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Life on the Thin Blue Line: Tales of the NYPD Executive Chief Surgeon
When you're a surgeon, the smallest mistake could result in someone losing their life.
Gregory Fried, M.D., who became NYPD's executive chief surgeon in November 1996, after years of serving as deputy chief surgeon, knows this all too well.
Responding to police officers being shot or seriously injured in the line of duty, however, brings the pressure to an even higher level--especially in the middle of one of the worst crime waves in New York City's history.
Looking back at a career that began in the 1970s and continued beyond the September 11 terrorist attacks, Fried shares numerous stories of brave patients that battled life-threatening illnesses and injuries.
He also recalls the out-of-control violence that spread throughout New York during his years of service. It was open season on police officers, and he gives readers an intimate look at the life of a police surgeon and what really happens when a police officer is shot in the line of duty.
Fried also relives the nightmare of surviving the collapse of the South Tower on Sept. 11, 2001. Broken ribs, herniated disks, fractured bones in his spine, and a massive internal bleed would effectively end his surgical career, but it did nothing to dampen his spirit.
Gregory Fried, M.D., who became NYPD's executive chief surgeon in November 1996, after years of serving as deputy chief surgeon, knows this all too well.
Responding to police officers being shot or seriously injured in the line of duty, however, brings the pressure to an even higher level--especially in the middle of one of the worst crime waves in New York City's history.
Looking back at a career that began in the 1970s and continued beyond the September 11 terrorist attacks, Fried shares numerous stories of brave patients that battled life-threatening illnesses and injuries.
He also recalls the out-of-control violence that spread throughout New York during his years of service. It was open season on police officers, and he gives readers an intimate look at the life of a police surgeon and what really happens when a police officer is shot in the line of duty.
Fried also relives the nightmare of surviving the collapse of the South Tower on Sept. 11, 2001. Broken ribs, herniated disks, fractured bones in his spine, and a massive internal bleed would effectively end his surgical career, but it did nothing to dampen his spirit.
324 pages, Hardcover
Published August 28, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 7, 2026
Gregory Fried's Life on the Thin Blue Line: Tales of the NYPD Executive Chief Surgeon offers readers a rare and compelling look inside the demanding world of police medicine, where surgical expertise, split-second decisions, and the realities of law enforcement intersect.
Drawing on a career that began in the 1970s and eventually led to his appointment as the NYPD's executive chief surgeon in 1996, Fried recounts experiences that place him at the center of some of the most difficult moments faced by New York City police officers. Treating patients is always accompanied by enormous responsibility, but treating officers who have been shot or seriously injured in the line of duty introduces another level of urgency. Through his stories, Fried gives readers an intimate perspective on the medical challenges and human realities behind these traumatic incidents.
The memoir also provides a window into a particularly turbulent period in New York City's history. Fried recalls the violence confronting police officers during the city's difficult crime years and describes the dangers faced by those serving on the front lines. His stories of patients struggling against life-threatening illnesses and injuries demonstrate the courage of individuals whose experiences extend far beyond their professional roles.
One of the book's most profound chapters is Fried's personal experience on September 11, 2001. As a survivor of the collapse of the South Tower, he suffered devastating injuries, including broken ribs, spinal fractures, herniated disks, and massive internal bleeding. The physical consequences of that day ultimately ended his surgical career, transforming his own life in ways that add considerable emotional depth to his account.
Yet Life on the Thin Blue Line is not simply a memoir about tragedy. At its heart, it is a story of dedication, courage, service, and resilience. Fried's experiences demonstrate the extraordinary pressures faced by medical professionals caring for injured police officers, while his own survival illustrates how a person can continue moving forward even after an experience fundamentally changes the course of a career.
The book should appeal to a wide range of readers, including those interested in medical memoirs, law enforcement, emergency medicine, New York City history, first-responder experiences, and firsthand accounts of September 11. Healthcare professionals and police communities may appreciate its professional insight, while general readers can connect with its broader themes of courage, sacrifice, survival, and perseverance.
What makes Fried's memoir especially distinctive is the combination of perspectives it brings together. He writes as a surgeon, a police department leader, a witness to a turbulent chapter in New York City's history, a caregiver to critically injured officers, and ultimately a survivor of one of the defining tragedies of the modern era.
Life on the Thin Blue Line preserves those experiences in a deeply personal account that offers readers both a glimpse into a largely unseen profession and a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit.
Drawing on a career that began in the 1970s and eventually led to his appointment as the NYPD's executive chief surgeon in 1996, Fried recounts experiences that place him at the center of some of the most difficult moments faced by New York City police officers. Treating patients is always accompanied by enormous responsibility, but treating officers who have been shot or seriously injured in the line of duty introduces another level of urgency. Through his stories, Fried gives readers an intimate perspective on the medical challenges and human realities behind these traumatic incidents.
The memoir also provides a window into a particularly turbulent period in New York City's history. Fried recalls the violence confronting police officers during the city's difficult crime years and describes the dangers faced by those serving on the front lines. His stories of patients struggling against life-threatening illnesses and injuries demonstrate the courage of individuals whose experiences extend far beyond their professional roles.
One of the book's most profound chapters is Fried's personal experience on September 11, 2001. As a survivor of the collapse of the South Tower, he suffered devastating injuries, including broken ribs, spinal fractures, herniated disks, and massive internal bleeding. The physical consequences of that day ultimately ended his surgical career, transforming his own life in ways that add considerable emotional depth to his account.
Yet Life on the Thin Blue Line is not simply a memoir about tragedy. At its heart, it is a story of dedication, courage, service, and resilience. Fried's experiences demonstrate the extraordinary pressures faced by medical professionals caring for injured police officers, while his own survival illustrates how a person can continue moving forward even after an experience fundamentally changes the course of a career.
The book should appeal to a wide range of readers, including those interested in medical memoirs, law enforcement, emergency medicine, New York City history, first-responder experiences, and firsthand accounts of September 11. Healthcare professionals and police communities may appreciate its professional insight, while general readers can connect with its broader themes of courage, sacrifice, survival, and perseverance.
What makes Fried's memoir especially distinctive is the combination of perspectives it brings together. He writes as a surgeon, a police department leader, a witness to a turbulent chapter in New York City's history, a caregiver to critically injured officers, and ultimately a survivor of one of the defining tragedies of the modern era.
Life on the Thin Blue Line preserves those experiences in a deeply personal account that offers readers both a glimpse into a largely unseen profession and a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit.
March 4, 2018
Excellent book.Highly recommend!Superb writing.Big thank you for the author.Really intersting reading.
December 17, 2018
Although I stopped and started reading the book multiple times, I still enjoyed reading it.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews