Peter Knobler Knihy

When Bill Bratton was sworn in as New York City's police commissioner in 1994, he made what many considered a bold promise: The NYPD would fight crime in every borough ... and win. It seemed foolhardy; everybody knows you can't win the war on crime. But Bratton delivered. In an extraordinary twenty-seven months, serious crime in New York City went down by 33 percent, the murder rate was cut in half - and Bill Bratton was heralded as the most charismatic and respected law enforcement official in America. In this outspoken account of his news-making career, Bratton reveals how his cutting-edge policing strategies brought about the historic reduction in crime. Bratton's success made national news and landed him on the cover of Time. It also landed him in political hot water. Bratton earned such positive press that before he'd completed his first week on the job, the administration of New York's media-hungry mayor, Rudolph Giuliani, threatened to fire him. Bratton gives a vivid, behind-the-scenes look at the sizzle and substance, and he pulls no punches describing the personalities who really run the city.

When Bill Bratton became a Boston street cop after serving in Vietnam, he was troubled by the corrupt old guard, who were equally dismayed by him. His undeniable success in fighting crime propelled him to a remarkable career, making him one of the most renowned police commissioners in modern history. This narrative chronicles his journey, highlighting his revolutionary data-driven approach and exceptional leadership that significantly reduced crime rates and professionalized policing. However, his career was not without controversy, particularly regarding the fraught relationship between the Black community and law enforcement, a situation he believes has been exacerbated by unintended consequences of some policies. Bratton emphasizes that building trust between police and the communities they serve is essential; without this trust, effective policing is nearly impossible. The narrative serves as both a critical reflection on policing over the past fifty years and a master class in transformative leadership. Bratton's tenure in various departments, from the New York Transit Police to Los Angeles and back to New York, was marked by a commitment to reinvention rather than maintaining the status quo. In an era where the role of police is under intense scrutiny, Bratton's insights on improving law enforcement are invaluable, offering a compelling vision for the future of American policing.

"A business and pop culture icon traces the story of his life and career, discussing his working-class childhood with eight siblings, the dyslexia that challenged his education, his novel approaches to commerce, and his enduring influence on American style,"--NoveList