The Dark Side of the Blue Line

Surviving the Lies, Deception, and Dishonor

By: Nicholas Ruggiero

Narrated by: Jason Sullivan

The Dark Side of the Blue Line is the voice of every line officer in law enforcement that can't speak out. Nicholas Ruggiero follow's his best-selling first book Police Mental Barricade: A Survivor's Guide to Poor Law Enforcement Leadership with a hard hitting book into what retaliation was taken against him by his former police agency, The City of Alexandria Police Department in Virginia.

Nick speaks about how since the "defund the police" movement has started, that our poor law enforcement leadership has engaged in internal destruction of moral with countless poor leadership decisions. Leadership within law enforcement has turned its focus from solving crime and protecting the public to extreme punishments for the troops and policies that put officers and the public in danger.

This book pulls back the curtains on how crime statistics are manipulated for law enforcement leaderships gain of positional equity all while crushing line officers for minor policy infractions.

Nick's wife finishes the book with an in-depth look as a LEO spouse. What it's like to watch someone you love commit themselves to a greater cause only to have their soul crushed by poor law enforcement leadership. Nicole speaks about how our profession is in a critical time and heading in a dangerous direction.

Finally someone is speaking up and saying what needs to be said about the REAL problem in law enforcement.

©2021 Nicholas Ruggiero (P)2021 Nicholas Ruggiero

A spot on must read for anyone in Law Enforcement and their family

I felt like I was listening to my husband! We live this every day. I think every cop does… the mental health pandemic among our LEOs needs more attention, this book brings it to light and helps you know you are not alone!

100% accurate

Wow! I could have written this book about my agency here in one of the Pacific Northwest states. Everything Nick wrote about is the objective truth of the matter, irregardless of what certain critics might say...or write. I actually wasn't surprised one bit by the negative review posted. Some officers get lucky and win the leadership lottery. I truly hope these officers keep their good leaders. But more often than not, good leaders retire, and bad ones fill the void. My agency started out great, then succumbed to toxic leadership. It is a slow and subtle fade, but it happens.

These types of leaders Nick discusses suffer from the Dunning-Kruger Effect, and it is alive and well within law enforcement leadership. These leaders will deny all allegations and reply with ad-hominem attacks.

I am soon to retire from law enforcement, and I could write book after book about this leadership phenomenon. The phenomenon is how the most unqualified Officers/Deputies/Troopers seem to end up in leadership positions. Now, some departments are lucky and have outstanding leaders. I am truly happy for those few departments.

I don't know you, Nick, and I live 2500+ miles away from you, but you are not alone, and your experience is not isolated. This is a national problem.

Beware of blanketed statements.

Unfortunately, the author made far too many blanketed statements for me to recommend this book as a must-read for anyone seeking a realistic view of policing. Matter of fact, the book seems to represent the primary perspective of a disgruntled employee, not someone attempting to affect change in our profession. Personally, my only takeaway was to take more time in explaining administrative philosophies and preparing our team for succession.

The author seems to have been horribly let down in his career, and on several occasions, I found myself thinking, “that’s simply not true in our department.” This brings me to the crux of my review.

Law enforcement agencies across this great nation have historically adapted to ever-changing societal and political landscapes, but one of Sir Robert Peel’s (The Father of Modern Policing) will always remain:

“To recognize always that the power of the police to fulfill their functions and duties is dependent on public approval of their existence, actions and behavior, and on their ability to secure and maintain public respect.” (Peel, 1829)

Community Policing is not a political strategy, scapegoat, catch-phrase, or bullsh**, as the author implies. It’s something officers MUST accept when they accept a position, its part of the oath, and critical when carrying out the agency’s mission.

If officers lose sight of this crucial concept, the public will become jaded and society, in general, fails. If an officer becomes jaded, it’s time to change one’s own perspective or leave the career altogether.

Blessings.