Born a slave, 12 year old Ben Thornton ran away and reached the Union army lines. In 1876 he became one of the first African-American police officers in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1886 he was chosen as the first of his race to serve as a detective in that city’s police force. Detective Ben Thornton became nationally famous for his skill in tracking down criminals. This is a true account of his life and the many cases he worked.