Books like Breaking Rank: A Top Cop's Exposé of the Dark Side of American Policing

Norm Stamper begins this book with the story of a fellow Washington State police chief’s murder-suicide of his wife with his service revolver. The very public nature of the crime was the impetus in the seriousness of domestic violence and resulted in his expansion of the treatment of victims. The former chief of police sees the $50 billion a year spent on the war on drugs as a complete waste of resources. Richard Nixon was hooked on Dilantin during his presidency. Rush Limbaugh’s drug of choice was Oxycontin. The hypocrisy is ridiculous. I have never used any mind altering drug in all of my sixty-one years, but on this topic I am a Libertarian. Stamper believes that drugs should be decriminalized and regulated the same way as alcohol. It is on to prostitution and the high murder rate of such individuals. Many cops use the term NHI (no humans involved) to describe them. As with drug policy, Stamper cites Amsterdam’s low crime rate using regulations to control prostitution. The Innocence Project changed the lawman’s opinion regarding the death penalty. He favors life without parole. He agrees with the original Miranda decision which encourages the police to behave properly. Stamper’s early career in the 1960’s with the San Diego P.D. included no female officers. Their addition to departments nationwide has been a necessary improvement. He was astounded by the rampant sexism and racism during his rise from beat cop to chief of the Seattle P.D. His fondest memory was the delivery of two babies in the same week on the same block. From 1968-1970, Stamper worked undercover spying on left wing groups such as SDS and the Black Panthers. He had a deep respect for the professor Angela Davis, and so do I. As a cop in San Diego, Norm was forced to shoot a man holding his little boy hostage in his car. A tape measure with black electrical tape resembled a gun and Stamper has been forever haunted by the bloody scene. The Stonewall incident in NYC and Stamper’s experience with homophobia within his department forced him to confront his own prejudices. His last stand was as chief of police during the Battle in Seattle in 1999. He blamed himself for not being properly prepared for the sheer volume of protestors. He took full responsibility for his failures and resigned shortly after the riots. His story covers thirty-six years in law enforcement and Breaking Rank is an entertaining and informative book.