A Cop's Tale--NYPD: The Violent Years: A Detectives Firsthand Account of Murder and Mayhem

by Jim O'Neil, Mel Fazzino

A Cop's Tale focuses on New York City's most violent and corrupt years, the 1960s to early 1980s. Jim O'Neil - a former NYPD cop - delivers a rare look at the brand of law enforcement that ended Frank Lucas's grip on the Harlem drug trade, his cracking open of the Black Liberation Army case, and his experience as the first cop on the scene at the Dog Day Afternoon bank robbery.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, True Crime

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Steve Aldous · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book to aid me in my research into crime and policing methods in New York in the 1970s, when the city was in financial and social crisis. The book actually covers the period of Jim O’Neil’s service in the New York Police department between 1963 and 1984. O’Neil was a highly regarded detective working in some of the city’s most crime ridden locations. It is an honest account of O’Neil’s experience on the front line working in some of the toughest precincts in the city. The main focus of the book covers O’Neil’s time as a detective in Brooklyn’s notorious 73rd Precinct (known as Fort Zinderneuf) and later in Harlem’s 32nd Precinct (known as Dodge City). In between time there are stints with a specialised robbery division and Internal Affairs.

O’Neil’s first-hand account of his experiences are extremely enlightening and frank – notably around the methods used in the detection of crime, policing on the streets and building of a network of informants by frequenting the same bars as the crooks. The anecdotes are real and are both funny and shocking. O’Neil pulls no punches and delivers it as it was. He offers no apologies for the methods used by officers and detectives and indeed puts a strong case for them. These methods are shown to be justified by the results they created. The breaking of the Black Liberation Army terrorist organisation and the deconstruction of the drugs empire in Harlem being two key examples.

However, O’Neil does not condone much of the corruption that took place in the department during this period. he is as harsh in his judgement of a cop taking bribes or dealing dope as he is of the dope pushers, murderers and rapists on the street. He is also scathing in his judgement of the reforms introduced in the early 1970s by Police Commissioner Patrick Murphy, which limited the interactions cops could have on the streets and re-structured the department. Equally he has the utmost admiration for some of his senior officers and the repair work done by Michael J Codd between 1974-8 upon his election as Commissioner.

Reading this book may not be comfortable for the more liberal minded, but it is historically accurate, honest and gives the reader a real insight into what the cops had to deal with during the city’s years of decadence.

[Vernon J]

THE GODFATHER OF HOMICIDE

This was an action packed history of a TPF cop and Detective in the NYPD. Jim O'Neil became a streetwise Sergeant and eventually a Detective Sergeant, which is a very prestigious rank in the Department.
This book brought back many of my own personal experiences in the NYPD and I could relate to his trials and tribulations in navigating between the violent streets and the out of touch administrators who wouldn't last five minutes there. I loved the author's description of the FBI encounters as well as the references to police commissioner Murphy who was so out of touch with the reality of the Detectives mission. Once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down. I recognized many of the names of some of the officers whom I personally knew from my time on the job. I highly recommend this book, which depicts the very violent years of murder and mayhem in NewYork City from the 1960's to 1980.

[Artie Monahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT READ

I am retired NYPD also. Jim was a “legend” in the job. We were contemporaries and I knew some of those mentioned. Those non-police who read this book do so within the context of when it was happening.
A different time. O’Neill worked in tough, crime ridden parts of the city. The rough police work wasn’t against the “citizens” but against the bad guys who made it dangerous for the working people.
Wonderful story.

[Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

O'Neil at times has the callousness of an old timer but it adds to the honesty of the times. It is a reflection of the progress of law enforcement. Do we still need reform? Heck yea but this shows the life before Rodney King. It brought a lot of perspectives and connections for me personally. Parts are funny and some are sad but overall, I enjoyed the book.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read on the history of being a cop in NYC before the 80's. A good book that focuses on the authors personal history of a cop and the positions he held and the jobs he did.

I was actually sad when I finished the book and wished for more.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!

Great read. A very well written book. One policeman’s journey through a rough time in nyc. Highly recommended to those interested in police work or nyc history.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jim O’ Neil began his career before portable radios; if a beat cop needed backup, he would hit the sidewalk three times with his wooden nightstick, drumming out a distinctive echo that would alert the cop on the next beat over. Tactics that would now be considered police brutality were common and rarely questioned by the officers, the public, or even the criminals. Corruption was rampant and the code of silence was sacred. O’Neil was a participant in this culture, but one of the alluring and revealing aspects of his book is the psychological balance between candid admissions and zero apologies. By not attempting to whitewash the less savory elements of NYPD culture of the era, O’Neil prepares the reader to understand the complexities and realities that allowed good men like himself to condone tough tactics and corruption without sacrificing decency and while doing good, noble, and heroic work for the benefit of ordinary citizens.

O’Neil’s adventures in Harlem and Brooklyn make for very exciting reading: race riots, drug wars, gunfights, complex investigations, undercover work... History buffs will dig his insider’s knowledge and personal participation in cases involving the Black Liberation Army, the Harlem drug wars, Dog Day Afternoon, and other prominent cases involving the likes of Frank Lucas and Joanne Chesimard.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and thought Mel Fazzino’s treatment of Detective O’Neil’s story was impeccable. Towards the very end, the narrative got a little heavy on kudos, but it’s acceptable since O’Neil - a classy, tough, and capable man - is praising his colleagues more than himself. This is a gem in Barricade’s formidable true crime catalog.

[L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Former NYPD cop Jim O''Neil has had quite a career in law enforcement. He writes of the dark years of policing - the 1960's to the 1980's. This type of police work would not be tolerated today, but the author has been honest and open about a young cop's rise through the ranks, the people he served with, and the tactics used. It was a different time and police ruled. Jim starts out his career on foot patrol as a rookie. During his time of policing the area he gains trust and many informants. He describes gang activity and how the police retaliate - stating that this is "their turf" and the thugs had better be aware of it. Consequently, the area Jim and his partner patrol on foot becames nearly crime-free. On his journey up the ladder, Officer O'Neill move gives kudos to the special men on the NYPD force he served with.. He is also tagged to thin out the force by finding cops who are on the take. I really liked this book, but there may be some who choose not to read it, because the author has been very truthful in the way the NYPD Police Department was run at the time, and includes violence. I felt it was an honest look at a time when things were much different than today, and in my eyes, Jim O'Neill and his partners kept their beats crime-free.