The Making of a Cop by Harvey Rachlin

by Harvey Rachlin

Following 860 men and women through a typical training regimen in the New York City Police Academy and then into the streets of New York, the author reveals how young civilians are transformed into street-smart fighters

Genres: Nonfiction, Crime

Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Mickey Bits · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book here; this fun read is going to be worth your time. What you've got here is your run-of-the-mill "becoming an NYPD officer" story. If you're a fan of the genre, you've read similar accounts...

Motivated (and, well, not so much) human some way or another, lands in, applies to, gets shangahai'd for the NYPD. Goes in wild eyed and idealistic, realizes it's tough and random and unfair and dangerous and hits the streets, still gung-ho and idealistic. FTO and/or other humbling circumstances disabuses them of these notions and threatens to jade them... almost but not quite and then [cue triumphant music] they overcome the adversity and NYPD demons to end up as Lt. Alhamberhool in charge of that prestigious unit on the Upper Eastside. Except for that dirty cop, Morales-Cagapalos, the Bad Apple with the unfortunate last name. He should have never been a cop in the first place. He wasn't cut out to be On the Job.

The writing is tight and journalistic. It reads a little like a novel, a little like a long form magazine feature. It's perhaps a bit dated and was written at a time when cops and the job itself had more respect than it does today. Not as many young people today aspire to be police officers yet it can still be a rewarding and fulfilling career. This book would be an excellent title for people thinking about this as a job. High schoolers would enjoy this too.
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[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as "The Making of a Detective"