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Blue on Blue: An Insider's Story of Good Cops Catching Bad Cops by Gordon Dillow, Charles Campisi
larry1138's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
4.5
Charles Campisi provides a fascinating and in depth look at urban police, and more specifically NYPD, culture in Blue on Blue. By this point, many Americans should be aware of the numerous problems plaguing the American criminal justice system. Issues in policing have taken center stage in the last decade. But the solutions are not easy or as simple as the politically charged slogans make it out. As a New Yorker, it breaks my heart to hear crime is rising in my home city which was at one point one of the safest in the world. But when politics takes precedence over practical reforms and action, the result is that more people are victimized.
Campisi was a former 3 star cop, head of the NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau which, as the title suggests, specialized in taking down bad, dangerous, or corrupt cops within the NYPD. Campisi is, I think it's safe to say, biased towards supporting the NYPD, which should not necessarily be surprising. But he's not blind to the issues with the department either. He of all people would know that there are bad cops that need to be removed. I am uncomfortable with several of the defenses of certain aspects of cop culture and politics but I think that speaks more to societal expectations of cops and what the general public thinks a cop's job is rather than Campisi's loyalty to the "blue wall of silence". The blue wall certainly exists, but from Campisi's own record and narrative, he never seemed engaged in it at all. This was probably a major reason why he fit into IAB so well. Campisi took a barely functioning section of the NYPD ridden with malaise and hated by the entire department and possibly the city and turned it into an efficient bureau of corruption and crime hunters out to make sure the NYPD stayed as clean as possible. The actual stories of various cases that passed through IAB are fascinating and give the reader a good look at proper police work and the difficulties in hunting criminals who also happen to be cops.
The main reason I think this book is so valuable is that it's probably a cops like Campisi who can provide a clear and practical way forward for criminal justice reform not just in New York but across the country. He's not a politically motivated hyper progressive politician who would rather have a community fend for itself and abandon the very concept of the rule of law than call the cops and he's not an authoritarian right winger who would actively use the police to incite race riots and target political opponents, the press, and other so called "enemies of the people". The cops who understand that law enforcement officers should stick to law enforcement while other issues should be addressed by other civil service corps, or the cops who understand that their fellow cops can indeed be assholes and criminals, are going to be the best cases for leading reform efforts.
To keep a realistic eye on the author, it's possible that Campisi's politics have changed ever since this book was published in early 2017, particularly after the George Floyd protests in 2020 and the subsequent uptick in NYC crime after various "reforms" were put in place by DeBlasio and Adams. But these events show even more the importance of ensuring good cops have a significant place in reform efforts. Besides, the best way to actually combat crime is to ensure a healthy and growing economy with opportunities for every citizen to acquire employment, healthcare, and education. That is a discussion that not many people are ready to have as of yet unfortunately.
A high recommend from me for anybody who wants a good taste of real police work with an internal affairs twist. Great stories contained in here and plenty of good lessons learned from a very interesting point of view in the NYPD.
Campisi was a former 3 star cop, head of the NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau which, as the title suggests, specialized in taking down bad, dangerous, or corrupt cops within the NYPD. Campisi is, I think it's safe to say, biased towards supporting the NYPD, which should not necessarily be surprising. But he's not blind to the issues with the department either. He of all people would know that there are bad cops that need to be removed. I am uncomfortable with several of the defenses of certain aspects of cop culture and politics but I think that speaks more to societal expectations of cops and what the general public thinks a cop's job is rather than Campisi's loyalty to the "blue wall of silence". The blue wall certainly exists, but from Campisi's own record and narrative, he never seemed engaged in it at all. This was probably a major reason why he fit into IAB so well. Campisi took a barely functioning section of the NYPD ridden with malaise and hated by the entire department and possibly the city and turned it into an efficient bureau of corruption and crime hunters out to make sure the NYPD stayed as clean as possible. The actual stories of various cases that passed through IAB are fascinating and give the reader a good look at proper police work and the difficulties in hunting criminals who also happen to be cops.
The main reason I think this book is so valuable is that it's probably a cops like Campisi who can provide a clear and practical way forward for criminal justice reform not just in New York but across the country. He's not a politically motivated hyper progressive politician who would rather have a community fend for itself and abandon the very concept of the rule of law than call the cops and he's not an authoritarian right winger who would actively use the police to incite race riots and target political opponents, the press, and other so called "enemies of the people". The cops who understand that law enforcement officers should stick to law enforcement while other issues should be addressed by other civil service corps, or the cops who understand that their fellow cops can indeed be assholes and criminals, are going to be the best cases for leading reform efforts.
To keep a realistic eye on the author, it's possible that Campisi's politics have changed ever since this book was published in early 2017, particularly after the George Floyd protests in 2020 and the subsequent uptick in NYC crime after various "reforms" were put in place by DeBlasio and Adams. But these events show even more the importance of ensuring good cops have a significant place in reform efforts. Besides, the best way to actually combat crime is to ensure a healthy and growing economy with opportunities for every citizen to acquire employment, healthcare, and education. That is a discussion that not many people are ready to have as of yet unfortunately.
A high recommend from me for anybody who wants a good taste of real police work with an internal affairs twist. Great stories contained in here and plenty of good lessons learned from a very interesting point of view in the NYPD.
j45rpm's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting read, but also a biased one. Campisi talks about bad cops being a very small number, but glosses over cops lying to protect said bad cops. Talks about the professionalism of most cops, but then glosses over a cop coming forward about a major police brutality incident and getting harassed by other cops. Certainly a Neanderthal when it comes to issues of race and stop and frisk.
Campisi’s service, assuming his story is true, leaves an admirable legacy and record. But what Campisi’s book doesn’t talk about, or doesn’t get into the details of, speaks as loudly as what he does.
Campisi’s service, assuming his story is true, leaves an admirable legacy and record. But what Campisi’s book doesn’t talk about, or doesn’t get into the details of, speaks as loudly as what he does.
the_sassy_bookworm's review against another edition
4.0
This book really was a fascinating read. The author gives us a behind the scenes look at the inner workings on the NYPD and the IAB. And he does it in a way that is both interesting and thought provoking.
From dirty cops to unsung heroes to sting operations and undercover cops...this book will give you a greater appreciation for those that do what is necessary to keep the streets safe and the NYPD an institution you can trust.
eelsmac's review against another edition
3.0
I think I had notions about this book given that I got it in the summer of 2020. For those that think, given the contemporary debates about police brutality and racial inequality, this may be timely....I'd argue it sets itself up to be and then hard-to-starboard swerves around the issue. I felt like it was a little hypocritical and clannish for the author to take the stance 'you don't understand if you're not a cop' and then dismiss the collective truth for entire swaths of society. Also super disrespectful towards the media. I get that NYC has more of a tabloid culture than the rest of the country, but joking about the news media being fiction is counterproductive to positive media relations and quite frankly irresponsible given the role of a free press in a democracy.
Also, I think an editor is needed in cutting down some of the long winded stories that all kind of blend together in the end.
There were some parts that were genuinely interesting, but overall it's a pretty shallow perspective of a complex and timely issue.
Also, I think an editor is needed in cutting down some of the long winded stories that all kind of blend together in the end.
There were some parts that were genuinely interesting, but overall it's a pretty shallow perspective of a complex and timely issue.
mountain343's review against another edition
5.0
This was an excellent look at NYPD’s IAB/IAD from the 70′s until recently, by a 3 star chief. While part autobiography, the main focus was on the changes and activities of the IAB and how they functioned and the people they went after.
One thing I really appreciated was how well it was written, it had a cohesive story telling style that never felt scattered, though it did branch off at various times.
Another thing that I felt was a matter of good editing was the sticking of the political issues at the very end. There was so much to cover, so much time as an NYPD officer and in IAB, that the politics of Mayors and Commissioners and editorializing about them was best left for the end, as a sort of pre-epilogue.
Overall, you really get a good understanding of the person, of the job, of the department, even while focused on the some of it’s worst characters, from the Cannibal Cop to the Tix-Fix scandal.
My only complaint was that the book glossed over his experiences promoting through the ranks and managerial issues. I would have loved to have read more about what it was like to take the sgt’s and other tests, how it was to be a chief and managing various personalities and people, and the difficulties and successes in that regard. So few people have ever been in his shoes, it’s always good to be able to learn from those who have managed to succeed in leadership roles.
A really good read that never got boring!
One thing I really appreciated was how well it was written, it had a cohesive story telling style that never felt scattered, though it did branch off at various times.
Another thing that I felt was a matter of good editing was the sticking of the political issues at the very end. There was so much to cover, so much time as an NYPD officer and in IAB, that the politics of Mayors and Commissioners and editorializing about them was best left for the end, as a sort of pre-epilogue.
Overall, you really get a good understanding of the person, of the job, of the department, even while focused on the some of it’s worst characters, from the Cannibal Cop to the Tix-Fix scandal.
My only complaint was that the book glossed over his experiences promoting through the ranks and managerial issues. I would have loved to have read more about what it was like to take the sgt’s and other tests, how it was to be a chief and managing various personalities and people, and the difficulties and successes in that regard. So few people have ever been in his shoes, it’s always good to be able to learn from those who have managed to succeed in leadership roles.
A really good read that never got boring!
samagader35's review against another edition
3.0
DNF. It has nothing to do with the book (what I read was quite good and interesting). I simply cannot focus on non-fiction.
henhenthehen's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
4.75
This book was so interesting to read. I really enjoyed learning the behind the scenes about good cops v bad cops. Some parts were a little repetitive at times, but the stories were fun to read. The chapter 11 was the craziest in my opinion.
thesassybookworm's review against another edition
4.0
This book really was a fascinating read. The author gives us a behind the scenes look at the inner workings on the NYPD and the IAB. And he does it in a way that is both interesting and thought provoking.
From dirty cops to unsung heroes to sting operations and undercover cops...this book will give you a greater appreciation for those that do what is necessary to keep the streets safe and the NYPD an institution you can trust.
bookbrig's review against another edition
informative
There were some fascinating details, but I wasn't really interested in reading repeated justifications of police shootings. This story is a strange mixture of the importance of policing the police and excuses for why police officers might do something to get on IAB's radar in the first place, and it felt a little tone deaf as a result.
the_sassy_bookworm's review
4.0
This book really was a fascinating read. The author gives us a behind the scenes look at the inner workings on the NYPD and the IAB. And he does it in a way that is both interesting and thought provoking.
From dirty cops to unsung heroes to sting operations and undercover cops...this book will give you a greater appreciation for those that do what is necessary to keep the streets safe and the NYPD an institution you can trust.