has jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal law.<br> So, answer me this, why are there so many novels—albeit well-written, entertaining, books—about FBI agents hunting down serial killers?<br> #1 there are teams of FBI profilers hunting serial killers. Although serial killings are relatively rare, books, movies, and TV shows can give the false impression that they are roaming throughout the country. This is probably the most prevalent cliché. I blame the public’s fascination with serial killers and FBI profilers on bestselling author Thomas Harris, along with Jody Foster, Anthony Hopkins, and Scott Glen. Silence of the Lambs is unquestionably one of the best novels and the best movie about the FBI and serial killers. But the Silence of the Lambs is a blessing and a curse.<br><br> I worked as a special agent for 26 years, and I know of only one or two FBI agents who were actually assigned cases involving a serial killer. Yes, there is a team of profilers in the Behavioral Analysis Unit at the FBI Academy in Quantico. But at any given time, there are only 15 to 20 full-time special agent profilers assigned to the BAU, and they are working on developing criminal profiles for people accused of all kinds of violations. The primary goal of criminal investigative analysis is to examine the behavioral information submitted to the unit and provide advice to the requesting agency, rather than become involved in the actual investigative process. Currently, there are approximately 13,500 FBI agents, and I can assure you that 99.9 percent of them are not hunting serial killers, terrorists maybe,
