Bad Cop

New York's Least Likely Police Officer Tells All

By: Paul Bacon

Narrated by: J. Paul Guimont

In 2001, Paul Bacon was a typical young New Yorker: hip, liberal, overeducated, a little aimless. But then 9/11 happened. Hearing a call to duty and lacking any better employment options, he joined the NYPD, with the earnest hope of making his hometown a safer place. Silly him.

In Bad Cop, Paul recounts his ill-conceived experiment in public service, focusing on his own professional handicaps: his glass jaw, his overly trusting nature, and his fear of confrontation. The book begins with his police academy training, when he falls in love with the beautiful cadet Clarabel (and develops an unhealthy attraction to his sidearm). The story follows him through an awkward apprenticeship and out onto the streets, where the touchy-feely Paul is transformed into the rough-and-tumble Officer Bacon. Through amazing accounts of his escapades on the Harlem beat, his memoir emerges as both a celebration and a send-up of the legendary force that protects New York - most of the time.

©2009 Paul Bacon (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

loved this!

This book was so entertaining and engaging that when I made a long distance drive the time flew by. Great narration.

Wow!!!! Hilarious and honest and good!

The voices of the many characters are awesome and bring to life a neat story made INCREDIBLE story because you get to know the individuals he talks with!

Great concept, fizzing at the end

Overall this was a great book and I would recommend it. The acting is great as well. The only drawback is that the story seems to give up on itself about 75% of the way through. Still had a good time though.

WHAT IT'S REALLY LIKE

I COULD'N'T STOP LISTENING. I REALLY LIKED THE OPEN HONEST TALE OF PAUL'S LIFE EXPERIENCE . I LISTENED TO
THE BOOK IN TWO DAYS, NOW TO CATCH UP ON CHORES. I ESPECIALLY LIKED HIS HUMOR. MY OPINION OF NYPD HAS NEVER BEEN VERY HIGH AND I MUST SAY THIS DIDN'T HELP TO RAISE IT ANY. IT SEEMS LIKE A BIG SLOPPY MESS AND
NOW I SEE THAT IT REALLY IS. SO OPPOSITE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE WEST. GLAD PAUL HAD THE GUTS TO
QUIT. HOPE YOU FIND YOUR DREAM JOB AND WRITE ABOUT IT ONE DAY, KEEP LOOKING FOR THE HUMOR IN LIFE.

Interesting read, questionable narration

I found the book very interesting and enjoyed it, but the tendency for the narrator to make every female character sound like Rosie Perez (Hispanic accent with a lisp) got to be pretty distracting and annoying by the end of the book. He was fine other than that though.

Heard his story on This American Life and bought the book

I enjoyed the book, it was an easy listen and fairly well performed. With family in law enforcement, it was nice to hear another individual’s account.

terrific narrator

Having found this via Paul Bacon's performances on The Moth podcast, I was at first disappointed that he didn't do the audio--I quickly got over that, as this narrator has an excellent presentation and really did a great job with the many, many characters and their very diverse accents and personalities.

I loved this book!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes! I usually listen to audible in my car only. But this book/story was so good I actually walked around with my headphones on and listen all the time.

Any additional comments?

I wish I can find another book like that!

Seriously???

I was looking for a great cop story. As a Cop reading this I was very disappointed. I was hoping by the end he changed his liberal ways and realized the truth of the real world.

The performance was great. Loved the guy narrating but I waited on a punch line that never came.

Great Narrator

The book was enjoyable. It isn't fantastic or hilarious or even all that well-written, but it is worth reading if you have an interest in police work. The narrator was excellent and made the story fun.