The below review is of: BAD COP, NO DONUT: Tales of Police Behaving Badly (Paperback)
"The Police Officer is a unique figure in literature, both hero and villain.  'Bad Cop...No Donut' is a collection of short stories focusing on the cop, and the many different routes they can go with their duty and power.  Corruption that has already sank in, hunting criminals, life and death situations, and Satan himself are some of the themes used throughout.  'Bad Cop...No Donut' is a fun and very highly recommended read."
  5 out of 5 stars.  A fun and very highly recommended read.  (June 11, 2010)
By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) that appeared on Amazon.com
 

WRITING AWARDS
"Every day I'm writing, I'm living. Every other day is just waiting."

"Reflections from the Pit" was awarded BEST FICTION NOVEL (Second Place) published in 2008 by the Public Safety Writers Association.

Judge’s comments on book: “This is an intriguing book with many fascinating stories that certainly reveal a side of police work that’s seldom written about or shown on television. The author has a unique voice with a spark of humor that keeps the reader turning the pages. The characters were three-dimensional and intriguing to read about—police and criminals. All the dialogue was crisp and realistic. For anyone wanting to know the nitty-gritty and often dark side of police work, this is the book to read…”

Mike entered a short story in the "D.I.Y. CONVENTION" in Los Angeles, CA in 2008. This is an extremely large convention which consists of:

1) a Film Festival (with various Hollywood agents and producers in attendance),

2) a Music Festival (by invitation only) and

3) a Book Festival.

Mike has written 40 short stories. Since all of his police stories have been published (some even re-published twice), he entered one of his non-police stories entitled, "Paris on a Sunday" in the Best Unpublished Short Story Category for the book festival and won Third Place.His short story entitled: "Everyone Comes to Vic’s" was first published in Cynic Magazine in June 2006 (Volume 8, Issue 6). It was republished in the January 2007 issue as one of Cynic Magazine’s Best Stories of 2006 (only 15 of 143 features were selected that year for Best Stories).

Mike won First Prize in Short Story Fiction for "Just Back from the Constellation Orion Nebula" and Third Prize for Short Story Non-Fiction for "A Quart of Milk and a Loaf of Bread" in the 2006 P.S.W.A.’s (Public Safety Writers Association) Annual Writing Competition. Both of these stories are in his book, “Reflections from the Pit.”

Mike also wrote two screenplays ("Intolerable" and "Kilroy Was Here,") and two plays ("Samson and Lila" and "Deaf, Dumb and Blind").

“DEAF, DUMB & BLIND” was favorably work-shopped by the Playwrights Round Table in May 2004 at Rollins College in Orlando; received a most flattering staged reading in October 2004 at the Vine Theatre in Orlando; was work-shopped at the Daytona Playhouse, and was considered for a full production run at the Sands Theatre (Stetson University) in Deland, Fl. In addition, “DEAF, DUMB & BLIND” was chosen by Samuel French Inc.—out of a limited number of submissions—for possible publication, and was one of twenty finalists, out of over three hundred entries, in the Centre Stage South Carolina Festival.

Reading of author's play: DEAF, DUMB AND BLIND.

Daytona Beach News-Journal
Copyright: 2006, The News-Journal Corp.
Date: Thursday, November 02, 2006.
Edition: Neighbors North.
Story Byline AUDREY PARENTE - STAFF WRITER.

When local actors present a staged reading at Daytona Playhouse of "Deaf, Dumb, and Blind," the comedic saga of an elderly extended family living with a young relative who becomes pregnant, the audience may determine if the author is right or wrong.

The play, written by retired-Miami-vice-cop-turned-author Michael Berish of New Smyrna Beach, has a surprise ending that some critics wanted him to change.

"When they did a staged reading in Orlando, they wanted to produce the play, but they wanted me to change the end," Berish said. He wouldn’t change it. The play didn’t get produced. Berish looked for a new venue.

Linda Kalaydjian, spokeswoman for Daytona Playhouse, said admission to the reading of "the sweet comedic saga," at 2 p.m. Sunday, is free.

"Despite senility, deafness, near-sightedness and boozing, the family somehow survives, tempered by their love, and degrees of tolerance for one another," Kalaydjian said. "The three-act play has a surprise ending and wonderful characters, insights, and laughter throughout."

Berish, author of many published short stories in Hardboiled Magazine, Enigma and other publications, won first place for fiction and third place for non-fiction in the 2006 Public Safety Writer’s Association writing contest.

"I’ve just recently compiled 30 of my short stories and am in the process of contacting editors with the possibility of having them published as an anthology," said Berish, who once testified before the Meese Commission on Pornography during President Reagan’s administration.

In the 1980s, while actor Don Johnson wore pastel jackets and a five-o’clock shadow as Sonny Crockett on television’s "Miami Vice," Berish was the real deal, busting dope pushers and pornography dealers. He was a consultant to the TV show.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED SHORT STORIES BY MICHAEL BERISH

• "Pour Que?, Pour Que?, Pour Que?," was published in the Nebraska Trooper Magazine Spring (April) Issue in 2010.
• "The REAL Miami Vice" was published in the Nebraska Trooper Magazine in the Winter Issue of 2009.
• "Walkin' Around Money" was published in the Nebraska Trooper Magazine in the Summer Issue of 2009.
• "The Gig Line" was published in the Nebraska Trooper Magazine in the Spring Issue of 2009.
• "One Summer Night” was published in Cynic Magazine in 2007.
• "The Naked City" was published in Hardboiled Magazine in 2006.
• "Everybody Comes to Vic's" was published in Cynic Magazine in 2006.
• "The Brown Dog that Lived in the Cellar" was published in Enigma Magazine in 2005.
• ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas" was published in Poetry Forum in 2005.
• "Just Back from the Constellation Orion Nebula" was published in Cynic Magazine in 2005 and won First Prize in Short Story Fiction in Las Vegas in 2006 from the Public Safety Writer’s Association.
• "Plato Kohlsaugh-Polak Daredevil" was published in Enigma Magazine in 2005.
• "Just Another New Year's Eve in the Pit” was published in Rembrandt and Company—The Goblin Reader in 2005.
• "Gone Forever" was published in Enigma Magazine in 2005.
• "Gee-Me Gumshoe, Private Dick" was published in Enigma Magazine in 2005.
• "Don’t Get Involved" was published in Low Budget Adventure Stories in 2004.
• "I Must Have It" was published in Enigma Magazine in 2004.

MIKE'S BACKGROUND IN THE MEDIA

Mike appeared in training films for the police department while a recruit in the academy. He first appeared on TV in 1972 on "The Skipper Chuck (Zink) Show" on the local NBC affiliate WTVJ, Channel 6. Mr. Zink was legendary in Miami with his show for kids, which ran for twenty-three years and won two Emmy Awards. Recruit Berish was interviewed by Mr. Zink, in front of a live audience, as to what it was like to be a recruit in the academy, trying to become a police officer with the City of Miami.

Since 1972, Mike has appeared on countless radio and TV shows and has been interviewed by various newspapers (the Miami News-Journal, the Daytona Beach News-Journal) and magazines (Playboy, Forum, LawOfficer.com) for a multitude of articles on Vice and crime, etc. He's appeared as a speaker at numerous luncheon and dinner events, as both an honoree for winning various police awards, and as a guest speaker on Vice and Narcotic related subjects.

He appeared as an expert witness at the "Meese Commission,” which was an extensive investigation—throughout various cities in the United States—reference organized crime and its involvement in obscenity. The Commission was ordered by President Ronald Regan and conducted by Attorney General Edward Meese in 1986.

In addition to appearing in print in various articles in the Daytona Beach News-Journal, the Miami Times; and attending numerous book signings at the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs, book stores and libraries; and at the Sleuthfest Writers Conference in Deerfield Beach, Fl. (where he was a guest speaker), and the P.W.S.A. Convention in Las Vegas, NV (where he was a guest on one of its panels), these are just a few of the radio show that he appeared on:

1. The Andy Johnson Radio Show, out of Jacksonville, Fl. (WXNZ-1460AM)
2. The Ed Banker Radio Talk Show, out of St. Augustine, Fl. (WFOY Newstalk 1240)
3. The Marc Bernier Radio Show, out of Daytona Beach, Fl. (WNBD-1150 Radio)
4. The Dennis Griffin 'Meet the Author' Radio Show, out of California
5. Again (for a second time) on The Marc Bernier Radio Show (WNBD-1150 Radio), out of Daytona Beach, Fl.
6. The Bob Cudmore Radio Show, out of Amsterdam, New York (WVTL-1570 AM)
7. Also, he appeared in a documentary—filmed in Miami by ZIG ZAG PRODUCTIONS (Channel 5 in London, England)—on the subject of crime and the REAL Miami Vice, which was aired in England in 2009.

Mike is a member of the Public Safety Writers Association and The Mystery Writers of America, which holds the annual "Edgar Awards," named after Edgar Allen Poe.

POLICE AWARDS

Mike graduated second in his academy class of 47 with a 92.7% average. He finished second (runner-up) in EVERY award given out in the academy: second in Law, second in First Aid, and second for the Most Outstanding Recruit Award.

He made Officer of the Month as a rookie and again, numerous times—later in his career—on both the shift and departmental level. He qualified as an expert with his weapon.

Mike earned over forty Departmental Commendations, and over thirty letters of commendation from citizens; received several unit citations from the Chief of Police; numerous plaques and recognition awards: the Silver Badge Award, Outstanding Officer Award from the Allapattah Rotary Club, Outstanding Service Award from the Northeast Improvement Association, Meritorious Service Award from the Dade County Association of Chiefs of Police, Most Outstanding Officer Award from the F.O.P. (Fraternal Order of Police), Presidents Commendations from the Chamber of Commerce, and Outstanding Performance Award from the City Commission.

 Promoted to Detective Sergeant in Vice

THEATRICAL AWARDS

1) Neil Simon's production of God's Favorite where he won a "HAMMY" for BEST ACTOR, which is the local theatre's equivalent of an Oscar.

2) Neil Simon's production of Rumors, for which he was nominated for another Hammy for Best Supporting Actor.

3) Neil Simon's production of 45 Seconds from Broadway.

4) Send Me No Flowers (which was one of the comedies that Rock Hudson and Doris Day made together in the sixties).

Theater Review of "SEND ME NO FLOWERS"
Send Me No Flowers by Dottie Hughes, NSB Observer Special Report.

NSB July 21, 2000 - A talented cast kept the audience in stitches at last Friday night's opening performance of the Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach's summer production of "Send Me No Flowers." This hilarious comedy by Norman Barasch and Carroll Moore centers around George Kimball, the king of hypochondriacs.

The play opens with George, played by Scott Hazard, obsessing about a pain in his chest and consulting his medical dictionary… His wife of 15 years, Judy, (portrayed by Debbie Dinkins) points out to him that he just had a checkup two weeks before. George responds that his physician, Dr. Morrissey, never tells him anything so he must diagnose his own medical condition. When Dr Morrissey, played by Dave O'Keeffe, stops by on his way out of town for a fishing weekend, George overhears him discussing another patient who is dying and mistakenly thinks he's talking about him. Certain his days are numbered, George fears Judy will not be able to make it on her own without him so he hatches an elaborate scheme for his future widow…

George tells his next-door neighbor, Arnold Nash, played by Mike Berish, about his plans and swears him to secrecy. Fortifying himself with Scotch, Arnold agrees to help him and even to deliver his eulogy.

Mike Berish gives a hilarious performance as the bumbling, drunken Arnold who bursts into tears at the drop of a hat over the thought of his friend's death. A good comedic actor, Mike has appeared in several Little Theatre productions, including, "God's Favorite," "Rumors," "Forty Carats" and others…
Copyright © 2000 the Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach, Inc.

5) Mike also appeared in such other plays as The Silver Whistle, Let’s Murder Marsha, The Sisters Rosenweig, and Thorton Wilder's Our Town (for which he was nominated for another Hammy for Best Supporting Actor).