Six Gun Sound: The Early History of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Early Los Angeles was a fascinating and combustible mix of Native Americans, Californios, Mexicans, Afro-Mexicans, Chinese, Spanish, Basque, English, Irish, Dutch, Germans, and a host..." (more)
Key Phrases: Los Angeles, San Quentin, Sheriff Barton (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The chief virtue of this book is Crongeyer's bringing together the work of the first 20 sheriffs."  —Los Angeles County Historical Society

Product Description

This account of the struggle to bring law and order to a city rich with gold rush money, at odds with Mexican bandits, and teeming with forty-niners and confederate sympathizers chronicles the chaotic early days of Los Angeles, which boasted the highest homicide rate in America by 1850. From profiles of the frontier-style lawmen hired to stop the initial mayhem to an analysis of the city's modern sheriff's office—the largest in America—this book draws comparisons between the uproar of the early days, the racial tensions that erupted during the Watts riots, and the safety issues that preoccupy the police force today.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: Linden Publishing (May 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933502002
• ISBN-13: 978-1933502007
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #728,184 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great historic read, March 8, 2007

By	S. Holland (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a history of Los Angeles and of LASD it hits on all counts. Written by a Deputy Sheriff it provides a unique prospective on the subject. A must read for history and law enforcement buffs.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rougher Days for LA!, September 4, 2007

By	Valerie J. Headrick "Cooking Monster" (Malibu, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a historical account of the earliest days of Law Makers and Breakers in the L.A. area... Quite violent and deadly...Quite interesting! Purchased for a friend who was in the Mounted Posse division of the L.A. Sheriff's Dept. for over 20 years, I still have it and am almost finished! Very informative, engaging and entertaining.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE TRUE OLD WEST, September 24, 2007

By	Joseph H. Race "Jose Mango" (SAIPAN, MP United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I am a retired law enforcement officer and really enjoyed reading some of real facts about the Old West. Many of the stories we read and see on TV have been embellished to make it seem more interesting, but the truth is often more fascinating that the fictional accounts. And Sven dug out the truth through research and interviews and provides us some wonderful, great stories about Los Angeles during the times of the Gold Rush, Civil War, and the beginning of the LA Sheriff's Department. He brings to life the desperadoes and the racial problems, offset by strong government leaders and the heroic deeds of the early lawmen. An excellent chronicle of the wild and wooly days out West.