What do you think?
Rate this book
Real Cop: A Memoir of a Career Street Officer
David Leonard's ground-breaking memoir of a career urban patrol officer. Leonard's story is unique in that he spent his entire career as a uniformed patrol officer. The book offers the underrepresented viewpoint of the career first responder. What is it like to face the harrowing decision whether to shoot or not shoot? How do today's strained police-community relations affect a street cop's ability to effectively police their communities. Far from simply a collection of war stories, Real Cop recounts both shocking and heart-warming experiences only a career beat officer can provide. Real Cop describes what our patrol officers face everyday, including moving citizen contacts, life-changing tragedy, glory and burnout. The author offers a rare glimpse into the human side of America's street cops while at the same time shattering many of the misconceptions. Leonard leaves no stone unturned. He delves into controversial subjects of race, use of force, and policing in this age of divided politics and hypersensitivities. Real Cop is a well-reasoned and thoughtful memoir that will appeal to police officers and citizens alike.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 18, 2019
105 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
David Leonard
114 books2 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 20, 2022
Enlightening, interesting and introspective memoir
First, this book is very well written and edited. It makes the police tales and observations a pleasure to read. There is a good mix of first responder, street cop stories interwoven with life experiences. The author makes some keen observations about the gulf between command positions, politics and egos, vs. cops who put it on the line day to day. His stories and comments regarding the current policing environment opened my eyes. I came away with a more well rounded view of police work and the many well trained, caring men and women who choose this service to us all. Often at their own peril. Not a picture often painted by our sensationalistic media outlets. Thank you David, for this book and your many years of service.
First, this book is very well written and edited. It makes the police tales and observations a pleasure to read. There is a good mix of first responder, street cop stories interwoven with life experiences. The author makes some keen observations about the gulf between command positions, politics and egos, vs. cops who put it on the line day to day. His stories and comments regarding the current policing environment opened my eyes. I came away with a more well rounded view of police work and the many well trained, caring men and women who choose this service to us all. Often at their own peril. Not a picture often painted by our sensationalistic media outlets. Thank you David, for this book and your many years of service.
June 14, 2020
Honest personal experience
Very much worth the time, providing an honest viewpoint of experience.
Articulates the good and bad in the profession.
Shows what caused the issues we have now in 2020 as poor leadership with the force and in city, state and Federal government plus the lack of personal accountability by each individual citizen.
Very much worth the time, providing an honest viewpoint of experience.
Articulates the good and bad in the profession.
Shows what caused the issues we have now in 2020 as poor leadership with the force and in city, state and Federal government plus the lack of personal accountability by each individual citizen.
August 28, 2021
Valuable Memoir
This book is an honest and insightful summary of the sociological and political challenges of police work. Not so much exciting as thoughtful and realistic about leadership failures and the creative solutions street cops must use to deal with their daily challenges.
This book is an honest and insightful summary of the sociological and political challenges of police work. Not so much exciting as thoughtful and realistic about leadership failures and the creative solutions street cops must use to deal with their daily challenges.
April 2, 2022
I loved this book so much! This was a great self reflective book of transparency. I'm Phil Jager's daughter and is was nice to read about the respect you had for him. Write more!! I hope retirement is good to you and thanks for the copy of the book (Stephanie Haight had a hand in getting me a copy).
January 7, 2022
True life as a cop
I learned a lot about police officers. I've had friends that were officers and
it must be a universal language in their working life. So many names given to them or their fellow officers.
I learned a lot about police officers. I've had friends that were officers and
it must be a universal language in their working life. So many names given to them or their fellow officers.
February 2, 2023
The author appears to be very politically opinionated and has a antagonistic “us against them” attitude toward supervision. His union antics and rationale are towards pretty much unconditional protecting cops from legitimate complaints show why a lot of the public distrust distrust police.
July 30, 2023
great book
One of the best books about law enforcement I have read. Not necessarily in the “war story” sense but in the sense that it gives you an insight to the mind of a patrol officer.
One of the best books about law enforcement I have read. Not necessarily in the “war story” sense but in the sense that it gives you an insight to the mind of a patrol officer.
November 16, 2020
Really a fascinating and brutally honest book about life as a street officer. Very highly recommend
November 25, 2020
Good read for anyone that knows a LEO
As a civilian and cops kid this is a good honest look at what our nations police officers deal with on a daily basis.
As a civilian and cops kid this is a good honest look at what our nations police officers deal with on a daily basis.
October 3, 2021
Real
Very personal book. Reflections on our society by a retired cop. Easy read, provides a different perspective of police unions.
Very personal book. Reflections on our society by a retired cop. Easy read, provides a different perspective of police unions.
October 7, 2022
remarkable
A very different cop book. It goes much deeper into the motivations and difficulties of being a law enforcement officer and is a worthwhile read.
A very different cop book. It goes much deeper into the motivations and difficulties of being a law enforcement officer and is a worthwhile read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews