Autographs, Officers, and a Brief Encounter with Dahmer

With women declaring their undying love for the undeniably gay killer, students vying for seats at his trial, artifact collectors once combing the rubble of the Oxford Apartments, and online boutiques offering merchandise bearing his face, Jeffrey Dahmer has become an unlikely poster child for the cult of celebrity.

A private investigator at Magnum Investigations and former LEO with the Milwaukee Police Department for 14 years, Wisconsinite Kevin Rogers briefly encountered Dahmer in 1991 and later obtained a notice of the MPD’s internal investigation after several officers tasked with guarding the prisoner attempted to obtain his autograph.

Decades on, Kevin was kind enough to share this document, along with a few insights into working at the city jail and his memories of the late great Detective Kennedy.

Hey, Kevin! Thanks for agreeing to answer a few questions. How did your interaction with Dahmer come about?

At the time of my contact with Dahmer, I was working at the city jail. New coppers within five years of being appointed could be pulled from the street to do a year or two of jail duty. At the time Dahmer was arrested, it was another shift or my off-day. When I started my shift, I had to walk him back to his cell from the interrogation room. It was customary for jailers to walk the inmates back to their cells. Jeffrey was somber and reserved, or just deep in thought contemplating his demise, or how next to help the detectives. 

Being a Christian, saved by my faith in Jesus, I felt it was an opportunity to advise him that he’s forgiven by Jesus as man won’t forgive him, as I placed him in his cell! Nothing more could be said. He looked at me with gratitude. It was learned later that he was given a Bible. This was my only time having contact with Jeffrey.

Is it customary for prisoners to be given a Bible, then?

In the city jail, no. In a state or County jail? I believe that’s a no, too. It just so happens there were a couple Christian clerks working in the jail. Perhaps Jeff asked for a Bible?

That would make sense ^{(NOTE: Dahmer had indeed requested a Bible from Detective Murphy shortly after his initial confession)}. On another note, Dahmer sure was ripe for autograph seekers and clout-chasers, and the MPD document you shared was interesting! I think Detective Kennedy also mentioned how cops would try to get their celebrity cannibal to sign stuff…

That document was for an investigation conducted by my superiors, as word had reached them that jailors and officers were obtaining autographs from Dahmer. I didn’t, because I didn’t want to exploit him in that way and get into some type of trouble — hence my proof of the PI-21 Internal Investigation form and not an autograph! 

Several cops and jailers (cops just working in the jail, still with arrest powers) were involved or got autographs, and I vaguely recall they had to turn them over. 

Patrick Kennedy was a detective who, not too long prior, was in street blues. I remember him vividly, as he was very animated, a good storyteller, and an exemplary cop. I had, on occasion, numerous times to back him and his partner (Percy Moore) up – and likewise with me. The district we worked in was very violent and busy, but all who worked there enjoyed it. Car chases. Fights… But, of course, dealing with the crimes after the fact. It was fun to us!

Dennis Murphy was the other main detective (there were several on the case). He had more time on than Kennedy, [but] Kennedy did the bulk of the interviews as he had a knack for drawing info out of suspects… I saw on TV a few years back an interview with Kennedy about Dahmer. It was a great interview. It’s sad that Patrick passed.

A big thank you to Kevin and his wife Lori for their time 🙂