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NYPD: A City and Its Police
An insider takes us behind the blue wall of America's biggest, baddest police force
Founded in 1845, the NYPD is the biggest municipal police force in the world, the oldest in the land, and the model on which the others-for better or worse-have patterned themselves. The authors-two seasoned experts of police operations-unearth the hidden truths behind the headline-making stories and explain how cops privately interpret incidents such as the shooting of Amadou Diallo and the Louima torture case. Episodes long forgotten-the campaign against German saboteurs in WWI, or the career of Joe Petrosino, the first Italian American in the ranks, who was gunned down in the streets of Palermo, Sicily-reveal an organization constantly fraught with turmoil, where an outward display of law and order belies the inner conflicts between politicos, bureaucrats, and the men and women on the beat.
Beyond the inner life of a remarkable institution are the characters and stories, including baffling mysteries, horrific crimes, inspiring heroics, and dreadful scandals. NYPD illuminates the old maxim of the vet to the rookie on his first night on "Forget everything you learned in the academy, kid."Timely and sure to be controversial, NYPD will be essential reading for anyone interested in law enforcement in America.
Founded in 1845, the NYPD is the biggest municipal police force in the world, the oldest in the land, and the model on which the others-for better or worse-have patterned themselves. The authors-two seasoned experts of police operations-unearth the hidden truths behind the headline-making stories and explain how cops privately interpret incidents such as the shooting of Amadou Diallo and the Louima torture case. Episodes long forgotten-the campaign against German saboteurs in WWI, or the career of Joe Petrosino, the first Italian American in the ranks, who was gunned down in the streets of Palermo, Sicily-reveal an organization constantly fraught with turmoil, where an outward display of law and order belies the inner conflicts between politicos, bureaucrats, and the men and women on the beat.
Beyond the inner life of a remarkable institution are the characters and stories, including baffling mysteries, horrific crimes, inspiring heroics, and dreadful scandals. NYPD illuminates the old maxim of the vet to the rookie on his first night on "Forget everything you learned in the academy, kid."Timely and sure to be controversial, NYPD will be essential reading for anyone interested in law enforcement in America.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 18, 2020
We are given a history of the New York City Police (NYPD) since the 1840s. It has always been a difficult role for its leaders (called commissioners) – they were often beset by corruption, an antagonistic public, and various governmental levels.
There is always the conflict between following protocol and inflicting rough violence to subdue adversaries of any sort. From the start the police were issued batons which they sometimes used with abandon – more so during riots of which there were plenty during the 1800s and could go on over a few days.
Page 232 (my book) during the 1920 – 30s
[Detective] Broderick was skeptical of the niceties of due process. He encouraged the victims of crime - young women especially – to think of him as an informal protection service. A chorus girl, for example, might be under pressure from some creep looking to turn her into a prostitute. She could go to court, secure an order of protection, and beg the police to honor it, living in terror all the while. Or she could contact Broderick, and the upshot would be simpler.
There was a cycle of twenty years in which the police department would become grossly corrupt – then firings and a clean-up would ensue and for awhile the police department would be more effective with less on the take. There was an officer, Charles Becker, who was convicted and given the electric chair in 1915 for his involvement in a murder in the gambling underworld.
The authors also point out that qualifications for joining the NYPD were not that high throughout most of the 20th century (this book was published in 2000). Training is of short duration.
We are given plentiful examples in the book of corruption in the NYPD and the officers removed. But the NYPD, like many police forces in the U.S. has always been reticent about having public involvement (civilian overview) in exposing abusive and violent prone police officers. The NYPD has a very strong union which protects police (more so individual policemen) from public scrutiny. With the increasing Black population in New York they became a target of the NYPD, as well as Hispanic people beginning in the 1950s.
This book can overwhelm one with the numerous personalities introduced on each page. I would have liked to have known more about the street and subway level view of the NYPD. There was some of this, but not enough. The focus was more on police commissioners and mayors giving a very high-level viewpoint.
There is always the conflict between following protocol and inflicting rough violence to subdue adversaries of any sort. From the start the police were issued batons which they sometimes used with abandon – more so during riots of which there were plenty during the 1800s and could go on over a few days.
Page 232 (my book) during the 1920 – 30s
[Detective] Broderick was skeptical of the niceties of due process. He encouraged the victims of crime - young women especially – to think of him as an informal protection service. A chorus girl, for example, might be under pressure from some creep looking to turn her into a prostitute. She could go to court, secure an order of protection, and beg the police to honor it, living in terror all the while. Or she could contact Broderick, and the upshot would be simpler.
There was a cycle of twenty years in which the police department would become grossly corrupt – then firings and a clean-up would ensue and for awhile the police department would be more effective with less on the take. There was an officer, Charles Becker, who was convicted and given the electric chair in 1915 for his involvement in a murder in the gambling underworld.
The authors also point out that qualifications for joining the NYPD were not that high throughout most of the 20th century (this book was published in 2000). Training is of short duration.
We are given plentiful examples in the book of corruption in the NYPD and the officers removed. But the NYPD, like many police forces in the U.S. has always been reticent about having public involvement (civilian overview) in exposing abusive and violent prone police officers. The NYPD has a very strong union which protects police (more so individual policemen) from public scrutiny. With the increasing Black population in New York they became a target of the NYPD, as well as Hispanic people beginning in the 1950s.
This book can overwhelm one with the numerous personalities introduced on each page. I would have liked to have known more about the street and subway level view of the NYPD. There was some of this, but not enough. The focus was more on police commissioners and mayors giving a very high-level viewpoint.
May 24, 2011
What an incredibly good book.
May 13, 2022
A great read. I love this history of the NYPD and to learn so much more about it was a treat, especially some of the back stories of the history I already knew about.
September 9, 2014
Though somewhat outdated this book tells an interesting & exciting story for anyone interested in the NYPD. And like any good biography (of the NYPD), the authors give the reader a peak into the times & history of each era.
January 3, 2017
This is another book I'm reading for research. I'm looking for information about the early NYPD, and by someone who isn't sugar-coating it. I'm writing a book about a period in 19th century NYC and I already know in the early NYPD days it was often hard to tell the cops from the criminals.
March 9, 2015
Most of this book focused on the very early history of the department, only the last few chapters touch on the more recent past.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews