NYPD Green: A Memoir

by Luke Waters

In this gritty, sometimes hilarious, but always brutally honest memoir, Irish immigrant and retired NYPD homicide detective Luke Waters shares the darker and harder side of the police force that “will make you sit up, stay up, and keep reading” (Edward Conlon, author of Blue Blood).

Growing up in the rough outskirts of northern Dublin at a time when joining the guards, the army, or the civil service was the height of most parents’ ambitions for their children, Luke Waters knew he was destined for a career in some sort of law enforcement. Dreaming of becoming a police officer, Waters immigrated to the United States in search of better employment opportunities and joined the NYPD.

Despite a successful career with one of the most formidable and revered police forces in the world, Waters’s reality as a cop in New York was a far cry from his fantasy of serving and protecting his community. Over the course of a career spanning more than twenty years—from rookie to lead investigator, during which time he saw New York transform from the crack epidemic of the ’90s to the low crime stats of today—Waters discovered that both sides of the law were entrenched in crooked culture.

In NYPD Green Waters offers a gripping and fascinating account filled with details from real criminal cases involving murder, theft, gang violence, and more, and takes you into the thick of the danger and scandal of life as a New York cop—both on and off the beat. Balanced with wit and humor, Waters’s account paints a vivid picture of the colorful characters on the force and on the streets and provides an unflinching—often critical—look at the corruption and negligence in the justice system put in place to protect us, showing the hidden side of police work where many officers are motivated not purely by the desire to serve the community, but rather by the “green” earned in overtime, expenses, and allowances.

A multifaceted and engaging narrative about the immigrant experience in America, Waters’s story is also one of personal growth, success, and disillusionment—a rollicking journey through the day-to-day in the New York Police Department.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, True Crime, Crime, Biography Memoir, Autobiography, Biography

288 pages, Hardcover

First published April 16, 2015

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Police work is not your average nine-to-five job, and there's not much room for teary-eyed sentiment. It's easy to become hard, embittered and cynical when you see people at their worst, humanity at its most depraved -- and that's just in the squad room! . . . The NYPD is not like [the TV series] 'Cheers.' Here, nobody knows your name and if they do, guess what? They don't care." -- the author, page 187

There's an old axiom about the Irish being good or natural storytellers, and that sort of fits the bill with Waters' memoir NYPD Green. The author grew up on the working-class outskirts of Dublin in the 70's, and his first integral experience with crime (other than having a few family members who were active in Ireland's law enforcement) was when he witnessed his father being the victim of an armed robbery. Moving to New York City almost on a whim as a young man, Waters was an undocumented immigrant for several years while working as a bartender - notably serving actor Telly Savalas and members of the New York Mets '86 World Series team - before properly and proudly attaining his U.S. citizenship. Once that was secured, he sought employment with the New York City Police Department (the largest municipal - and one of the oldest - police agencies in America; it is also known for its consistently large number of Irish-American personnel) and served from 1993 to 2013, first as a uniformed patrol officer, then as a plainclothesman on a pickpocket squad, and finally as a homicide detective on a Bronx-based task force. Waters' career occurred during an interesting and transitional time with that police agency - coinciding with Mayor Rudy Guiliani's 'law & order'-oriented terms, the horrific 9/11 terrorist attacks, and a ceaseless number of drug- or gang-related murders - and he presents his experiences with candor and a requisite amount of gallows humor.

[Bill reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luke Water’s outlook on a future career in law enforcement was triggered at the barrel end of a shotgun at the age of nine when his father’s delivery van was robbed in Dublin, Ireland. Many of his family were Garda and so it was natural for Luke to follow in their footsteps. After five years working as a bartender in NYC, as an illegal immigrant, he was fortunate enough to become a U.S. citizen through his girlfriends connection to Senator Al D’Amato, a frequent diner at Rao’s where she was employed. It is not what you know, but who you know. Water’s first assignment, in 1992, was standing at the corner of 57th and Sutton Place, for a year of tedium keeping the wealthy safe from harm. It ended abruptly when a woman of means complained to of a dog relieving himself on the street without a resulting arrest by the officer. He moved on to the pickpocket squad on the West Side. The scams there are amazing and entertaining as hell. This tome reads like Joseph Wambaugh, another ex-cop and writer. The next adventure would be the narcotics squad in Washington Heights which provided hundreds of hours of overtime. Water’s was stunned by 9-11, working the cleanup while assigned to the raucous 42nd precinct in the South Bronx. While there he earned a gold detective’s shield. Death by homicide is a regular occurrence on the job and Water’s kept his sanity by becoming as detached as possible. The story in chapter thirteen changes that perspective when a newborn baby is thrown out of a window by its’ fourteen year-old mother. That case and that of a family killed in a fire have continued to haunt Luke Waters. The following chapters return to the mundane and constant stabbings and shootings of the South Bronx (go Yankees!). Water’s writes with a typical Irish dark sense of irony while describing the bloodbath of the warring street gangs of the Boogie Down. NYPD Green is an excellent read.

[Gregsie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book because it was full of real unimbellished stories from Waters' days on the NYPD. When you start reading a book like this it's hard not to imagine it'll be filled with the types of stories you see in the movies. But real life isn't like that and neither is this book. Stories don't have to be in the movies to be interesting, though. Some of the cases Waters recounts are only a page long, but interesting just the same. Waters' did a good job of recounting his experiences with the voice of a storyteller and yet there was a feeling of impartiality throughout the book, as if it was written by Joe Friday "just the facts, ma'am." This was e specially noticable when he had harsh words for the NYPD and DA offices. For an honest look at one detective's interesting cases on the NYPD, this book is a great read.

[Jose Torres · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written memoir by retired NYPD detective. He talks to us about his early childhood, experience prior to joining the NYPD. Afterwards he shows us his first hand experiences in dealing with law breakers and the community, to the every day occurences to some rather obscure cases and how it affected him on a personal level. A light manifestation to the internal workings of "politics" inside the NYPD which unfortunately affects every major organization (especially the military). And ended on a awesome note that he feels as the job did not change him or his values (morals/ethics etc.) as a human being.

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

While waiting for a report date for An Garda Siochana (the Irish Police Force), Luke Waters went to New York to see the sights and earn some quick money as an illegal immigrant, but when the immigration lottery reopened, he found himself swearing allegiance to the Star Spangled Banner and, after gaining his citizenship papers, joining the New York Police Department.

Waters provides a well written account of his years as an NYPD cop, with the chapters around 9/11 proving most striking.

[Lightthiscandle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buy this book! It's an engrossing memoir about an Irish native becoming an NYPD police officer. This is one of those books that are written by people who have lived an interesting life and who have great stories to tell. Even if you aren't the type of person who reads crime books, you will enjoy this book.

[Stephan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this autobiography written by an Irish born cop who migrated to the US as a young man and completed 20 years honorably in the NYPD. A true "immigrants tale of success". Seriously read this in a day, it's that interesting.

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting parts but the writing style was very dull and I found the book hard to finish.

[ben c]

recommend

[Ciaran Hartnett · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Russell Andresen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was excited and surprised to see that I had won a Goodreads giveaway of this "Memoir" saying to myself, "How lucky am I?"
Unfortunately the book proved to be a lesson in someone selling a book of lies and a publisher eating it up and begging for seconds.
While there are facets of this book that I do not doubt, the sad reality is that this son of Ireland turned U.S. citizen turned NYPD never anticipated that his book would find its way into the hands of a born and raised Brooklynite who lived four blocks away from the 61st precinct and who not only knew but was friends with many a NYPD Officer and even sadly attended a Wake for a fallen cop.
The author probably didn't expect that I am a survivor of the attacks of 9/11 and suffer from PTSD as well as other health issues as a result and was declared Disabled by the government recently.
His chapter on 9/11 was an insult to the 38 friends and co-workers I lost on that tragic day but also the ones who have passed since. Far too early.
The author even claimed early in the book that he was a bartender in 1986 but didn't know the name Daryl Strawberry.
NOBODY who lived or worked in the Tri-state area in 1986 did not know the name Daryl Strawberry. It's not exactly a common name.
The fact that this book was published and obviously not properly vetted is resounding proof of why so many talented authors have lost faith with mainstream publishing houses and have opted to self publish.
I have no doubt that Mr. Waters served the city that I love faithfully and with pride, but he seems to have watched one too many episodes of "Blue Bloods" and has lost touch with reality.
Save your money and your time. The 9/11 chapter alone shows that this was MORE fiction than fact.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a non-fiction, biography reader but I'm glad I picked up this book. My family is highly involved in law enforcement and this book had many scenarios that were familiar. I was engaged in the story from the first page and equally engrossed till the end. Luke Waters has a nice writing style that has you thinking he could be in the room telling the tales in person. Will be enjoyed by both male and female readers as well as young or old. Would probably make a good film. Enjoy this one.

[Susan Krich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Goodreads book.
I enjoyed reading this book. Even though some parts are not very pleasant, the subject matter is real and dealt with a lot of insight and not sensationalized.
It starts with Luke Waters background and continues to his retirement. I like his descriptions in particular that of his first sight of Manhattan in chapter 2.
He deals with the good and the bad in policemen and work without trying to sweep the bad under the rug.

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A born storyteller's account of how an overstayed visit to New York from his native Ireland turned into a twenty-plus year career with the NYPD. Starting with his tending bar as an illegal to pounding a beat and working in liaison with the FBI, author Luke Water's focus on the human side of every story keeps these tales from 'the Job' thoroughly readable.

[Karen Ireland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read a book about a real life police offices and one from my home country, I have to say it was a enjoyable read and I learn that sometimes criminal and law can sometimes get mix and you don't know who you can trusted.

I will be looking out for more books by Luke Waters

[Anna Entrambasaguas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although written in a very easy to read prose, this book has the depth of someone telling you how they went shopping. I got this, I got that and then I paid. There is no context to the events, no background, no enquiry. Pity because the topic could lend itself to so much more.

[The Library Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great material doesn't always make for great writing. Mr Waters' career with the NYPD was wide ranging and action packed, yet his written prose is flat and dull. Disappointing.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book through the Goodreads giveaway program. I'm not sure what to make of this book. Some of the stories seem too unreal to believe. It was good in spots, but I just can't go any higher.

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast read & remember the headlines.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

light easy read