The son of a 27-year L.A. County Sheriff , Poole would " follow in his father 's footsteps " and join the LAPD in 1981 . He rose quickly , becoming a detective trainee only three years after being sworn in . Before being chosen to work in the Robbery-Homicide division in 1996 , he spent over 9 years as a homicide investigator at the South Bureau and Wilshire Division . He served as the primary investigator ( taking a case all the way through trial ) on at least 135 homicide cases , and assisted on over 500 more . Noteworthy cases investigated personally by Poole before the Rampart scandal included the murder of actor , activist and comedian Bill Cosby 's son Ennis . He also was one of the officers involved in the investigation into the North Hollywood shootout , just days before the murder of the Notorious B.I.G. Throughout his career up to his involvement in the Rampart scandal , Poole was a highly respected and decorated LAPD detective
North Hollywood shootout
North Hollywood shootout
Russell Poole