©1999 - 2007
Edward D. Reuss
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Mass-Mediated Terrorism Author: Brigitte L. Nacos   Click here to order this book in association with Amazon.com The author is Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Columbia University.  Before she began teaching at Columbia, she was a correspondent for newspapers in Germany. She is the author of several important books: "The Press, Presidents, and Crisis" (Columbia University Press, 1990)  "Terrorism and the Media: From the Iran Hostage Crisis to the World Trade Center Bombing" (Columbia University Press, 1994)  "From Bonn to Berlin: German Politics in Transition" (Columbia University Press, 1998) "Mass-Mediated Terrorism: The Central Role of the Media in Terrorism and Counterterrorism" (Rowman & Littlefield, 2002) A thorough examination of how terrorists use the media to achieve their goals. I was especially interested in Chapter 6.  The author not only studied the problem from an empirical viewpoint, but she spells out how emergency managers can take steps to deal with this difficult area of emergency management.  She gives ten specific recommendations for the response community to use in future incidents of mass-mediated terrorism. This is a refreshing departure from those who offer themselves as “expert” in this area. The role of the Public information Officer is a vital part of the Incident Command System.  This book should be part of the training given to those who will fill this critical role.

Non-fiction Books (Click on the title to view a book, or scroll down to view all selections.) Terrorism Response Mob Over Miami 23rd Precinct : The Job Stolen Valor The 1993 World Trade Center Bombing - Foresight and Warning Understanding Terrorism and Managing the Consequences The New Jackals Bully in Sight Armed and Dangerous Dead on Delivery Target Blue Tears of Rage Crime Talk NYPD Battles Crime Black Mass: The Irish Mob, The FBI and A Devil’s Deal Thirty- Eight Witnesses: The Kitty Genovese Case Domestic Violence: Facts and Fallicies I Love a Cop Cop Shock My Fathers Gun Turnaround Triumph of Spirit Top Cops: Profiles of Women in Command Fixing Broken Windows: Restoring Order and Reducing Crime in Our Communities The Deuce Fiction Books False Stature Color of the Prism Blood Shot Eyes Justifiable Homicide Nightbird Black and White 14 Peck Slip

Non-fiction Book

Terrorism Response:  Field Guide for Law Enforcement Package by Hank Christen and Paul M. Maniscalco   Click here to order this book in association with Amazon.com A field guide version of Managing Terrorism and Managing the Consequences. This guide can be carried on duty as a practical and ready reference. Every police chief should order these guides and use them as a practical training tool.   top

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Mob Over Miami by Michelle McPhee Click here to order this book in association with Amazon.com Michelle McPhee is a crime reporter with the NY Daily News.  Like most of her peers, she spends a lot time in areas of the city such as Manhattan where the rich and famous as well as the powerful make the headlines. One Police Plaza is the only place to be for the breaking stories.  So it takes a special person to look elsewhere in this great metropolis for a story like "Mob Over Miami".  Who would take the time to do an investigative story about a small time hood from Staten Island?  Reading her book was like reliving my last few years on the NYPD.   Names and events on the pages were familiar to any cop who worked on Staten Island. The story is based on the outrageous rise to power of a local petty criminal determined to claw his way into the world of organized crime. The book tells the true story of Christian Ludwigsen AKA Chris Paciello.  He succeeded beyond his wildest dreams.  His life in Miami's South Beach would be the envy of the criminal world. He had a good run, and he rubbed elbows with the elite of the entertainment world.  With some, he rubbed more than elbows. His demise follows the usual pattern when the threat of imprisonment faces the former tough guys of organized crime. He betrayed his own and testified against them.  Once again, it is pathetic to watch former mob figures "roll over" and give up their closest friends. The myth of "omerta" is once again exposed and any romantic notions that the public may have about these guys are put to rest in this book.  Read this book after you watch the TV show "The Soprano's" to keep in touch with reality.   top

23rd Precinct : The Job by Arlene Schulman   Click here to order this book in association with Amazon.com     top

Stolen Valor - How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of Its Heroes and Its History B.G. Burkett and Glenna Whitley Click here to order this book in association with Amazon.com B.G. Burkett, a military researcher, was co-chairman of the Texas Vietnam Memorial with President George Bush as Honorary Chairman. Mr. Burkett has been the object of an award-winning segment on ABC's "20/20," as well as much acclaimed articles in Texas Monthly and Reader's Digest. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and the University of Tennessee. Burkett also served in Vietnam with the 199th Light Infantry Brigade, and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Vietnamese Honor Medal, and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm. Glenna Whitley, an award-winning investigative reporter, specializes in writing about crime and the legal system. A graduate of Texas A&M University, her work has appeared in the Dallas Morning News, D Magazine, Texas Monthly, Redbook, as well as numerous other magazines and newspapers. Whitley currently is senior editor at D Magazine in Dallas, where she lives with her husband and two sons Click here for review and excerpt.   top

The 1993 World Trade Center Bombing - Foresight and Warning by Peter Caram Click here to order this book in association with Amazon.com Peter Caram, Detective Sgt, PAPD (ret) was in charge of anti-terrorist intelligence at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.  He held many assignments including the World Trade Center.  What makes the author unique is his personal knowledge of Arabic culture. He speaks Arabic for a good reason.  His parents taught him. His book  "The 1993 World Trade Center Bombing-Foresight and Warning" is a disturbing look into both the Port Authority security and the mindset of Islamic fundamentalists. Caram gave repeated warnings to those in top management positions with little success. His recommendations were either ignored or thwarted by those responsible for the security and safety of thousands of workers in the World Trade Center. The warnings and recommendations for additional security came from a person who knew the credibility of the threats being made by Islamic extremists. For a chilling view of how the radical Islamic martyrs see us in the West, the author includes a reading of the last will and testament of an Islamic warrior. This is a must read for those who seek answers to why the World Trade Center was selected for destruction and to understand how Islamic Fundamentalism differs from traditional Islam.   top

Understanding Terrorism and Managing the Consequences by Paul M. Maniscalco, Hank T. Christen Click here to order this book in association with Amazon.com Emergency Management and dealing with the consequences of terrorism is the subject of this thoroughly researched text. The authors are not just academicians, they have professional experience that can only be acquired by responding to the scenes of disasters.  This text serves as a training manual for emergency managers.  The Incident Command System (Incident Management System) and the unity of command critical to emergencies is covered in depth. All street cops, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel are familiar with the disputes at scene of emergencies between the various agencies. The inter-agency rivalry and personality conflicts that arise amid all the confusion and critical stress of these incidents was never dealt with until the issuance of Presidential Decision Directive #39  (PDD#39) in 1995. Prior to that policy directive, the question was always "Who is in Charge?"   Turf protection and inter-agency jealousy has been effectively controlled by PDD #39. The Incident Command System now specifically directs which agency takes command at scenes of terrorism, natural disasters, technological disasters, and mass casualty incidents.  Emergency Management now has grown to be of such importance, that academic degrees are now being offered in this critical field. Any governor, mayor, police chief, fire chief, and all emergency services at the state and local level must famiiarize themselves with emergency management.  This book is good beginning.   top

The New Jackals: Ramzi Yousef, Osama bin Laden and the Future of Terrorism by Simon Reeve Click here to order this book in association with Amazon.com The New Jackals should be required reading for all Americans.  The frightening future that awaits us is a disturbing fact of life.  If we do not educate ourselves about the nature of the terrorists and their belief system, we cannot hope to preserve our system of values for our children.   Simon Reeve has shown us a fearful enemy. Knowledge is power and this book gives the reader a good foundation on which to build.   top

Bully in Sight Author: Tim Field Click here to order this book in association with Amazon.com Bully in Sight is an eye-opener. All of us have been bullied at one time or another.. Whether it is the garden-variety schoolyard bully or the more destructive version in the workplace, the tactics of the bully is revealed. If you think that bullying is not a factor in the violence we see around us in the workplace and schools, this book sends an alarming message. The effects of bullying have become topics of research by those seeking causes for the violence in our schools and workplaces.  Paranoia, feelings of persecution, and bullying are part of the patterns in many of these incidents.  This book should be read by those in upper management positions in corporate, academic and governmental organizations.  The New York State Police website now features links to Tim Field's web-site www.successunlimited.co.uk Click Here for Excerpt   top

Armed and Dangerous Author: Gina Gallo Click here to order this book in association with Amazon.com Gina Gallo was a cop for sixteen years in the city of Chicago. She spent those years working the street.  The injuries that she sustained in the line of duty ended her career. Her first book, "Crime Scenes" took us into the world of a Chicago cop.  Now she has written a memoir of her career.  "Armed and Dangerous" takes the reader into the violence and terror of police work as experienced by a woman.  Women in policing have been viewed with condescension by many in our society. "Armed and Dangerous" puts to rest any misconceptions that such fools may still have about women cops. Click Here for Excerpt   top

Dead on Delivery - Inside the Drug Wars Straight from the Street Authors: Robert M. Stutman, Richard Esposito Click here to order this book in association with Amazon.com This former Chief of the New York Office of the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recalls the war on drugs from the street level. The facts surrounding the murder of DEA Agent Everett Hatcher is covered in all of its brutal detail.  Every law enforcement officer should get this book and never forget how law enforcement officers are held in such contempt by those deal in the drug trade and the crime that is spawned by them. Click Here for Excerpt   top

Target Blue - An Insider’s View of the NYPD Author: Robert Daley Click here to order this book in association with Amazon.com Robert Daley was a foreign and war correspondent for the New York Times.  At the time of the publication of Target Blue, he had already written ten books including three novels.  He was appointed Deputy Commissioner by Police Commissioner Patrick V. Murphy. He would be the chief spokesperson for the NYPD for only a few years, but in that period, some of the most dramatic crimes and incidents in the history of the NYPD took place.   The Knapp Commission Hearings, the story behind Detective Frank Serpico, the assassination of cops by the Black Liberation Army (BLA), the shooting of Joseph Columbo, the "French Connection" story, the "Happy Hooker" story, and the Harlem Mosque Murder are all in "Target Blue".   It is an historical account of a critical time in the life of the City of New York.  It should be in the personal library of every man and woman that wears the uniform of a police officer. Click Here for Excerpt   top

Tears of Rage Author: John Walsh Click here to order this book in association with Amazon.com John Walsh, the Host of  "American's Most Wanted: America Fights Back" has done it again. The escaped convicts from the prison in Texas who are accused of the murder of Police Officer Aubrey Hawkins of Irving, Texas P.D were captured based on information given to law enforcement when a caller dialed the toll-free number of America's Most Wanted. The seven fugitives had been featured on the TV show "America's Most Wanted" and the reward for their arrest and conviction grew to $500,000.  The caller was a diehard fan of the show and had sighted the convicts.  To understand John Walsh and his dedication to fighting back, his book "Tears of Rage" will make a lot of things crystal clear.  John Walsh has been named by CBS as one of the "100 Americans Who Changed History". Visit "America's Most Wanted" web-site at www.amw.com and join in the battle to take back the streets of our Nation.     top

Crime Talk Author: Jim Kouri "Crime Talk" is a CD-ROM.  It is a new way of publishing for authors. Jim Kouri Interviews of some of the most interesting figures in law enforcement and criminal justice. Each interview addresses subjects such as organized crime, the drug war, Waco, and serial killers.  An interesting work by a knowledgeable author.   Click here to order this cd in association with Amazon.com top

NYPD Battles Crime Author: Eli  B. Silverman Click here to order this book in association with Amazon.com Eli B. Silverman is Professor of Law, Police Science, and Criminal Justice Administration at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City.  Professor Silverman has done us a great service.  NYPD Battles Crime debunks the entire nay saying about Compstat.  He is not a sworn member of the NYPD, but he is a champion of this modern weapon in the arsenal of crimefighting. I witnessed this weapon in operation when I attended a number of Compstat meetings in One Police Plaza.  If New Yorkers have ever wondered how the NYPD achieved so much success in turning this City around, just read this book. Police officers who aspire to higher rank and street cops who want to know what Compstat is all about need to digest this book like it is food.   City managers and all those who want to reverse the crime that plagues their cities should make this book required reading for their police chiefs. Click Here for Excerpt   top

Black Mass: The Irish Mob, The FBI and A Devil’s Deal Author: Dick Lehr, Gerard O’Neill Click here to order this book in association with Amazon.com The authors of "Black Mass" take the reader on a voyage into a scary world. The use of informants by law enforcement agencies has a dark history.  In the world of the criminal, there is no lower form of life than the "snitch" or informer.  Organized criminals brag about their code of silence.  This book exposes the treachery and deceit that permeates their world. The Federal Bureau of Investigation takes a hit in this true account of the corruption of one of its own.  Click Here for an Excerpt   top

Thirty- Eight Witnesses: The Kitty Genovese Case Author: A. M. Rosenthal Click here to order this book in association with Amazon.com This homicide was the crime that set the tone of the decade of the :”60s. The spirit of the times reflected an alienation of society. Nobody wanted to get involved.  Witnesses watched as an innocent woman was brutally murdered in front of her apartment building. I never forgot this crime. It haunted New York City for years.   top

Domestic Violence: Facts and Fallicies Author: Richard L Davis Click here to order this book in association with Amazon.com Lieutenant Richard L. Davis, Brockton, Massachusetts Police Department (retired), has done the very difficult. He has entered the arena and done battle with those who mistakenly seek to place the blame for domestic violence on the police. He has documented the reasons why the police have engaged in the practices that women's groups and victim's advocacy groups find so offensive.  His findings are revealing. This text by a career police officer is a well-researched and academic study on the subject of domestic violence.  Davis observes that most so-called "experts" in domestic violence are convinced that police officers have little understanding of the issue and they dismiss the honest contributions of cops as nonsense. Davis leads us back to the training of the police to deal with family disputes. The United States Department of Justice instituted, paid for and provided the training for police departments throughout these United States.  It was the leading criminologists, sociologists, and psychologists of the time that advised the Department of Justice to engage in "preserve the family" policies that restricted the police in dealing with family disputes.  The issue of "patriarchy" as the root cause of domestic violence is shown to be a sophomoric thesis. Click Here for an Excerpt   top

I Love a Cop Author: Ellen Kirschman Click here to order this book in association with Amazon.com Ellen Kirschman has rendered a great service to police officers and their families by writing this book.   "I Love a Cop" is loaded with common sense knowledge of the problems that beset cops and their loved ones.  She doesn't just identify the problems, she offers practical directions for coping with the hazards that come with a career in law-enforcement.  She critiques the whole career cycle of police officers.  In Chapter 3, "Growing Old in a Young Person's Profession", she traces the four phases in a cop's career on the job. Interwoven throughout the book is the theme that modern policing exacts a price on the officers and their families. If you are a cop or you love a cop, get this book and digest it. It is food for thought. Click Here for an Excerpt   top

Cop Shock Author: Allan R. Kates Click here to order this book in association with Amazon.com When you're on "The Job", the violence and horrors that police officers see on a daily basis takes its toll.  Only recently have the effects on police officers been studied. I remember being cynical about the formation of the Trauma Unit on the NYPD.  Since then, I have become a believer.  Posttraumatic stress effects us all. If you are a street cop, and have been on patrol for any number of years, the death and mayhem all around you require you to steel yourself in order to do your duty.  Cops pride themselves on this ability.  But it comes at a price.  We are made of flesh and blood.  The story about Detective Anthony Senft and Detective Richie Pastorella, NYPD Bomb Squad, and Sergeant Joseph Kroon, NYPD, should be required reading for all police officers. At last, someone has written a scholarly work on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder that the cop in the street will identify with. Police chiefs and ranking officers should use this book as a guide for dealing with traumatized cops under their command. The PBA should use it as a training manual. Click Here for an Excerpt   top

My Fathers Gun Author: Brian McDonald