Inside the Head of Criminal Minds' Mastermind
A Chicago cop for 10 years, exec producer Ed Bernero brings street smarts to Criminal Minds' (Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 9 pm/ET, CBS) explosive new season. Here, in a guest column, he details how his days on the force help inform the decisions he makes now behind the scenes.
"2031! I got a foot chase northbound on Western from Argyle!"
Raw emotion. It streams from the radio even before you understand a word that's being said. It's a higher pitch — a staccato anti-rhythm — that is unmistakable. When you hear a fellow cop screaming while simultaneously sprinting, holding a gun and climbing fences, you sit up and take notice.
But I wasn't listening to this particular foot chase. I was the guy panting into the radio. My suspect led me from Ashland Avenue through a couple of yards, up an alley, through more yards, over fences, across another street, then another alley and ev