NYPD Confidential: Power and Corruption in the Country's Greatest Police Force [Hardcover]

Leonard Levitt (Author)

Book Description

Release date: July 21, 2009

For years, the police commissioner and the mayor of New York City have duked it out for publicity, credit, and power. Some have translated their stardom into success after leaving office, while others have been hung out to dry. In the battle for control of the country’s most powerful police force, these high-status government officials have often chosen political expediency over public honesty. The result is a legacy of systemic corruption and cover-ups that is nothing less than shocking.

Respected journalist Leonard Levitt has covered the NYPD for New York Newsday, and the New York Post among other papers. His columns have made him persona non grata in police headquarters. In NYPD Confidential, he reveals everything he’s discovered throughout his decades-long career. With amazing details of backroom deals and larger-than-life powerbrokers, Levitt lays bare the backstabbing, power-grabs, and chaotic internal investigations that have run the NYPD’s reputation into the ground in the past—and the forces conspiring to do so once again.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. When he covered the NYPD for Newsday, Levitt had access to all levels of the country's largest law enforcement agency, and now the Edgar winner (Conviction) catalogues dirty cops and departmental scandals. While he doesn't withhold credit where it's due (such as in the World Trade Center attacks), Levitt is most interested in the corrupt underbelly of America's largest police department. [S]acrificing truth for image while acting in secrecy is the department's M.O., he says. Both the 1970s Knapp Commission corruption hearings and the Mollen Commission in the 1990s underscored that dirty cops weren't confined to the lower ranks—the dishonesty reached all the way to the highest echelons. Examining some of the department's most notorious acts of violence—e.g., the torturing of Abner Louima, the shooting death of the unarmed Amadou Diallo—he has little praise for supposedly tough-on-crime mayor Giuliani. Some readers' eyes may cross at the sheer abundance of names and dates (a time line offers some help), but Levitt's account is an engrossing in-depth look at scandal inside the NYPD. (July)
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Review

"This is a veteran reporter's inside story about the New York City Police Department. It's a fascinating read. I couldn't put it down. Leonard Levitt delves into the murky backroom deals of City Hall, and the missing pieces to the NYPD's corruption fall skillfully into place."

--Frank Serpico

 

"One thing you can be sure of: 35,000 New York cops always were the first to read Lenny Levitt's stories every time. It was true comedy to watch him, small and with a big pad, go down the hall in headquarters as top officials, brass jangling, egos scraping the ceiling, flew into their offices. Levitt's book also is depressing when he tells of an innocent being shot. Amadou Diallo was shot forty-one times by police in his Bronx doorway. The case was moved to Albany, where the only thing you could say about a cop was 'not guilty.' You will read every page of this book, as I did."

--Jimmy Breslin

 

"When you read about the political and personal agendas at the top of the NYPD, it makes you feel sorry for the honest copys who signed on to protect and serve."

--Bob Ingle, coauthor of The Soprano State

 

"Len Levitt's behind-the-scenes account of the NYPD is in the tradition of hard-hitting New York police reporters such as Jacob Riis and Lincoln Steffens. I find his work fascinating."

--Thomas Reppeto, former president of the Citizens Crime Commission of New York City, and coauthor of NYPD: A City and Its Police

 

"Eye-opening reporting on America’s largest and most powerful police force."

-- Kirkus Reviews

 

"Want to always feel in the know? Len Levitt's website is the place to go. Controversial, informative, insightful: he never hesitates to tackle an issue or render an opinion." --WILLIAM BRATTON, Chief of Police, LAPD, former Police Commissioner, NYPD

 

"Lenny Levitt is the Walter Winchell of the NYPD. Some love to read him. Some hate to read him. But everybody reads him." --JOHN MILLER, Assistant Director, FBI, former NYPD spokesman

 

"Love him or hate him, Len Levitt is required reading for many within the ranks of the NYPD, present and past." --Chief JOHN F. TIMONEY, Miami Police Department and former NYPD First Deputy Commissioner

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books; First Edition edition (July 21, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312380321
• ISBN-13: 978-0312380328
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #881,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Author of Practical Homicide Investigation December 29, 2009

By Vernon J. Geberth

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

NYPD CONFIDENTIAL:
Power and Corruption in the Country's Greatest Police Force

NYPD Confidential by Leonard Levitt certainly didn't spare any criticisms of the "Brass" at One Police Plaza or even City Hall for that matter. So, Levitt shouldn't have been surprised that the Police Commissioner, Ray Kelly and the other two major subjects of his book, Mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg didn't respond to his request for interviews. Levitt was already on record as having criticized them in his news editorials. Commissioner Kelly even had previously revoked his press credentials after a negative article that Levitt wrote about Kelly. Welcome to the New York City Police Department. "When your in you're a Guest when your out you're a Pest."

I spent twenty-two and a half years in the NYPD in a number of special assignments from the elite Tactical Patrol Force making my way up the ladder through the Detective Division and retiring as the Commander of Bronx Homicide. I can personally attest to what happens to anyone who criticizes the "High Command." I was there during many of the scandals that Lenny describes in his book. Although I thought that I knew most of what had taken place and some of the inside stories behind the news, I was amazed at how much I didn't know after I read Lenny's book. There are certainly some eye-opening details in this book that reveal the naked ambitions of some of the most powerful people I served under during my career with the NYPD. However, one thing I did notice is that Lenny didn't get everything right. That was probably because he was looking at the event through the eyes of a reporter and not a cop. Needless to say, as a dedicated law enforcement professional I found some of the revelations embarrassing. Yet, despite the revelations in NYPD Confidential, I can state unequivocally that there are more good cops than bad cops in the NYPD. As a student of human behavior I can comprehend how some of the folks that Lenny personally identified in NYPD Confidential chose to use political expediency to combat the truth. But is it any different in the federal government or private industry?

Thankfully, I was lucky enough to be assigned to the outer Borough of the Bronx for most of my career and had little interaction with the Headquarters. I found the "Headquarters Mentality" to be treacherous not to mention how devastating it was to people's careers. I think that Lenny did get it right regarding the egos, attitudes and rivalries, which permeate One Police Plaza. But, sadly, the duplicity of these folks will continue to be played out each and every day.

Even in his introduction Lenny admits that most of the police officials who did talk to him did so anonymously and that included high ranking members of the department. You have to read this book to understand how and why people like Commissioner Ray Kelly, who has been described as a megalomaniac in NYPD blogs, as well as others mentioned in this book can be dangerous adversaries and will go to any lengths to destroy the careers of anyone whom they suspect as disloyal or a threat to their ambitions. It's a testimony to Leonard Levitt that the police officials who did speak to him actually trusted him to keep them nameless. Ask yourself a question. Why?

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Expert Look at Proper and Improper Police Practies September 15, 2009

By LEON L CZIKOWSKY

Format:Hardcover

This is an excellent historical and critical look about good and bad police practices from a journalist who has spent years in the forefront overseeing New York police operations. He recalls how John Guido, head of NYPD Internet Affairs for 15 years, observed that corruption has been a part of the New York police culture. Detective Frank Serpico went public with corruption which led to the Knapp Commission in 1970 that found corruption at all levels. There was a continuation of corrupt practices discovered by the Lexom Commission in the 1890s. Police were known to shake down the public and criminals. The Knapp Commission discovered officers known as "grass eaters" and "meat eaters" depending on the degree of corrupt practices in which they engaged. The police had a culture of covering up their misdoings. Reports were altered to make the police falsely appear correct. The highest uniformed officer, the Chief Inspector, admitted to receiving improper gifts from business leaders. Reports of corruption were reported to Mayor John Lindsay, who looked the other way in hopes of keeping the police ready in case of riots, which did occur.

Ironically, after the Knapp Commission, police leadership focused more on preventing policy corruption than on fighting crime. There was less managerial concern about the rising crime rate than on avoiding corrupt practices. Precinct cops and squad detectives were steered away from making drug arrests, which had led to kickbacks. Instead, arrests were made by specialized units, which resulted in decreased arrest rates. Broken police command led to tragic consequences.

The police were left to continue monitoring themselves. Yet, 33 officers were convicted of drug related charges. The Mollen Commission studied the police and concluded that officers placed loyalty to each other above the truth. Kelly slowly and reluctantly removed some senior officer alleged to be part of cover-ups. A permanent police monitoring agency was proposed but Mayor Guiliani opposed the idea.

Ray Kelly as Police Commissioner saw the murder rate decline during his tenure. He was known for fighting police corruption. His successful tenure at lowering crime helped boost the image of Mayor Rudy Guiliani. Yet Guiliani replaced him with William Bratton.

Bratton had NYPD increase arrest of "quality of life" crimes such as squeegee people, graffiti writers, people public urinating, shoplifters, marijuana dealers and users, etc.

Britton's successes made him more popular than was Mayor Guiliani. Guiliani was not happy with being overshadowed.

1,000 officers, or 4% of all officers, were in the Narcotics Division. Since 30% of crime was related to drugs, Bratton decided to transfer more police into the Narcotics Division. Once again, Bratton received more praise for this than did Guiliani. Guiliani demanded the police press office be reduced from 35 to 17, one less than the 16 who composed the Mayor's press office. Bratton objected, stating he ran the department. The head of the Press Corps refused to fire people as directed by the Mayor and resigned instead.

Giuliani's office began criticizing Bratton for out of town appearances. It is against Department policy to accept outside reward for public service and it was hinted those appearances violated that. Bratton signed a book contract that received more criticism. Bratton resigned.

Howard Safir was named Police Commissioner. Giuliani swung the spotlight back to his office. Crime continued decreasing. Giuliani, in a slap at Bratton, proclaimed Safir as "the greatest Police Commissioner in the history of New York City".
Several police scandals arose. An arrested man was deliberately abused physically and sexually in a police station. Safir canceled appearing before Council to instead attend the Oscars while staying two nights as the guests of George Fellows, the head of Revlon. When this was disclosed in the press, Safir reimbursed Fellows $7,100. There was also a highly controversial shooting of an unarmed Black who had committed no crime by white Streets Crime Unit officers who mistakenly thought he had a gun. Racial tensions arose. Bernard Kerik was named to replace Safir as Commissioner.

Bernard Kerik wrote his autobiography and had an affair with his publisher Judith Regan. She claims the affair was a means Kerik used to get her to publicize the book. He then ended the affair and she claims he stalked and threatened her and her children.

While Giuliani had criticized Bratton for signing a book contract, he was silent when Kerik signed one. Police resources were used to get information for the book. Kerik used police officers to travel to Ohio for research for his book. Kerit stated the work was not during work time and he reimbursed the officers who traveled to Ohio $838.74. He though was fined $2,500 by the Conflict of Interest Board for having the officers work on his book. Kerit also used official police photograph on 9/11 that Guiliani had previously banned their use.

Michael Bloomberg, as Mayor, administers by delegation. Giuliani, in contrast, sought to be in control. Bloomberg brought Raymond Kelly back as Commissioner. Kelly changed the Intelligence Division to hire more people fluent in Arabic, Urdu, and Pashto.

The crime rate continued decreasing. Some claimed more officers were downgrading complaints of crime to lesser offenses. The police became more transparent on public information.

The book offers many useful details and expert analysis. It is great for people interested in police history and administration.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Rick, Las Vegas, Nevada August 30, 2009

By Rick

Format:Hardcover

Leonard Levitt's new book NYPD Confidential is a no holds barred look into the NYC Police Department and the corruption, collusion and relationships among mayors, mobsters and politicians. Noone is spared, not mayors,chiefs of police,politicians both local and national, district attorneys or mobsters.
Levitt names names and places and his sources are both named and unamed. Noone has yet denied or disputed any accusations made in this book.
As a NYC resident during the three decades covered in the book I can attest to the voluminous cases of police and political corruption reported so frequently in the daily newspapers. Levitt, however, goes much further into the details of what went on as well as shocking new allegations against people in power that the public was never aware of until now.
This is a very powerful book and I strongly suggest that any person that believes that power does not corrupt will surely change their minds after reading this book.