Rodney Demery is an American author, TV host and former homicide detective, currently serving as the chief of the Grambling State University Police Department.[1] He is best known for his role as the TV host and narrator on the Murder Chose Me TV series which airs on Investigation Discovery since 2017.[2][3]

Rodney Lamar Demery
Born
Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
Alma materLouisiana State University
New Mexico State University Alamogordo
SpouseConya Demery
Police career
DepartmentBeaver Falls Police Department
Shreveport Police Department
Caddo Parish District Attorney's Office
Grambling State University Police Department
Service years1994-1999
1999-2016
2016-2018
2022-present
Other workTV host, narrator, writer
Military career
AllegianceUnited States United States
Service / branchUnited States Navy
Battles / warsGulf War

Career

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Rodney Demery is a veteran of the United States Navy. He served in both Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield.[4][5]

Upon leaving the Navy, he served as an officer with, and then the chief of, the Beaver Falls Police Department in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.[1] In 1999, he resigned from the Beaver Falls Police Department to join the Shreveport Police Department.[6] In 2001, he was assigned to the Department's violent crimes unit as a homicide detective. During his career with the Shreveport Police, he worked on over 250 homicide cases.[7] In a 2016 interview with KTBS 3, Demery said his achievement in solving homicide cases resulted from personal encounters with violent homicides,[8] referring to his mother's murder and his brother Patrick's conviction for homicide.[9] He understood both the bereaved families and the suspects.[10][11]

Demery is S.W.A.T. certified and a hostage negotiator as well as having experience in undercover work.[12] As a homicide detective, Rodney Demery looked into his mother's homicide case.[13] He tracked down his stepfather and found him in bad health.[14][15]

Demery worked as a homicide investigator for the Caddo Parish District Attorney's Office until July 2018,[16] when he resigned to focus on television and film projects.[17] However, on May 27, 2022, Demery was hired by Grambling State University as its new chief of university police.[1]

Politics

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In 2018, the Shreveport Times reported he considered running for Shreveport Mayor.[18] In July 2018, Demery denied interest in local politics.[19] He confirmed a desire to become the chief of Shreveport Police,[19] with multiple 2018 mayoral candidates approaching him for the position if elected.[20] In 2018, Rodney Demery endorsed Lee O. Savage for Mayor,[21] who lost the election to Adrian Perkins.[22]

Film

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Rodney is the narrator of Investigation Discovery's 2017 crime drama Murder Chose Me,[23] in which he narrates the show in the first person.[24]

The crime TV show is based on detective Demery's work at the Shreveport Police homicide unit.[25] It highlights the homicide cases he worked on during the 14 years he was active.[26] The show was renewed for a second season on May 19, 2017.[27] Murder Chose Me was renewed for the third season on November 8, 2018[28] and is set to premiere in June 2019.[29]

Books

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Rodney Demery has written two books on Amazon Kindle. His 2011 title, Things My Daughters Need to Know: A Cop and Father's View of Sex, Relationships and Happiness was an Amazon Bestseller when it was released.[30] Demery released his second book, No Place for Race: Why We Need to Address Economic and Social Factors That Are Crushing Us Every Day, in October 2013.[31] The book appeared on the 10 Best Black Books of 2013 list published annually by literary critic Kam Williams.[32] It has also been featured and reviewed on multiple news outlets throughout the United States.[33]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Grambling State hires new chief, assistant chief of university police". Grambling State University. May 27, 2022.
  2. ^ "Murder Chose Me". Investigation Discovery. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  3. ^ "His mom was murdered. Now former Shreveport detective tells victims' stories on TV". The Times (Shreveport).
  4. ^ Chris Harris this and Greg Hanlon (February 10, 2017) For This Louisiana Homicide Detective, Murder Is Personal, People (magazine). Retrieved March 26, 2016
  5. ^ "Inmates gain vocational experience". The Union Democrat. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  6. ^ "Detective sues city, SPD chief over firefighter case".
  7. ^ Eric Olsen (April 12, 2018) Talking Investigation Discovery’s MURDER CHOSE ME with Rod Demery, Legendary Homicide Detective and Series Star, America's Most Haunted
  8. ^ Devon Patton (December 16, 2016). Murder chose Rod Demery, KTBS 3
  9. ^ Curtis Heyen & Marie Waxel (December 8, 2016). Ex-ArkLaTex detective takes us inside his new crime TV series, KSLA News 12
  10. ^ Sarah Crawford (April 8, 2018). Former Shreveport Detective Tells Victims' Stories on TV, US News
  11. ^ "Inside a Homicide Detective's 14 Years on the Beat — and His 99 Percent Clearance Rate". People. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  12. ^ Kurt Orzeck (April 5, 2017). Who is ex-homicide detective Rod Demery from Murder Chose Me?, Monsters & Critics
  13. ^ Erin Buchanan (June 24, 2014) SPD investigates three shootings, one homicide in less than a week, KTBS 3
  14. ^ Starcasm (October 4, 2017) Detective Rod Demery explains the ‘closure’ he got from forgiving his mother’s murderer
  15. ^ "'Murder Chose Me' Renewed For Season 2 By Investigation Discovery". Deadline Hollywood. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  16. ^ Matt Parker (July 18, 2018). Rod Demery Quits Caddo DA’s Office News Radio 710 KEEL
  17. ^ "Rod Demery pursues his biggest unsolved-murder yet on Murder Chose Me: His mother's". Monsters and Critics. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  18. ^ John E. Settle, Jr. (January 25, 2018). Ollie Tyler will seek 2nd term. Who else is in?, Shreveport Times
  19. ^ a b Curtis Heyen (July 17, 2018). Rod Demery, of 'Murder Chose Me,' quits Caddo DA's office, KSLA News 12
  20. ^ Matt Parker (July 18, 2018). Rod Demery Quits Caddo DA’s Office, News Radio 710 KEEL
  21. ^ KTBS 3 (July 20, 2018). Rod Demery endorses Lee O Savage for Shreveport mayor
  22. ^ Blane Skiles (December 8, 2018). Adrian Perkins wins Shreveport Mayor’s race, KSLA News 12
  23. ^ Broadway World (February 8, 2017). Rod Demery Stars in Investigation Discovery's MURDER CHOSE ME, Premiering 2/15
  24. ^ Sarah Crawford (April 8, 2018). Former Shreveport detective tells victims' stories on TV, The Washington Times
  25. ^ Zon D'Amour (April 19, 2017) Rod On The Right Side Of The Law, Los Angeles Sentinel
  26. ^ Investigation Discovery (March 7, 2018). Murder Chose Me Returns For A Second Season On Investigation Discovery, Featuring The Case Files Of Leading Homicide Detective Rod Demery
  27. ^ Cindy McLennan (May 22, 2017). Murder Chose Me: Season Two Renewal for Investigation Discovery Series, TV Series Finale
  28. ^ Sarah Crawford (November 28, 2018). Shreveport true crime show 'Murder Chose Me' returning for a third season, Shreveport Times
  29. ^ Starcasm (November 8, 2018). Murder Chose Me renewed for Season 3, and filming is underway
  30. ^ Adam Duvernay (January 4, 2014). Shreveport detective’s book questions place of race in violence debate, The Daily Advertiser
  31. ^ Broadway World (October 30, 2013). Rodney Demery Releases New Book NO PLACE FOR RACE
  32. ^ Kam Williams (December 17, 2013). The 10 Best Black Books of 2013
  33. ^ Veteran policeman discusses race, politics in new book, The News-Star