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L.A.'s Last Street Cop: Surviving Hollywood Freaks, the Aryan Brotherhood, and the L.A.P.D.'s Homicidal Vendetta Against Me
A vivid, true-life tale of service, survival and sacrifice
This gripping memoir vividly recounts Al Moreno's rise as a gifted and fearless Los Angeles police officer, surviving gangs and homicidal situations in brutal urban war zones as he strove to achieve his personal and professional dreams. Packed with unforgettable scenes of both beauty and despair, it culminates in his vocal stand against corruption within the L.A.P.D., and the political retribution that ensued-a dirty internal investigation that unleashed the murderous vendetta of a violent ex-con from the Aryan Brotherhood.
This gripping memoir vividly recounts Al Moreno's rise as a gifted and fearless Los Angeles police officer, surviving gangs and homicidal situations in brutal urban war zones as he strove to achieve his personal and professional dreams. Packed with unforgettable scenes of both beauty and despair, it culminates in his vocal stand against corruption within the L.A.P.D., and the political retribution that ensued-a dirty internal investigation that unleashed the murderous vendetta of a violent ex-con from the Aryan Brotherhood.
281 pages, Hardcover
Published May 4, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 22, 2020
L.A.'s Last Street Cop. A gripping memoir by a decorated gang cop.
I am a avid reader. I try to read several genres in both fiction and non-fiction. I am a retired police officer, serving 31 yrs and always looking for a police procedural thriller.
I happened to find L.A.'s Last Street Cop on a Facebook post. This book as Al Moreno's memoirs from his shortened career on LAPD. Many memoirs are interesting, however, they are usually a collection of "War Stories."
L.A.'s Last Street Cop is anything but a bunch of "War Stores." In fact, it is perhaps the best gripping memoir that has been written in a long time.
Al Moreno vividly recounts being raised in the Florence area of South Los Angeles, an area of narcotic trafficking, drive-bys, and street gangs, one of which is Florencia 13, which is one of the most dangerous gangs in the area.
Moreno had a difficult time growing up. A family of 14 living out of a 800 square foot home. Moreno had dyslexia and brushes with the law. Moreno went on to build when he enlisted in the USMC. He is a Vietnam veteran.
Moreno applied several times with LAPD and was rejected. Moreno did not give in and he was subsequently hired. Moreno had a difficult time in the academy, however, his relentless persistence got him to graduation.
Moreno's street time were at Pacific Division and Hollywood. One particular incident was a PCP'er with an axe. Moreno was forced to take a shot. Moreno risked his life and chose to shoot this man in the legs, not wanting to take his life.
Moreno lead his watch with arrests and was chosen for the gang unit (CRASH).
The brutal urban war zones that occur in LA are incredible and hard to believe. Moreno paints a picture of this like no other author that worn the badge had.
Moreno received a number of documented "Atta Boys". However, a few "Oh No's, I can't write the correct terms, will kill all of the written praises. Additionally, Moreno made the mistake of butting heads with supervision.
Moreno suffered political retribution and a dirty internal investigation.
I gave this book five stars, because I could not give more.
I am a avid reader. I try to read several genres in both fiction and non-fiction. I am a retired police officer, serving 31 yrs and always looking for a police procedural thriller.
I happened to find L.A.'s Last Street Cop on a Facebook post. This book as Al Moreno's memoirs from his shortened career on LAPD. Many memoirs are interesting, however, they are usually a collection of "War Stories."
L.A.'s Last Street Cop is anything but a bunch of "War Stores." In fact, it is perhaps the best gripping memoir that has been written in a long time.
Al Moreno vividly recounts being raised in the Florence area of South Los Angeles, an area of narcotic trafficking, drive-bys, and street gangs, one of which is Florencia 13, which is one of the most dangerous gangs in the area.
Moreno had a difficult time growing up. A family of 14 living out of a 800 square foot home. Moreno had dyslexia and brushes with the law. Moreno went on to build when he enlisted in the USMC. He is a Vietnam veteran.
Moreno applied several times with LAPD and was rejected. Moreno did not give in and he was subsequently hired. Moreno had a difficult time in the academy, however, his relentless persistence got him to graduation.
Moreno's street time were at Pacific Division and Hollywood. One particular incident was a PCP'er with an axe. Moreno was forced to take a shot. Moreno risked his life and chose to shoot this man in the legs, not wanting to take his life.
Moreno lead his watch with arrests and was chosen for the gang unit (CRASH).
The brutal urban war zones that occur in LA are incredible and hard to believe. Moreno paints a picture of this like no other author that worn the badge had.
Moreno received a number of documented "Atta Boys". However, a few "Oh No's, I can't write the correct terms, will kill all of the written praises. Additionally, Moreno made the mistake of butting heads with supervision.
Moreno suffered political retribution and a dirty internal investigation.
I gave this book five stars, because I could not give more.
July 28, 2020
LA'S Last Street Cop was a book I could not put down! Being the daughter of a former LAPD officer, who has since passed, I was interested in reading about the day to day life of a police officer working the streets of Los Angeles. When my Dad would came home after a long day of work, he would decompartmentalize and he wouldn't tell you anything about his work. You always new his mind was occupied in a sense but he would do his best at not making it known. Well, let me just say after reading Al's life story from growing up in the Barrio to fighting in Nam and later, heroically, graduating the Police Academy with many set backs....little did I know what it takes physically and mentally to become an officer! Al's drive, determination, and spiritual growth throughout this book is mind gripping. This book was such a page turner for me I felt like I was watching what I was reading on a big screen! Original, authentic, and enthralling. Not only does Al take you into the day to day life of a PO in some of the most toughest neighborhoods with some of the most toughest thugs, he leaves nothing out! AL vividly details several events that make you feel as if you are physically there! The narrative takes you to several timeliness, locations, scenes, and events and its done so with such fluidity you never get lost in the story. The author keeps you focused and eager for more. Al was a damn good cop and he thought methodically about his actions in any intense and dangerous times and moments. The event in which Al is on vacation with his fellow PD friends on a lake in Arizona and they just happen to walk into an Aryan Nation Bar is one that will have the hair on your arms standing straight up! This has to end up on the big screen. Pure entertainment, heart gripping, and authentic. A must read!
July 1, 2020
L.A.'s Last Street Cop: Surviving Hollywood Freaks, the Aryan Brotherhood, and the L.A.P.D.'s Homicidal Vendetta Against Me by Al Moreno
Summary and dedication and acknowledgements and then table of contents start this book.
Reason I wanted to read this book is because it's about cops and my dad was one and with all turmoil today I want to support them.
Story starts out with Moreno and he's out of the military and on the police force having finished up with the academy.
He journeys to many new places while on patrol with others and observes how things are done, depending on who you are with.
Rules are a bit different for them all. Very detailed descriptions of the places and scenes they come upon.
Enjoy listening to the inner workings especially from this cops background of where he grew up. He knows how to outsmart the bad guys, as he was part of a gang at one time.
Very productive the means he uses. Like code names and numbers that go with the territory and felt like I was given special permission to know them.
Appendixes are included and index at the very end.
Received this review copy from Book Marketer via the author and this is my honest opinion.
Summary and dedication and acknowledgements and then table of contents start this book.
Reason I wanted to read this book is because it's about cops and my dad was one and with all turmoil today I want to support them.
Story starts out with Moreno and he's out of the military and on the police force having finished up with the academy.
He journeys to many new places while on patrol with others and observes how things are done, depending on who you are with.
Rules are a bit different for them all. Very detailed descriptions of the places and scenes they come upon.
Enjoy listening to the inner workings especially from this cops background of where he grew up. He knows how to outsmart the bad guys, as he was part of a gang at one time.
Very productive the means he uses. Like code names and numbers that go with the territory and felt like I was given special permission to know them.
Appendixes are included and index at the very end.
Received this review copy from Book Marketer via the author and this is my honest opinion.
July 21, 2020
Thrilling and honest
I had hard time putting this book down. The story was as gut wrenchingly honest and surprisingly not as vindictive a portrayal of the players as most deserved. I was stunned by the ending and the authors life after his "judgement" by people who didn't have any integrity to do so. Heartbreaking but also lessons learned then that still hold true today, 40.years later
I had hard time putting this book down. The story was as gut wrenchingly honest and surprisingly not as vindictive a portrayal of the players as most deserved. I was stunned by the ending and the authors life after his "judgement" by people who didn't have any integrity to do so. Heartbreaking but also lessons learned then that still hold true today, 40.years later
September 3, 2020
What a story
The author was a great beat cop. The political games but administration of a large police department just kill the spirits of cops. Lapd should be ashamed of itself.
The author was a great beat cop. The political games but administration of a large police department just kill the spirits of cops. Lapd should be ashamed of itself.
January 18, 2021
Good read
Moreno got a very raw deal. SEMPER FI BRO. The land needs to be overhauled ASAP!!.
Good read. Awesome 👍🏾
Moreno got a very raw deal. SEMPER FI BRO. The land needs to be overhauled ASAP!!.
Good read. Awesome 👍🏾
September 26, 2023
Great read! In my personal 24 year LE experience, I have seen the same type of egotistical railroading of great cops. It is one of the unfortunate truths of LE that the general public does not see.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews