| Download Photo 1 | John R. | Arend | CA - Los Angeles; OR - Portland; CA - San Francisco | 1952 - 1962 | 1962 Alcatraz Prison Escape, COINTELPRO | Alcatraz, Fugitive Squad | Special Agent Arend served in the FBI from 1952 to 1962. This interview took place on May 4, 2005. Interviewed by Martin Weber.
As an admirer of J. Edgar Hoover, Mr. Arend wrote and asked to become an FBI Special Agent after he graduated from law school in Houston TX. His first office was the Los Angeles Field Office, where he worked on the Fugitive Squad looking for the Communist Party-USA fugitives and also COINTELPRO work. Then he transferred to the Portland Field Office and then to the San Francisco Field Office where he worked the Fugitive Squad. After ten years, he resigned for other opportunities.
However, in 1962, he was involved in the investigation surrounding an attempted escape from Alcatraz. SA Arend prepared a slide show of his case presentation which is included as an addendum. The fascinating details include a description of the escape, the escapees and the outcome of the search for them. Particularly interesting were the dummies they made, their fear of discovery through other inmates, and much more. He notes that Mr. Hoover took a major interest in the case, as did the media.
For the FBI Oral History Heritage Project sponsored by the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, Inc., which holds the copyright to the material. | Download PDF 1 | Download PDF 2 | Download Photo 2 |