Good Cop

by Maureen Dowd

In the wake of the George Floyd murder and calls for defunding the police, Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd reflects on our changing points of view on law enforcement through a personal prism—the life and times of her father. For four decades, Detective Sergeant Michael J. Dowd served on the Washington, D.C. police force, guarding Presidents and catching killers. Meanwhile, his daughter grew up as a child of the 1960s, embracing liberal politics and evolving into a journalist some Presidents might have thought they needed to be guarded from. As a result, it took decades for Dowd to fully embrace her father’s bravery and make peace with the pride she felt in his work. She has done so with heartfelt eloquence in this deeply personal and profound look back at a man who represented the good that lives within us, even those who wear a gun and badge.

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, History, Essays

43 pages, Audible Audio

Published December 22, 2021

About the author

Maureen Dowd is a Washington D.C.-based columnist for The New York Times. She has worked for the Times since 1983, when she joined as a metropolitan reporter. In 1999, she was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for her series of columns on the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Dowd's columns are distinguished by an acerbic, often polemical writing style. Her columns often display a critical attitude towards powerful figures such as President George W. Bush, former President Bill Clinton, and Pope Benedict XVI.

Reviews

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this portrait of her father. Not all cops are bad. Not all cops are good. This one, as portrayed, was a good one.

[Carl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maureen Dowd, raised in the 60's & 70's, was embarrassed to be the daughter of a cop. One example: her Catholic high school sponsored a father-daughter evening. She didn't tell him about it; he found out and asked Dowd's mother: Why is she ashamed of me.

This essay is a mea culpa. She recounts his bravery and his basic goodness. As a DC cop, he was in close contact with the powerful-- Truman said: "Call me Harry" to him when Dowd addressed him as Mr. President. He was the first responding officer when Puerto Rican nationalists shot up Congress in 1954. A life of service, and Dowd's way of saying she is not ashamed, but proud, now.

Well worth reading.

[Ursula Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a touching memoir about the author’s father who was a good cop. She recounts her childhood and some family history, as well as traits that made her father stand out. She balances it with commentary about how bad cops have affected people and some well known incidents. Her late father knew a number of famous people as well.

[Simon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as I thought it would be.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this because it was insightful.

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not worth the 45 minute listen. Just someone (I know who Maureen Dowd is, but it doesn’t matter for this piece) waxing poetic and nostalgic about her dad.

[Tishly Herrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's very short, but gives some good perspectives to think about.