If I have a complaint about this book, it is this: While I fully understand this is a historical recounting of Black police in America, I dearly wish the author would have spent more time on atmospheric historical verbal snapshots and anecdotes.

I first read this book last summer while doing research for my novel. I stumbled across it at a library and assumed I would just skim through it and pick out a few highlights. I ended up reading it cover-to-cover, then lamenting that it was over. For a non-fiction, non-exploitive book, this book is surprisingly enrapturing.

I bought this book as a Christmas gift for my girlfriend's father (who, I might add, is a Black policeman) and his eyes lit up like a child's when he saw the title. Already halfway through it, he absolutely loves it. Anyone who enjoys reading books on police history or African-American history should read this book. The complaint mentioned in my first sentence is the only thing that kept it from being a "ten".

It is amazing how recent most of these events are. Amazing and sad that it took so long for justice to begin to be carried out in this country. Some of the reasoning behind a lot of this history is so ostensibly sensible I'm surprised I never thought of it before.

Mr Dulaney, if you're reading this, please please finish the next book in this series. I guarantee you I'll buy at least three copies: one for me, one for my girlfriend's father, and the third for a detective I know.