Boot

The Rodney King incident and the OJ Simpson trial brought the LAPD national notoriety as a police force out of synch with the city it polices. But is this force of 9,000 men and women really made up of mavericks and rogues? In this revised edition of a timeless true crime classic, rookie police officer William Dunn takes you inside that other LAPD, one where hard working cops battle for the average citizen while dodging gangsters' bullets.

Set during one of the city's most turbulent years in the middle of one of its most impoverished, and violent, neighborhoods, Los Angeles as seen through the eyes of rookie Officer Dunn is a potentially volatile, constantly changing landscape. To be a good cop, and survive the experience, Dunn quickly learns from some unforgettable teachers how to lay down the law on the streets. Dunn's dispatches from the frontlines of LA are dramatic, humorous and touching. Every day there is another drive-by shooting, high speed chase or just downright bizarre situation to be dealt with. Dunn offers some of the most compelling insights into the challenges facing a young street cop - and the way we keep peace in America's most dangerous policing districts.

This edition also includes a "Guide for the Law Enforcement Candidate," including insight into the police application process, as well as a sample test to help those interested in a career in law enforcement prepare for the journey.