Chief

My Life in the LAPD

By: Daryl F. Gates, Diane K. Shah

Narrated by: Daryl F. Gates

The former chief of the Los Angeles Police Department describes his life and career as head of one of the world's largest police forces. He looks back at the headline-making events in which he played a pivotal role: the Watts riots, shootouts with the Black Panthers and the SLA, the investigations into the death of Marilyn Monroe and the assassination of Robert Kennedy, and the infamous video-taped beating of Rodney King.©2009 Daryl F. Gates (P)2009 Phoenix

Ex L.A. Police Chief Gates remembers

When looking around Audible for the availability of programing pertaining to and about the recent anniversary if the Rodney King event, I was surprised to see that this book was available.

As I'd never read or heard it before I gave it a try as I had lived in Southern California during all the happenings then and remember much of Daryl Gates in the news from back then.
I actually must say I was disappointed in this book and wished there was the unabridged version available too, as while much was discussed, not too much was gone into in any real depth.
He talks about his career in law enforcement, working through the ranks, intermixed with the problems his own son had dealing with drug addiction and having to deal with that as well as all the civil unrest during that era. I am just glad I never lived in the L.A. area!

Overall though the book is good, I think especially if you lived in the Southern Calif area during that time to give his story some foundation. Gates is a pretty good reader of his own book and as I said earlier, if it had been more in depth and told more of the story I would have liked it better.

Speech impediment

His lack of ability to pronounce the letter S at the end of most words was extremely distracting. I also didn’t realize what an anti 2nd amendment lefty he was or I would not have purchased this book.

Great Book From a Great Police Chief

Fascinating book into the life and work life of Chief Gates. No other Chief will ever emulate what Chief Gates did. Great book highly recommend this to all. Whether you’re in the public safety profession or not.

Excellent

Fantastic story of a side not shown in the media! From a man of a generation before, whose values will hopefully be brought to the forefront again.

Honest and forthright

Very candid and credible. We need more Chiefs like Gates.Gates led the depart with honor and guts.

Outstanding! Wish is was longer.

This is a great book, and well narrated too. I would be happy to see an expanded version, which is probably not possible since the author has passed away.

Missing content!!!

I own the actual book. This version is missing lots of content from the original. I don't know why they chose to leave out so much, most of it is not controversial, but they did, so I'm disappointed.

With Chief Gates deceased and unable to defend or correct this cherry picking issue, I can't fully recommend this book.

Me me me

Me me me me me me me me me me me me. All cops hated him . Boring ass book

Not a Cop’s Chief

The story didn’t leave me a fan of Chief Gates. His first choice as a career was not to be the police. That being said he had no respect for police in the beginning when he actually battered a police officer in his teens. As he tells his story you can tell he is more a politician and a yes man then a police officer. His story sounds like it’s all about him and not the men and woman he was The Chief of. His story made it sound like he would sell his officers out to save himself and make himself look good in the public eye. Not impressed with one of the largest cities in the nations ex police chiefs.