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REFLECTIONS FROM THE PIT
Bad things happen in "the Pit," a notorious crime-infested ghetto in downtown Miami. Michael Berish's experiences as a Miami policeman for twenty-two years serve as fuel for these exciting, intense stories about life as a cop in a tough part of a big city. Not just another collection of rehashed police stories with shootouts, car chases, and damsels in distress, Reflections from the Pit, contains individual, quirky, off-center characters. The stories focus on basic character flaws while dealing with social issues of the racism, hangings from police cruisers, sexism, affirmative action, prejudice, drug-dealing cops and corruption, homelessness, segregation, and police brutality. Berish uses his intimate knowledge of "the Pit" to bring these tales alive.This book pulls no punches; it shows you the dark side of police the good, the bad and the ugly (warts and all), both the humor and the tragedy. These reflections, covering more than one hundred years of history, give one pause for thought and a peek into the human swamp of life in "the Pit." www.realmiamivice.com www.realmiamivice.net
212 pages, Paperback
First published August 17, 2007
6 people want to read
About the author
Michael Berish
3 books5 followersMichael Berish was born and raised in Poughkeepsie, New York, graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.A. degree in Psychology and received his M.A. degree in Communications from Barry University.
Berish worked as a patrolman, a detective and as a supervisor with the City of Miami Police Department for twenty-two years; thirteen of which were spent as an undercover detective in the REAL Miami Vice where he worked everything from Narcotics & Vice, Prostitution, Gambling and Pornography, to Dignitary Protection of President Jose Napoleon Duarte (of El Salvador) and Pope John Paul II.
Several of the police stories in his new book entitled: REFLECTIONS FROM THE PIT have been published, or accepted for publication, in numerous national publications and have won various writing awards.
Not just another collection of rehashed police stories with shootouts, car chases, and damsels in distress, REFLECTIONS FROM THE PIT contains individual, quirky, off-center characters. The stories focus on basic character flaws while dealing with social issues of the day: racism, sexism, prejudice, homelessness, segregation, teenage prostitution, police brutality and its senseless violence, the mystery of crazies abducted by aliens, the murdering of transvestites, the lack of compassion and sympathy by the younger generation for their elders, the stupidity of criminals, the cowardice of police officers, affirmative action, Cuban freedom fighters a.k.a. terrorists, hangings from police cruisers, drug dealing cops and corruption, bungled police stings, the “don’t get involved” syndrome and the raping of the elderly.
These reflections, which cover more than one hundred years of history, give one pause for thought and a peek into the human swamp of life with Berish using his intimate knowledge of "the Pit" to bring these Miami cop stories alive.
For more information on the author and his book, go to his website at: www.realmiamivice.com
Berish worked as a patrolman, a detective and as a supervisor with the City of Miami Police Department for twenty-two years; thirteen of which were spent as an undercover detective in the REAL Miami Vice where he worked everything from Narcotics & Vice, Prostitution, Gambling and Pornography, to Dignitary Protection of President Jose Napoleon Duarte (of El Salvador) and Pope John Paul II.
Several of the police stories in his new book entitled: REFLECTIONS FROM THE PIT have been published, or accepted for publication, in numerous national publications and have won various writing awards.
Not just another collection of rehashed police stories with shootouts, car chases, and damsels in distress, REFLECTIONS FROM THE PIT contains individual, quirky, off-center characters. The stories focus on basic character flaws while dealing with social issues of the day: racism, sexism, prejudice, homelessness, segregation, teenage prostitution, police brutality and its senseless violence, the mystery of crazies abducted by aliens, the murdering of transvestites, the lack of compassion and sympathy by the younger generation for their elders, the stupidity of criminals, the cowardice of police officers, affirmative action, Cuban freedom fighters a.k.a. terrorists, hangings from police cruisers, drug dealing cops and corruption, bungled police stings, the “don’t get involved” syndrome and the raping of the elderly.
These reflections, which cover more than one hundred years of history, give one pause for thought and a peek into the human swamp of life with Berish using his intimate knowledge of "the Pit" to bring these Miami cop stories alive.
For more information on the author and his book, go to his website at: www.realmiamivice.com
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 15, 2015
I loved most of the stories, because for as outrageous or sickening as some of them are, they represent the way it *really* is on the streets. You think some of these stories have to made up, but they really happen! And I love the the author's sarcasm. Some are heartbreaking, some are funny, some are adrenaline pumping. Most reveal the ugliest components of human beings.
This book brought me back to my police intern days, which are very special to me, so for that I thank Michael Berish for taking me back through memory lane. I still remember every call with vivid detail 13 years later.
Small world - my mother is a friend of the author's, and my friend's father served on the force with him in Miami.
This book brought me back to my police intern days, which are very special to me, so for that I thank Michael Berish for taking me back through memory lane. I still remember every call with vivid detail 13 years later.
Small world - my mother is a friend of the author's, and my friend's father served on the force with him in Miami.
January 18, 2008
LOVED IT!!!Rollercoaster of emotions! I have read other great stories by Michael Berish at his www.realmiamivice.com page, and it was a treat to read this book. This is not just another cops & robbers book rather a great collection of the most unusual, weirdest stories about both the cops in Miami and the characters & criminals they meet and deal with on the street. His uncanny and witty remarks, and his piercing penetrating defiant look at police work and human nature, make reading this book 'which is filled with high octane action' an unforgettable adventure. You'll experience a kaleidoscope of emotions that range from the heart-felt to the sublimely incredulous! These stories are truly snapshots into the dark side of police work and human nature. It'll make an exceptional read and hard to put down, but when you finish, you will say to yourself: 'I never knew people like that, including the cops, ever exited.'
Also recommended: 'Everybody Comes to Vic's' Cynic Magazine 'Best Story of 2006' 'Just Back from the Constellation Orion Nebula' Public Safety Writers Assoc '1st Place Best Fiction' 'One Summer Night' Cynic Magazine May 2007
May 18, 2009
REFLECTIONS FROM THE PIT by Michael Berish is the REAL COPS! Told with the ring of absolute TRUTH, emotions and humor. He relates brief snippets of what a cop faces every day he puts on his uniform and goes to work. For Lieutenant Berish, being an Undercover detective in the violence prone drug business, his life depended on his "acting" ability, and his training as a police officer. This book is one of the BEST ever written about the REAL Miami Vice. Buy it, read it . . you won't be disappointed.
Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews