Customer Reviews

L.A. Justice

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Want to know what's wrong with the LAPD today? Read this book. Chief Vernon's first hand account of what went wrong provides tremendous insight into the destructive power of political correctness and and the political power struggles that destroyed the finest law enforcement agency in the world! Well written in a self-depricating and winsome style. A prophetic look at the future of big city municiple law enforcement. A must read for any police officer considering a career as a Law Enforcement Executive.

This book is something more like two books, rather than one. Vernon spends the first half of the book telling his view of the department and what his career was like and how it ended during the aftermath of the LA Riots of 1992. If you are intersted in police work and in the LAPD in particular you will enjoy that part. If you are interested a police officer's view during the Los Angeles Riots of 1992 it also for you. Robert Vernon's father was a 20-year veteran of LAPD and he tells of his father's frustaration of working in the (then) terribly corrupt department. Vernon then writes of his rise up the ranks and chronicles the evolution of the department during his time there.

The second part of the book deals with Vernon's observations on American society and the things that have contributed its changes, not all of them for the better. These personal observations seem to be the recollections of an older gentleman who wishes to impart some of his aquired knowledge to a younger generation that might have a chance to make some changes for the better.

I met Mr. Vernon earlier this year at a Pointman Leadership Seminar that my employer sponsored. It was well worth my time and inspired me to read this book, which I had just aquired a month prior to the seminar. Having met the man prior to reading the book and getting a more insightful view of what makes him tick made the book more inspiring. I hope he might update the book and make it available to participants in his seminar as I believe he has grown a lot, spititually, since it was written and that aspect of his personality could better be presented in the book today.

The author, Bob Vernon, rose up through the ranks of the LAPD and through a 37 year career, became Deputy Chief. This book gives important behind-the-scenes insight into the events surrounding the Rodney King incident and the riots that followed. It also lays out how Los Angeles politicians in this time period sought to use the police force for their own political purposes. The second half of the book uses police stories to illustrate principles that the author believes need to be addressed in society today to re-instate law and order. I can't recommend this book highly enough for those with either an interest or who are working in law enforcement.

I live in a country where racialism was once institutionalised by law, where politicians and officials connived to conceal the tragic consequences of their laws, and where people were hopelessly divided from and mistrustful of one another. This book reminded me of my own country's failures and of the TV footage of the Rodney King affair. It also reminded me of the large number of commissions of enquiry into mysterious deaths that found "no one to blame".The author is candid, honest and courageous in his presentation of the facts as he has experienced them.

I really thought the book was going to be more about the LAPD, instaed I found out that it's a book about Robert Vernon and how everybody tore him apart and why they were all wrong! Well, read it and make your own opinion, but Mr. Vernon please don't write any more books!