In Eddie's Name
One Family's Triumph Over Tragedy

On November 11, 1994 in Philadelphia, sixteen-year-old Eddie Polec was brutally beaten to death on the front steps of his own church. What became one of the most infamous crimes in the city's history generated worldwide headlines, due to the fact that dozens of frantic calls for help to 911 operators went unanswered.

Written with the full cooperation of the Polec family, In Eddie's Name is about a seemingly ordinary father, his family, and their struggle to overcome this extraordinary tragedy. Rather than seek revenge or sue the city for millions, as might be expected, Eddie's family reacted in a way that was unusual and heroic. In Eddie's Name goes behind the headlines to show the remarkable actions that are possible in the aftermath of that phone call every parent dreads.

Eddie's case continues to attract attention not only because of the viciousness of the crime and the ruthlessness of the lawyers defending the teenage killers (later convicted of third-degree murder), but also because John Polec, Eddie's father, singlehandedly designed a new 911 system for Philadelphia, which was put into place last year. His actions helped unite and heal a divided, angry city.