To Protect and to Serve: The LAPD's Century of War in the City of Dreams

by Joe Domanick

The opening scene is a Tom Bradley, the black mayor of Los Angeles, faces an angry crowd just after the acquittals in the Rodney King beating trial. "Say what you gonna do," a fat woman bellows. "It's your police department. Say what you gonna do!" Little does the crowd realize the power of the LAPD. Joe Domanick goes back to the 1930s to find the roots of that power, and takes readers through the history of what he calls "a quasi-military organization ... outside of the democratic system of checks and balances." Domanick has a brisk, energetic prose style. In his hands these stories of antilabor squads and Red baiting, dragnets and "robocops," generate so much suspense, reading To Protect and to Serve is almost like watching a movie. And, as the Los Angeles Times writes, "While Domanick unearths much dirt about the LAPD leaders, To Protect and to Serve excels at drawing fair, empathic, multidimensional portraits of their lives." This book was the winner of the 1995 Edgar Award for best fact crime.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Crime

497 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fierce, beautifully researched takedown of the LAPD, ending at Rodney King beating. Has a point of view (anti) but comes to it honestly. Has a sequel called "Blue" that I will read next.

[Josh Fogelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. In depth detailed look at the LAPD from the City's founding in 1880s to when the book was written in 1994. Written in a narrative style that keeps it entertaining, while at the same time providing immense detail on topics that are normally glossed over. The hyperbole of the writing does leave some of the accuracy of the academics to be in question, but if believable the author paints a strong and damning picture of the LAPD. Very interesting!

[Stephan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everything a person has ever wanted to know about the history of LAPD from it's founding up to 1994 when it was published. The author covered all grounds and left nothing out. Great read.