Recommended reading

**jmur5074** · 03-15-08, 06:04 PM

I just got done reading "The Choirboys" by Joseph Wambaugh for the second time. I forgot how awesome this book is. I can see the characters traits in some of the members on O/R, and people I work with.

Excellent book and I strongly recommend reading it.

The Wiki article gives some spoilers away regarding the end of the book.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Choirboys_%28book%29

**TacticalII** · 03-15-08, 07:14 PM

Great book....I've read it twice myself. I also recommend "No Lights, No Sirens: The corruption and redemption of an inner city cop." Great read!!!

http://www.amazon.com/No-Lights-Sire.../dp/0060587121

**MacLean** · 03-15-08, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by jmur5074

I can see the characters traits in some of the members on O/R, and people I work with.

As a *HUGE* Wambaugh fan, and having read that book several times, I just gotta know who you see as who on O/R!

**jmur5074** · 03-15-08, 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by maclean

As a *HUGE* Wambaugh fan, and having read that book several times, I just gotta know who you see as who on O/R!

hahaha

I guess it's not a complete and total encompassment (is that a word) of the characters vs. O/R members. But certain members have certain qualities that the characters in the book have.

I'll send you a PM when I get done with dinner.

**mavriktu** · 03-15-08, 09:01 PM

I volunteer to be Spermwhale Whalen,

My hero

By the way,I first read this in 1977(?),and have been to MANY,choir practices since that time.

**Car 4** · 03-16-08, 11:01 PM

I have read them all but the very best he ever did was "The Secrets of Harry Bright".

Gotta read that one if you are a fan.

Car 4

**Cidp24** · 03-17-08, 01:07 AM

"The Onion Field" is a good one. True Story.

Back Cover of the book: This is the frighteningly true story of two young cops and two young robbers whose separate destinies fatally cross one march night in a bizarre execution in a deserted Los Angeles field.

I had a nickname (never to be revealed

) inspired by a Wambaugh character. Took me years to get that one off me.

**Wolven** · 03-17-08, 07:25 AM

Although I read "The Onion Field" many years ago..this board has re-newed my interest in re-reading that and catching up on the rest of his works. I'll have to get one for my trip to WA...I'll be on the plane forever..good time to catch up.

Besides..I cannot always count on Car4 to help me out with vocabulary...right Car4?

**jmur5074** · 03-17-08, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by Cidp24

"The Onion Field" is a good one. True Story.

I had a nickname (never to be revealed

) inspired by a Wambaugh character. Took me years to get that one off me.

Well that you have to share.

FATHER WILLIE!?

**Cidp24** · 03-17-08, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by jmur5074

Well that you have to share.

FATHER WILLIE!?

Wrong on two counts - wrong name and wrong that I HAVE to share.

**jmur5074** · 03-17-08, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by Cidp24

Wrong on two counts - wrong name and wrong that I HAVE to share.

Poor sport

**MacLean** · 03-17-08, 05:08 PM

I think he's the Bad Czech.

**krauty** · 03-17-08, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by TacticalII

Great book....I've read it twice myself. I also recommend "No Lights, No Sirens: The corruption and redemption of an inner city cop." Great read!!!

http://www.amazon.com/No-Lights-Sire.../dp/0060587121

I read this, not too bad of a book...

**Cidp24** · 03-17-08, 05:50 PM

I only saw two of them available on Amazon and it is an old book, but "Buddy Boys" made an impression on me early in my career. It's the true story of an NYPD officer with good intentions and morals who began with small stuff and worked up to major corruption. If you can find it, read it. Especially if you are just starting out.

From Library Journal
$18.95. law enforcement This book concerns police in one of the toughest ghettos in New York City who became thoroughly corrupt, stealing, dealing drugs, and extorting. Reporter McAlary follows the careers of Henry Winter and Tony Magno, who started out as good cops, and slowly became bad in a precinct governed by no rules and known as a dumping grown for cops who had "messed up." Once there, officers quickly became part of a gang protected by the Internal Affairs Department and their union. Eventually, Winter and Magno were caught and gathered evidence against fellow cops rather than go to jail. This scary book shows how easily good men can be corrupted. Well-crafted, fast paced, and thorough, it provides new understanding of an old problem.Sandra K. Lindheimer, Middlesex Law Lib., Cambridge, Mass.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

**Cidp24** · 03-17-08, 06:04 PM

"City Police" Jonathan Rubinstein - Tradition and history of large departments interest me. This guy went through an academy to work with Philadelphia PD for a year to research the book. It goes into the history, traditions, and inner workings of the department. It's full of real stories up to the 70s and a fascinating look into bootlegging and speak-easies in during prohibition.

This landmark 1973 study of city policemen portrays in detail work “on the street,”the way police regard their work, the way they deal day-by-day with suspects and criminals, with colleague and superiors, and with the general public. Jonathan Rubinstein spent over a year with the Philadelphia police force, riding second man in patrol cars on all shifts, and from this experience he describes every aspects of a policeman’s working life: his conception of the place he polices; his sense of territory; the extent of his knowledge of the people he polices; his technique for surveillance of his area; his use of the tools of the trade to control people; his complicated relationships with his coworkers and his sergeant, who dominates his working life. And, of course, he deals extensively with the eternal problems of corruption and brutality.

Written with great insight and without pro- or anti-police bias, City Police is rich in illustrative incidents and serves as an excellent model for future studies of police work.

**jmur5074** · 03-17-08, 07:35 PM

I just started on a new one called Blue Blood by Edward Conlon.

It's about his career with the NYPD. Pretty good so far.

**Jks9199** · 03-17-08, 11:24 PM

Just to throw a weird 2 cents in...

I just read Quantico by Greg Bear. It's set somewhere just around the corner of today, and deals with biological weapons, terrorism, the FBI, civil liberties... VERY good book, Bear clearly spent some time and effort in the research and is very respectful of law enforcement.

**jmur5074** · 04-13-08, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by jmur5074

I just started on a new one called Blue Blood by Edward Conlon.

It's about his career with the NYPD. Pretty good so far.

At this point I would strongly recommend Blue Blood. The author, Conlon, worked SNEU for the NYPD, in addition to a foot beat for the NYPD housing authority. The differences between 1995 and 2008 are astounding.

**keith720** · 04-13-08, 11:54 PM

Wambaugh is the greatest police officer author ever!

**Ender** · 04-13-08, 11:58 PM

Funny you mention that. I have The Choirboys sitting upstairs in my shitter, and I can't get past the first couple pages. So I cracked open The Glitter Dome last night, and it is much funnier the second time around

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