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Jimmy the King: Murder, Vice, and the Reign of a Dirty Cop
An incredible four-decade account of murder, power, and corruption in one of the country’s largest police departments
In 1979, the gruesome slaying of a thirteen-year-old boy riveted the suburbs of Suffolk County, New York. As the county hustled to bring the case to a dubious resolution, a wayward local teenager emerged with a convenient story to tell. For his cooperation, James Burke was rewarded with a job as a cop.
Thus began Burke’s unlikely ascent to the top of one of the country’s largest law enforcement jurisdictions. He and a crew of likeminded allies utilized vengeance, gangster tactics, and political leverage to become the most powerful and feared figures in their suburban empire. In his quest to maintain that power, Burke botched -- intentionally or not -- dire investigations like that of the famed Gilgo Beach serial killings and the county's MS-13 gang scourge.
Until a pilfered bag of sex toys brought it all crashing down.
Jimmy the King is the story of the rise, reign, and paranoiac fall of a corrupt cop and his regime—a crime family with badges and guaranteed pensions. Novelistic in detail and piercing in its political insight, this book will leave you questioning who modern policing serves, who it protects, and who it preys upon and abandons.
In 1979, the gruesome slaying of a thirteen-year-old boy riveted the suburbs of Suffolk County, New York. As the county hustled to bring the case to a dubious resolution, a wayward local teenager emerged with a convenient story to tell. For his cooperation, James Burke was rewarded with a job as a cop.
Thus began Burke’s unlikely ascent to the top of one of the country’s largest law enforcement jurisdictions. He and a crew of likeminded allies utilized vengeance, gangster tactics, and political leverage to become the most powerful and feared figures in their suburban empire. In his quest to maintain that power, Burke botched -- intentionally or not -- dire investigations like that of the famed Gilgo Beach serial killings and the county's MS-13 gang scourge.
Until a pilfered bag of sex toys brought it all crashing down.
Jimmy the King is the story of the rise, reign, and paranoiac fall of a corrupt cop and his regime—a crime family with badges and guaranteed pensions. Novelistic in detail and piercing in its political insight, this book will leave you questioning who modern policing serves, who it protects, and who it preys upon and abandons.
496 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2022
167 people are currently reading
3044 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
May 21, 2022
This is a good read if you’re interested in stories of police and government corruption. Or, if you’re from Long Island and want all the sordid details of the insanity that occurred in law enforcement over several decades.
The timeline jumping sometimes made the book hard to follow, and I have to wonder how a former Newsday reporter doesn’t know that all of this occurred ON Long Island, not in. I thought the author could be sexist when describing women, and his writing at times was a weird and clumsy attempt at the gangster bravado and language he accused his subjects of using. Overall, though, it was well researched and reported, but I can’t help but think that this was really Tania Lopez’s story to tell.
The timeline jumping sometimes made the book hard to follow, and I have to wonder how a former Newsday reporter doesn’t know that all of this occurred ON Long Island, not in. I thought the author could be sexist when describing women, and his writing at times was a weird and clumsy attempt at the gangster bravado and language he accused his subjects of using. Overall, though, it was well researched and reported, but I can’t help but think that this was really Tania Lopez’s story to tell.
August 17, 2022
An incredibly interesting story if you're from Long Island and/or have a police background. Clearly the book is well researched and the criticism of the corrupt cops specifically was appropriate. However the author really discredited himself when he narrated the whole story with a tone of contemptuous sneering and anti-police bias. A very interesting story to tell but I don't think this author was a good person to tell it.
August 11, 2022
3.5 Stars
The author did a great job of researching and gathering information; the book was full of details which makes it a slower read for me to keep everything straight.
A story of a corrupt cop who climbs through the ranks. The kind of cop nobody wants to believe has power in the justice system.
The author did a great job of researching and gathering information; the book was full of details which makes it a slower read for me to keep everything straight.
A story of a corrupt cop who climbs through the ranks. The kind of cop nobody wants to believe has power in the justice system.
April 18, 2024
What a horrifying eye opener…everyone who grew up in Suffolk County should know this went on here
UPDATE-
There was information in this book that he was involved in Gilgo Beach murders somehow and now, it’s coming out! Wow !!! What a crazy world 😢
UPDATE-
There was information in this book that he was involved in Gilgo Beach murders somehow and now, it’s coming out! Wow !!! What a crazy world 😢
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2022
The extensive research effort that went into this is evident, but the structure was confusing and the material was dense
June 9, 2022
A little confusing , I would have to read it 3-6 times to remember all the characters and info. Crazy story though
August 2, 2022
Disturbing. Hard to follow all the names. Especially on audio.
April 21, 2022
Jimmy The King is an in-depth look into the disgraced career of Jimmy Burke, the former Chief of the Suffolk County Police Department in Long Island, NY, and his unholy alliance with then Suffolk County District Attorney Tom Spota. The book also details the widespread corruption and incompetence within the homicide division of that police department, and the DA’s office complicity in their actions, which ultimately led to prison sentences for both Burke and Spota. Extensively researched and culled together from court transcripts, interviews and press articles, it’s a scathing look at power unchecked, and the devastating impact on the lives of people on both sides of the law. While it’s a powerful story, the author jumps timelines and subjects so often it interrupts the flow of the book, and can be disconcerting to the reader. Overall, it’s a harrowing and disturbing narrative of law enforcement run amok.
July 13, 2022
As a lifelong resident of Suffolk County and an attorney for over 25 years, knowing many of the lawyers and judges highlighted in the book as well as a few of the politicians involved, I can say that I learned much about these various players and so many of the stories I have come to know as folklore of my home turf, have been explained in a way to provide a more comprehensive detailing.
In many ways this book can be seen as a mob tale but in this case the mob is the local government and police department. Many of the stories detailed in this book seem to unlikely to believe, something that a young writer on the set of The Sopranos would probably not try getting away with.
You should find this book entertaining and a page turner. I will confess that if I were not a local resident I don't know how invested in this story as I was.
In many ways this book can be seen as a mob tale but in this case the mob is the local government and police department. Many of the stories detailed in this book seem to unlikely to believe, something that a young writer on the set of The Sopranos would probably not try getting away with.
You should find this book entertaining and a page turner. I will confess that if I were not a local resident I don't know how invested in this story as I was.
January 26, 2023
Absolutely insane.
July 24, 2025
This book spent too much time meandering on the Pius case and i found it lacking in it’s demonstration of how Jimmy the police chief was complicit in the testimony. I also would’ve liked to know more about the botch job they did on the Gilgo case, if Jimmy had any links to the women killed, it wasnt explored nearly at all. Disappointing read but well researched
January 13, 2023
Could not put this book down. The author does a brilliant job of weaving an engaging coherent narrative through an incredibly complex story - a dark morality tale with “screenplay” written all over it. This book is a long overdue expose of the insidious corruption in Suffolk County politics and law enforcement - a corruption sustained by a stunning lack of accountability and consequence that makes it that much harder for all the good honest cops in Suffolk to do their jobs. Thankfully this story is not without its heroes (DiCaprio and Pitt as Rob Trotta and John Oliva?). Unfortunately the malfeasance in Suffolk continues unabated (see Newsday’s recent investigation of the IAB: https://projects.newsday.com/long-isl...). Could “Jimmy the King” be the long-awaited wake-up call - a catalyst for some real change? One can only hope.
August 31, 2023
Completely engrossing storytelling. You definitely will think "wow that's a long book," but then it's worth every single word. Infuriating subject matter that it's clear it took tons of work and sources to document. Admittedly was a little thrown off at the beginning, not understanding why it was so disjointed, why we were switching time and place and wondering what these storylines have to do with each other, but the author threads it all together. Probably one of the best examples today of who police are. Not only do you get mad about the cops doing all these crimes, you also get mad they are so brazen and stupid at doing them, but there's a layer of even more incompetent people around them so they don't get caught. Also where's Lowrita's book deal?
October 4, 2022
The author must go back to writing 101. A deplorable read with the 1st 66 pages a complete disaster. Left with many questions on the direction of this novel. By his writing one thing is perfectly clear, stay away from Suffolk County New York.
July 25, 2023
Okay read
Entirely too long a story...the whole story of this guys undoing could have been told in less than 200 pages, in my opinion.
Entirely too long a story...the whole story of this guys undoing could have been told in less than 200 pages, in my opinion.
August 19, 2025
This book doesn’t exactly make me feel good about being a Suffolk County resident and taxpayer.
Here’s how I’d break it down for those who are on the fence about reading it:
4 stars for quality of research, which is obviously extensive and involves a lot of primary sources. This reads like a novel at times, complete with conflict, characterization and dialogue. I also appreciate that the author didn’t dip his toe into the wild conspiracy theories about JB’s connection to the Gilgo Beach serial killer case, acknowledging in the epilogue that any connection there is probably circumstantial.
2 stars for execution. This book is way too broad and unfocused. I’m familiar with most of the big names in the story because of my proximity to the setting. Readers who lack familiarity with the time and place are probably hopelessly lost trying to keep track of who’s who unless they’re keeping notes as they read. This story could have been told without exhaustive depth and breadth of minor characters and subplot detail. Another annoying quirk relates to the author’s writing style- I found the overuse of alliteration to be extremely annoying, especially when done deliberately to be sarcastic. A little more objectivity would have gone a long way.
In sum, there are bad people in this world, and bad people seem to like power. Bad people will never cease to do the “wrong thing” in any situation that allows them to retain that power or get more of it. This is as obvious in Shakespearean tragedies as it is in Suffolk County. I understand that the likelihood of disgraced public officials losing the perks and pensions they’ve “earned” during their tenure is unlikely, but what really boggles my mind is the amount of money that taxpayers collectively fork over to pay for the lawsuits awarded to people who were found to have been victimized by JB and his crew.
And I’m sure that’s only the top of the iceberg… here, and everywhere else. Imagine what we would learn if only we received an itemized bill listing how much taxpayer money is spent as a result of widespread corruption and waste.
I’m reminded of one of my favorite scenes from the Godfather:
Michael: My father’s no different from any other powerful man. Any man who is responsible for other people. Like a senator or a president.
Kay: you know how naïve you sound? Senators and presidents don’t have men killed!
Michael: Oh. Who’s being naive, Kay?
Here’s how I’d break it down for those who are on the fence about reading it:
4 stars for quality of research, which is obviously extensive and involves a lot of primary sources. This reads like a novel at times, complete with conflict, characterization and dialogue. I also appreciate that the author didn’t dip his toe into the wild conspiracy theories about JB’s connection to the Gilgo Beach serial killer case, acknowledging in the epilogue that any connection there is probably circumstantial.
2 stars for execution. This book is way too broad and unfocused. I’m familiar with most of the big names in the story because of my proximity to the setting. Readers who lack familiarity with the time and place are probably hopelessly lost trying to keep track of who’s who unless they’re keeping notes as they read. This story could have been told without exhaustive depth and breadth of minor characters and subplot detail. Another annoying quirk relates to the author’s writing style- I found the overuse of alliteration to be extremely annoying, especially when done deliberately to be sarcastic. A little more objectivity would have gone a long way.
In sum, there are bad people in this world, and bad people seem to like power. Bad people will never cease to do the “wrong thing” in any situation that allows them to retain that power or get more of it. This is as obvious in Shakespearean tragedies as it is in Suffolk County. I understand that the likelihood of disgraced public officials losing the perks and pensions they’ve “earned” during their tenure is unlikely, but what really boggles my mind is the amount of money that taxpayers collectively fork over to pay for the lawsuits awarded to people who were found to have been victimized by JB and his crew.
And I’m sure that’s only the top of the iceberg… here, and everywhere else. Imagine what we would learn if only we received an itemized bill listing how much taxpayer money is spent as a result of widespread corruption and waste.
I’m reminded of one of my favorite scenes from the Godfather:
Michael: My father’s no different from any other powerful man. Any man who is responsible for other people. Like a senator or a president.
Kay: you know how naïve you sound? Senators and presidents don’t have men killed!
Michael: Oh. Who’s being naive, Kay?
August 23, 2023
Jimmy the King is a dense, thorough account of Jimmy Burke, the disgraced Police Chief from Suffolk County Police Department in Long Island. I first stumbled across this book because he was mentioned as a previous suspect in the Gilgo Beach Long Island Serial Killer murders and I wanted to know why. This book definitely answered that question. If all true, this cop was dirty from beginning to end, top to bottom, and there is no wonder people looked at him in relation to the murders. Sadly, even though we now know he wasn't the killer, his inept leadership likely perpetuated the crime spree and definitely thwarted the investigation. The book begins with Jimmy's childhood as a "witness" to an infamous Long Island murder and ends with the aftermath of his arrest as the Police Chief of Suffolk County Long Island. It outlines his misdeeds personally and professionally throughout his storied career. It talks about why, and how, he was able to manipulate people the way he did. He is depraved, and was a criminal during his entire career. A true disgrace to public service. All of the officers and public officials who promoted, supported, and assisted him are equally disgraceful and it's a shame their shame isn't as public.
I am amazed by the author's attention to detail, and ability to deep dive into seemingly every facet of Suffolk County PD over multiple decades. I can't believe how recent it all was. The saddest part is all of the victims' whose cases were bungled and used as part of a political game along the way. It is amazing the collateral damage that ripples through the police department, the community, and the families of the officers involved as a result of Burke's corrupt behavior. This book is only for someone ready for a long, dry, extremely nuanced account of a widespread political corruption. I will be thinking about this book for a long time.
One negative note: I found the chapter near the end about the George Floyd riots a little gratuitous. The author sort of lost his way there, and seemed to want to crowbar in social commentary where it didn't fit with the story he was originally telling. Also every single character is deplorable. Of a 2500+ police department, there had to be some good I think it would have gone a long way for the author to draw a little balance into the story for credibility sake.
EDIT: I just felt the need to come here to add the fact that I see that he was arrested again literally yesterday 8/22/2023 for lewd sex acts.
I am amazed by the author's attention to detail, and ability to deep dive into seemingly every facet of Suffolk County PD over multiple decades. I can't believe how recent it all was. The saddest part is all of the victims' whose cases were bungled and used as part of a political game along the way. It is amazing the collateral damage that ripples through the police department, the community, and the families of the officers involved as a result of Burke's corrupt behavior. This book is only for someone ready for a long, dry, extremely nuanced account of a widespread political corruption. I will be thinking about this book for a long time.
One negative note: I found the chapter near the end about the George Floyd riots a little gratuitous. The author sort of lost his way there, and seemed to want to crowbar in social commentary where it didn't fit with the story he was originally telling. Also every single character is deplorable. Of a 2500+ police department, there had to be some good I think it would have gone a long way for the author to draw a little balance into the story for credibility sake.
EDIT: I just felt the need to come here to add the fact that I see that he was arrested again literally yesterday 8/22/2023 for lewd sex acts.
January 30, 2025
I loved this book - and would typically give it 5 stars but in the sense of a transparent review I do have a few, albeit small, notes.
First - damn, is it thorough. It is so astoundingly well researched and reported. An absolutely crucial story to tell, full of real life villains. Also, a reminder to take what officials tell you with a grain of salt. Sometimes the squeaky clean looking top respected officials have the dirtiest of laundry, and the truth really does come from the mouth of a petty-criminal heroine addict.
Second - I had a background of people involved to help keep track of the more than a hundred names and titles. Even with the list in the front, it’s hard to follow at times. This also goes for the dates and anecdotes. It does go between years often. This wasn’t something that bothered me, but it makes for a more educational read than a beach type read.
Third - it did at times, appear the author may be a bit biased against the “boys in blue” if you will. That said, these guys are actually pieces of shit. Also I didn’t expect or want this book to be an objective article. I wanted the story, dirty details and sarcastic comments and all.
Fourth - it’s very long. I liked all of the anecdotes. Even the irrelevant ones. But there were a lot that had they been removed, the story would have been just as captivating and insane.
All in all, I read this book in a matter of days and could not put it down. It was a phenomenal book about disgustingly horrible people.
First - damn, is it thorough. It is so astoundingly well researched and reported. An absolutely crucial story to tell, full of real life villains. Also, a reminder to take what officials tell you with a grain of salt. Sometimes the squeaky clean looking top respected officials have the dirtiest of laundry, and the truth really does come from the mouth of a petty-criminal heroine addict.
Second - I had a background of people involved to help keep track of the more than a hundred names and titles. Even with the list in the front, it’s hard to follow at times. This also goes for the dates and anecdotes. It does go between years often. This wasn’t something that bothered me, but it makes for a more educational read than a beach type read.
Third - it did at times, appear the author may be a bit biased against the “boys in blue” if you will. That said, these guys are actually pieces of shit. Also I didn’t expect or want this book to be an objective article. I wanted the story, dirty details and sarcastic comments and all.
Fourth - it’s very long. I liked all of the anecdotes. Even the irrelevant ones. But there were a lot that had they been removed, the story would have been just as captivating and insane.
All in all, I read this book in a matter of days and could not put it down. It was a phenomenal book about disgustingly horrible people.
September 3, 2022
Book Review…Jimmy the King: Murder, Vice, and the Reign of a Dirty Cop by Gus Garcia-Roberts
A disturbing tale of murder, power, and corruption in one of the country’s largest police departments. Jimmy Burke's rise to the top of one of the country’s largest police departments. He and a crew of like minded allies utilized vengeance, gangster tactics, and political leverage to become the most powerful and feared figures. Wel that is until a pilfered bag of sex toys brought it all crashing down.
I'm always interested in reading books that take place either where I grew up or where I live or lived. So I was excited to read a story about a place where I spent a lot of my summers. It's a well researched story with lots of interesting facts entertaining. But it was confusing at times. It jumps around from different timelines and there are a lot of names. In a way it's a tale of the mob except it's the police officers that are the gangsters! Overall it was still a good read! Thank you Novel Suspects for sharing this book with me!
A disturbing tale of murder, power, and corruption in one of the country’s largest police departments. Jimmy Burke's rise to the top of one of the country’s largest police departments. He and a crew of like minded allies utilized vengeance, gangster tactics, and political leverage to become the most powerful and feared figures. Wel that is until a pilfered bag of sex toys brought it all crashing down.
I'm always interested in reading books that take place either where I grew up or where I live or lived. So I was excited to read a story about a place where I spent a lot of my summers. It's a well researched story with lots of interesting facts entertaining. But it was confusing at times. It jumps around from different timelines and there are a lot of names. In a way it's a tale of the mob except it's the police officers that are the gangsters! Overall it was still a good read! Thank you Novel Suspects for sharing this book with me!
February 20, 2025
Significantly above average for a journalist's book. A lot of fine government detail is missing or glossed over. I understand that not everything can be included but there is an innane amount of detail for Smithtown while skipping over Amityville and the village police departments. The author was definitely writing a burn book for Newsday the only media for the region (as of early 2025) which is a little overwrought but some readers lacking civic understanding may not be familiar. Most of the story will be known well enough depending on the age of the reader. Interesting to hear the origin story of the SCPD's culture. The early history of James Burke is very interesting and The question of bad cop, bad department or willfully blind supervisors isn't really answered. Was Burke an egregious example of New York police behavior or just one of the ones who got caught?
January 6, 2024
Extremely well researched book that goes into great detail to explain how a young man went from a teenage thug to lead the police force of Suffolk County, New York as one of the dirtiest cops to ever run a department. The story starts in 1979 with the murder of a thirteen year old boy and the arrest and conviction of four young men who were most likely innocent. Jimmy Burke played a part in their demise and he was rewarded for his efforts in the coming years. This is story of police corruption at it's worst. The story takes the reader to present day and the arrest of Jimmy Burke and some of his partners in crime. Worth the read, though it was a bit difficult to navigate with so many names and switching back and forth in time.
March 8, 2023
A well researched and intriguing telling of notorious crimes, corrupt cops and kids growing up on Long Island. The author seemingly has nothing nice to say about anyone, which kind of leaves the story lacking balance. The cops are bad, the politicians are bad, the kids, save a victim or two, are bad, and the parents all have their dark side. Still it’s a hard book to put down, especially if you lived on Long Island at the time.
Unfortunately, the author also sneaks in some biased pot shots promoting the usual distorted woke view of privileged life in ‘lily white’ suburbia, which only taints the author’s objectivity.
Add a star if you hate the Suffolk County Police Department.
Unfortunately, the author also sneaks in some biased pot shots promoting the usual distorted woke view of privileged life in ‘lily white’ suburbia, which only taints the author’s objectivity.
Add a star if you hate the Suffolk County Police Department.
September 3, 2023
Just wow...really good read for those who enjoy this type of Non-Fiction. I'm still in shock...
The author does a great job in showing the research done, and in providing the history of those involved. I especially liked that there are actual photos included of that time. That always adds more for me with books like this. For such a big book, it certainly didn't read like one. I was easily engrossed in the story and finished this pretty quickly.
Definitely one for fans of true crime, and police and political corruption. I sincerely appreciate the publisher and Novel Suspects for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
The author does a great job in showing the research done, and in providing the history of those involved. I especially liked that there are actual photos included of that time. That always adds more for me with books like this. For such a big book, it certainly didn't read like one. I was easily engrossed in the story and finished this pretty quickly.
Definitely one for fans of true crime, and police and political corruption. I sincerely appreciate the publisher and Novel Suspects for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 18, 2025
As a Long Island native, I was especially drawn to Jimmy the King. It was surreal and chilling to read about places I know —some of the events even happened near where a member of my book club lives. I originally expected the book to focus more on the Gilgo Beach murders, but what really stood out was the shocking level of corruption within the Suffolk County Police Department over the years. Jimmy Burke, who rose to the top of that system and is now connected to the Gilgo case, was a powerful and deeply flawed figure whose downfall ultimately led him to federal prison. This book opened my eyes to just how much was happening behind the scenes a few miles away.
September 22, 2023
Dense book, but an amazing study of corruption on all levels of the criminal justice system across a few generations just 20 miles outside of NYC in “bucolic” Suffolk County. Anyone who enjoys the study of power a la Robert Caro would enjoy this book. Also a must read for anyone interested in the Gilgo Beach “Long Island Serial Killer”. The book is not about LISK, but explains in great detail how decades of corruption and power struggles with the feds could prevent the murders from being solved.
July 12, 2024
Must read for someone with an interest in LISK and the years of corruption in the SCPD that caused multiple deaths to not be investigated / 13 years to catch a serial killer they could have had the whole time had they not been trying to cover their own asses.
Shows how one choice by a crappy guy in 1970’s changed the next 40 years in a major NY county and paved the way for years of corruption.
Knowing the areas and players in this makes it a bit easier of a read but if your not at all familiar with anything Suffolk/LI/big players it could be confusing.
Shows how one choice by a crappy guy in 1970’s changed the next 40 years in a major NY county and paved the way for years of corruption.
Knowing the areas and players in this makes it a bit easier of a read but if your not at all familiar with anything Suffolk/LI/big players it could be confusing.
August 5, 2025
Jeez doesn't anyone proofread these books? It is obviously a very well researched book. Ok we get it Jimmy Burke and Tom Spota are bad people. But why does the author insist on forcing racism into a story about white on white crime. Do we need to know that Suffolk County(unfurtunately like much of the country) once had a KKK chapter. It is just not relative to the story. Or that Suffolk county is very homogenous. The author tells us more about himself than he does about Jimmy Burke. No introspection. It is like reading a biography of Donald Trump written by Steven Colbert.
August 6, 2022
You're not going to feel uplifted, but it's a refreshingly thorough look into how corruption seeps into an organization, an individual for whom corruption was the throughline of his life, and the people who were hurt along the way. Garcia-Roberts handles a story that has more characters than a Shakespearean drama deftly and with regard for his audience. Definitely recommend, but only for those in a headspace that can handle a lot of disappointment in humanity.
May 25, 2024
I read the reviews. I not from that area. Or know anything about most of the events in the book. But it was well written. Very detailed. And just caught my attention from start to finish. It’s upsetting that we live in a world that you know people can get away with things like that and still do today, but fascinating that they did finally get caught in the end unfortunately, they didn’t really pay for it as it were most of them didn’t even get prison time!
August 10, 2025
There are an abundance of details in this book which can make certain chapters drag on a bit longer than necessary. The story is one that any taxpayer should read and it should make you think about the politicians in your community and how they use or abuse their power. It is sad that these people were not incarcerated for the many atrocities that they committed as members of the law enforcement community. Recommended for any true crime readers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews