Cop's Tale, A - NYPD: The Violent Years Paperback – Import, 30 April 2014

I bought this book to aid me in my research into crime and policing methods in New York in the 1970s, when the city was in financial and social crisis. The book actually covers the period of Jim O’Neil’s service in the New York Police department between 1963 and 1984. O’Neil was a highly regarded detective working in some of the city’s most crime ridden locations. It is an honest account of O’Neil’s experience on the front line working in some of the toughest precincts in the city. The main focus of the book covers O’Neil’s time as a detective in Brooklyn’s notorious 73rd Precinct (known as Fort Zinderneuf) and later in Harlem’s 32nd Precinct (known as Dodge City). In between time there are stints with a specialised robbery division and Internal Affairs.O’Neil’s first-hand account of his experiences are extremely enlightening and frank – notably around the methods used in the detection of crime, policing on the streets and building of a network of informants by frequenting the same bars as the crooks. The anecdotes are real and are both funny and shocking. O’Neil pulls no punches and delivers it as it was. He offers no apologies for the methods used by officers and detectives and indeed puts a strong case for them. These methods are shown to be justified by the results they created. The breaking of the Black Liberation Army terrorist organisation and the deconstruction of the drugs empire in Harlem being two key examples.However, O’Neil does not condone much of the corruption that took place in the department during this period. he is as harsh in his judgement of a cop taking bribes or dealing dope as he is of the dope pushers, murderers and rapists on the street. He is also scathing in his judgement of the reforms introduced in the early 1970s by Police Commissioner Patrick Murphy, which limited the interactions cops could have on the streets and re-structured the department. Equally he has the utmost admiration for some of his senior officers and the repair work done by Michael J Codd between 1974-8 upon his election as Commissioner.Reading this book may not be comfortable for the more liberal minded, but it is historically accurate, honest and gives the reader a real insight into what the cops had to deal with during the city’s years of decadence.

Wow, this book was very hard to put down at times. Based on the realistic stories of Sgt. Jim O'Neil's personal recollections of the dangerous streets of one of the busiests city's in the United States, NYC. It is an easy read with moment's of incredible feats against the odds. I am in law enforcement myself in the big Apple and I'd like to thank Sgt. Jim O'Neil for sharing his moments in history as well as his dedication to service too the people of NYC. Great job and I look forward to reading any more books you may be a part of writing. The book also showed a side of law enforcement that most civillians do no get the opportunity to see or be a part of. The dedication, commitment, and personal sacrafices of one man who did make a difference when all else seemed gloomy to turn it around into a positive by bringing justice to those who preyed on innocent law abiding citizens. Once, again thank you Jim for your dedication and service. Stay true Blue.

A Cop's Tale; The Violent Years is more than just a book filled with stories...it's a "war journal" by one of the guys who was on the front lines. Detective Jim O'Neil sounds more like a combat solider in Vietnam but instead of exchanging "fire-fights" with the Viet Cong in some rice paddy of deep green jungle...he's a combat soldier in a cement jungle during some of the most dangerous years this country had ever experienced.Detective O'Neil tells it like it was (and still is), with no sugar coating or semantics to satisfy today's Politically correct syndrome or pacification of the ultra liberals who like to hide their heads in the sand and pretend that this is not a true reality of life.These are stories that will make you wince and your stomach turn while at the same time... your mind is screaming...Yea! do it again!!!O'Neil tells you he's no Saint, nor does he ever profess to be one. O'Neil is, like his generation, the last of the "Real Street Cop." It's a breath of fresh air to hear O'Neil speak his mind and describe his feelings about those he works with, and those... he works against.This is without a doubt a fast and furious "page turner" and the reader (like some street junkie), can't wait to get his "fix" from the next page.Investigator Callahan (aka: "Dirty Harry") and Charles Bronson look like school kids compared to Detective O'Neil and his compatriots.I empathize with O'Neil's description of his feelings after retirement and found his last paragraph very interesting wherein he basically says: "If, there's such a thing as reincarnation, then I hope to come back and do it all over again." A guy who loved his job, has no remorse or self-pity, and "did what he had to do." Read the book, you won't' be sorry!!If, ever I go to New York, I will leave the sightseeing to someone else but, to have a beer or two with Detective O'Neil and listen to more stories would be well worth the trip.

Found this book very down to earth. Good inside to life on the streets of New York.

Sgt. O’Neil brings you back to a time when the NYPD took names and kicked ass. O’Neil pulls no punches and tells you how ghetto cops handled business with the bad guys. He describes policing from a bygone era that police officers of today could never understand. A must read, you won’t put the book down. There truly are no more O’Neil’s in today’s police culture.