Blue on Blue: An Insider's Story of Good Cops Catching Bad Cops
by Charles Campisi, Gordon Dillow (Author)
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In one of the most illuminating portraits of police work ever, Chief Charles Campisi describes the inner workings of the world's largest police force and his unprecedented career putting bad cops behind bars. "Compelling, educational, memorable...this superb memoir can be read for its sheer entertainment or as a primer on police work—or both" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).From 1996 to 2014 Charles Campisi headed NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau, working under four police commissioners show more and gaining a reputation as hard-nosed and incorruptible. During Campisi's IAB tenure, the number of New Yorkers shot, wounded, or killed by cops every year declined by ninety percent, and the number of cops failing integrity tests shrank to an equally startling low. But to achieve those exemplary results, Campisi had to triple IAB's staff, hire the very best detectives, and put the word out that corruption wouldn't be tolerated.
Blue on Blue provides "a rare glimpse inside one of the most secretive branches of policing...and a compelling, behind-the-scenes account of what it takes to investigate police officers who cross the line between guardians of the public to criminals. It's a mesmerizing exposé on the harsh realities and complexities of being a cop on the mean streets of New York City and the challenges of enforcing the law while at the same time obeying it" (The New York Journal of Books). Campisi allows us to listen in on wiretaps and feel the adrenaline rush of drawing in the net. It also reveals new threats to the force, such as the possibility of infiltration by terrorists.
"A lively memoir [told with] verve, intriguing detail, and a generous heart" (The Wall Street Journal) and "an expose of the NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureaus [that is] enlightening and entertaining" (The New York Times Book Review), Blue on Blue will forever change the way you view police work. show less
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Member Reviews
There were some fascinating details, but I wasn't really interested in reading repeated justifications of police shootings. This story is a strange mixture of the importance of policing the police and excuses for why police officers might do something to get on IAB's radar in the first place, and it felt a little tone deaf as a result.
Book received from Netgalley.
This book is the biography of a former member of IAB, Internal Affairs Bureau, Charles Campisi. He is now retired from the NYPD, he worked the department during 9/11 and went through multiple scandals with it. I enjoyed reading this since prior to reading this I have only known of the department through the portrayal of it on shows like CSI. Working in that department seems to be a very hard job, especially since your fellow officers don't trust you and consider you a rat. It was really enjoyable and I will probably read this again.
This book is the biography of a former member of IAB, Internal Affairs Bureau, Charles Campisi. He is now retired from the NYPD, he worked the department during 9/11 and went through multiple scandals with it. I enjoyed reading this since prior to reading this I have only known of the department through the portrayal of it on shows like CSI. Working in that department seems to be a very hard job, especially since your fellow officers don't trust you and consider you a rat. It was really enjoyable and I will probably read this again.
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Author Information
2 Works 64 Members
Some Editions
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 2017-02
- People/Characters
- Charles Campisi
- Important places
- New York, New York, USA
- Dedication
- To my grandchildren,
Charles, Lauren, Cocomi, and Sarah
Of all the gifts God has given me, you are the most precious - First words
- The subject is moving now, coming out the front door of his two-story apartment building in a tree-lined street in the Bronx and walking to a red mercury sedan that's parked up the street. (Prologue: We're Watching)
Three stories about the kind of cop I didn't want to be. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)They are the cops I will always remember when I think of the NYPD.
And that's the kind of cop that I always wanted to be. - Blurbers
- O'Reilly, Bill; Carr, Caleb; Schwegel, Theresa; Kelly, Ray; Reppetto, Thomas; Travis, Jeremy (show all 8); Safir, Howard; Kerlikowske, Gil
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, General Nonfiction, History
- DDC/MDS
- 363.2092 — Society, government, & culture Social problems and social services Public Safety - Police, Crime Investigation Police services Biography And History Biography
- LCC
- HV7936 .C85 .C36 — Social sciences Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminal justice administration Police. Detectves. Constabulary Administration and organization
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 61
- Popularity
- 493,748
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (4.06)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 5
- ASINs
- 3
