LAPD: Patrol, Swat, Air Support, K-9, Crash, and Homicide (Power Series) [Paperback]

Samuel Katz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1997

LAPD is an insider's look at the Los Angeles Police Department.

Fresh color photos and black & white shots from the LAPD tell the history of the department, the Academy, the elite SWAT and CHIPS divisions, Undercover detectives and the Aviation platoon. Examines the LAPD's image and some of the most controversial aspects of the department's history. Includes a LAPD glossary and action-packed stories as told by LAPD policemen, in the Power Series

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks International (June 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760302308
• ISBN-13: 978-0760302309
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 7.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,336,462 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Information on the City and Its Cops, April 23, 2001

By 

Peter (California, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: LAPD: Patrol, Swat, Air Support, K-9, Crash, and Homicide (Power Series) (Paperback)

LAPD is one of the greatest Motorbooks I ever read (and I read and have a lot of Motorbooks).

Unlike some Motorbooks, LAPD is a reader...not something you can read overnight. It took me a few days because it's pretty heavy on text...and a bit depressing too to see such rampant crime in a city.

Samuel Katz is truly a professional author and the way he describes information in this book is outstanding...every sentence is information, almost every page a case story.

Sam Katz also wrote "LAPD SWAT" in a 1997 Popular Mechanics issue and a Concord "Special Operations Journal #1" but his Motorbooks expands and covers many facets of LAPD. This Motorbooks is/ has the full story. Popular Mechanic's SWAT article doesn't.

Reading the book, you get a sense of how large and apparently dangerous LA really is. The book covers all the above sections but unlike some Motorbooks, Sam Katz doesn't just tell you what the cops do, but how, why, when, where, and for what reason. It's similar to a journal of where he went with whom...just like the "COPS" TV show from start to arrest. Sam keeps his opinions to a minimum and let's the cops do the talking which is refreshing since Sam is a visitor to the city of LA and LAPD.

Each section gets it's fair shake of information and presentation. Sam isn't biased. He doesn't spotlight SWAT and downplay K-9 for instance. Best of all, the photos are mainly action and go with the case stories Sam went along for the ride. Like Concord's book you'll see actual SWAT busts with Sam snapping the camera, K-9 posing for Sam, Sam's in the helicopter shooting photos, etc. The photos are not something pulled from a file and captioned "LAPD." There are some photos of weapons and vehicles but most is about the people and the cases. This is not a "LAPD Equipment and Vehicle" reference book but more of a "what happened crime-wise this 1997 week in LA?" journal.

Also, Sam's been many places with LAPD and the book takes you along. From the wealthy "too loud" parties in Hollywood to the dangers of Nickerson Gardens Projects in 77th Area. From Venice beach with its problems to the skies over LA tracking a carjacker.

All true battle stories about real cops and their suspects. The dialogue isn't filtered...only the swear words are bleeped out. The cops talk and so do the suspects...Sam writes their quotes all down in the book, preserving it for history and telling you the reader what the cops and suspects think.

A must read about the best cops in a dangerous city. One of the best Motorbooks I have. Worth every penny in text and photos.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Compelling and Gritty Look At America's Top Cops, June 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: LAPD: Patrol, Swat, Air Support, K-9, Crash, and Homicide (Power Series) (Paperback)

Finally--a book that tells the true story of the brave men and women who protect and serve the citizens of Los Angeles. The author has, through top-flight original photographs and a no-holds-barred narration, taken us on a tour of the dangers and excitement of law enforcement in Los Angeles. This books is a must read.