[1][2] Petievich was born in Los Angeles County, California, to a family of Serbian descent.
[3] Prior to his law enforcement career, Petievich served in the United States Army as a Counterintelligence officer in West Germany.
[3] Petievich joined the United States Secret Service as a Special Agent in 1970, a position he held until 1985.
[1][2] During that time, his assignments included Presidential protection detail, counterfeiting enforcement, and representative to the United States Organized Crime Strike Force in Los Angeles.
That same year, his novel To Live and Die in L.A. was adapted to film by director William Friedkin.