Hero Charles Moose

As police chief of Montgomery County, MD, Charles Moose became a celebrated figure in 2002 when he was point-man for press relations during the search for the Beltway Snipers, who eventually were responsible for 13 shootings and 10 murders near the nation's capital.

Moose, 49 at the time of the investigation, held a history degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Ph.D. in criminology and urban studies from Portland State University.

He previously had been on the Portland, OR, police force for 27 years, part of that time as chief. During the search for the killers, Moose occasionally became frustrated and feisty with the media as the task force he helped direct tracked down John Allen Muhammad and his young accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo.

Moose's star dimmed somewhat, however, when news came out that he had begun work on a book about the case--while the search was ongoing--and reportedly had received a $170,000 advance for it. Also, Moose started his own consulting firm for crisis management after the arrests had been made. The book deal's timing was

contrary to regulations and brought about his resignation as police chief. In 2006, Moose joined the police department in Honolulu.