PERRYSBURG – A new book written by retired police officer Jeffry "J.D." Justus invites readers
on a ride-along that spans a nearly three-decade career in law enforcement – full of heart, humor and
the occasional blue-sprinkle doughnut.
"Blue Salad" draws primarily from often farcical stories that Justus recorded and filed away in
a shoe box during the 29 years he worked for the City of Perrysburg, Perrysburg Township and the Village
of Pemberville. Far from a gritty noir drama yet not quite a lost dispatch from Mayberry either, the
book offers a mixture of unconnected anecdotes that highlight the funny side of regular police work. A
few more serious stories appear in the book, too, to round out the collection.
"I think people are tired of reading about the serious side of the New York City detective,"
Justus said in a recent interview.
Instead, Justus began writing with a simple goal to share some of his favorite stories with people
outside law enforcement. The result is a collection of side-splitting and sometimes earnest stories that
include idiosyncratic chiefs, a few well-crafted practical jokes, a sinking police car, the dangers of
allowing children to use the car speaker and some decidedly inventive crime-stopping tactics.
Some names and locations were changed, of course, to protect the innocent.
The former officer also acknowledges in his introduction, however, that police work is not all fun and
games. Justus writes that men and women who wear the uniform represent a special breed of people who are
asked to accept certain dangers as a regular part of their job. He estimates that officers spend 80
percent of their time performing routine duties, 10 percent responding to adrenaline-pumping situations
and another 10 percent negotiating daily stresses through humor. And while only a small component of law
enforcement, Justus explains, a healthy feel for the facetious can help officers cope with the inherent
stresses in their careers.
The stories in "Blue Salad" appear chronologically for the most part, beginning shortly before
Justus started his career as an auxiliary officer with Pemberville in 1978. He would later work in the
township for a few years before joining the city in 1984. Sgt. Justus retired from the Perrysburg Police
Division in 2007 as the public information officer and special events supervisor.
Justus closed the book on that chapter of his life after contracting epilepsy, which prevented him from
serving as a police officer. The many months of medication adjustments, however, afforded him enough
time to begin organizing his stories.
"It was kind of cathartic" to have an opportunity to revisit all the meaningful moments of his
career, he said.
Douglas Brinkley — a Perrysburg native, author of several historical biographies and a childhood friend
of Justus’ — provided the forward to "Blue Salad." Brinkley writes that he
"enthusiastically" encouraged Justus to write the book "and for good reason."
"All of Jeff’s loosely assembled vignettes in ‘Blue Salad’ add up to a fine thriller," Brinkley
wrote. "Yet he also modestly accentuates the less dramatic aspects of being a Main Street
patrolman. There is a fine balance here both of the hair-raising and mundane."
The book is dedicated to: his mother, Judy Justus, another local historian and author; A.A. Hilt, a
retired lieutenant with the city police division; and T. Hamilton Noll, of the Leatherman and Witzler
law firm.

To bring his stories to life, Justus said he challenged himself to reach beyond "just the
facts" that would appear in a typical dry police report. As a result, readers are privy to the
feelings and insights that Justus experienced while working the cop beat.
"I feel it’s the only way to communicate to the reader what exactly was taking place at the time in
my mind," he said.
Since he first became a police officer, Justus said, the job has changed dramatically. He can recall a
time when coverage areas were small enough that some officers used to ask dispatchers for last names
instead of addresses. Technology has improved, too. Now all cars are outfitted with computers and more
than one radio and officers carry cell phones. As a rule, he said, new recruits are encouraged to become
better trained and more well-rounded officers. He said an officer today might handle 20 more reports a
day than he would have 20 years ago.
Justus keeps busy even in retirement by helping to raise funds for individuals with disabilities and
severe health problems and serves on the Kip Boulis Scholarship Board. Looking back at his career,
Justus said it was satisfying to have been able to help families in town when they needed assistance.

"If you don’t have the support of your community, you have nothing," he said.
Justus will sign copies of his book on Dec. 5 from 4-6 p.m. at Walt Churchill’s Market and on Dec. 12 at
2 p.m. at the Way Public Library. The book will be available for purchase at Traffic Stop Uniform Supply
in Bowling Green, 115 Railroad St., and through the mail at P.O. Box 603, Perrysburg, Ohio, 43552-0603.