Cop: A True Story

by Michael L. Middleton

Book Overview

In this brutally honest portrait, Sergeant Michael Middleton--a now-retired veteran of the LAPD--tells the gripping tale of his two decades on some of the America's meanest streets. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0809225409
• ISBN13: 9780809225408
• Release Date: May 2000
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Antiquated Book. Arthur

At the time this book came out. It may have been relevant. Now in time like these it's not relevant information and experiences for the most part. At the same time it has some interesting experiences by the writer In the end though l found it boring and not interesting.

Honest, to a fault.

I respect Sergeant Middleton for his apparent honesty, but not for the way he neglected to effect a better police department during his time as a sergeant. I don't recall if I ever met him during my own 30 years on the LAPD, or during the four years I was in charge of trying to transform hundreds of top street police officers into effective supervisors at the LAPD Academy. In that respect I apparently must apologize for that small part I had in it. But if the reader wants to know what the streets of L.A. are like, and to experience in graphic detail the pressures and effects it can have on the proper supervision and guidance of otherwise fine police officers, read Mike's book, particularly the explanation on the effects of the use of deadly force.

Honest critique from a cop who lived it

I found this book informative, interesting, inspiring and worrysome. Middleton is quit honest about the realities of life in the LAPD - the bravery, politics, and racism. The book leaves you inspired by the heroism of some officers and disgusted by the racism and abuse of others. COP takes the reader inside the life of street cops as no other book I've read.

A great book!

The stories in this book will knock you out, and some of them will keep you awake at night! It's the most true-to-life portrait I've ever read of what it is like to be a poice officer in a large American city. I loved it.

great book

i read this book in 2 days. not because i am an avid reader but because he got u in to what it feels to be a lapd pd officer. he wrote the book as if he was talking to u person to person and not and author writing a book. this is a great book and will recommend it to anyone i know.

Excellent, Concise, and To the Point

"Cop: A True Story" is the story of Sergeant Mike Middleton's years with the LAPD. During this time Middleton worked in LA's violent Newton Division.In the book Middleton tells his true experiences with violent criminals, police involved shootings, and his induction into a racist system that he opposed and later had to release himself from.Very readable and rarely if ever does the book go on further then it needs. I would recommend this book to officers, police brutality activists, and those who aspire to a career in law enforcement.