Homicide a year on the killing streets
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/index.html?curid=1873235
I finished reading this today.
I have a conceit. When I go to America. When I am in New York most of all. I stride about. Jogging after the don’t walk sign. When I used to smoke, that added to it. I used to imagine myself, wearing a badge, and announcing to the world ``Detective Malchera... Homicide''
It is strong stuff. One of the detectives spends a year investigating the murder of a child. A case in which a wee 18 year old girl, spends her last terrible moments on earth being gang raped, and then strangled by her stepfather and his buddies.
( I am rereading this, as I re edit my blog on 18-July-2012, and its still strong stuff to read in passing _ts got no better a decade later)
We see a group of men. With one or two objections, this is Man's world Women were still working their way into Police work. One Police woman is remembered for her reaction to a domestic incident, ending in murder -She stood pointing at the house, pointing and saying ``He's in there'' while back up arrived.
I (almost) cried and I laughed out loud when I read this book.
All human life, is here. It's not pretty
I finished reading this today.
I have a conceit. When I go to America. When I am in New York most of all. I stride about. Jogging after the don’t walk sign. When I used to smoke, that added to it. I used to imagine myself, wearing a badge, and announcing to the world ``Detective Malchera... Homicide''
It is strong stuff. One of the detectives spends a year investigating the murder of a child. A case in which a wee 18 year old girl, spends her last terrible moments on earth being gang raped, and then strangled by her stepfather and his buddies.
( I am rereading this, as I re edit my blog on 18-July-2012, and its still strong stuff to read in passing _ts got no better a decade later)
We see a group of men. With one or two objections, this is Man's world Women were still working their way into Police work. One Police woman is remembered for her reaction to a domestic incident, ending in murder -She stood pointing at the house, pointing and saying ``He's in there'' while back up arrived.
The unfortunate wife, bled to death. Women in this world, are wives, victims, or informants Or in one case a murderer
``It is a Man’s Man’s Man’s world''. As James Brown sang. Detective Garvey breaks a case, by smashing a lamp, in a fit of temper. Detective Larney chases Lenore the Whore. Lenore is the only eye witness, to a slaying and Baltimore Police Department simply can’t find her and make a case
A detective who, seeing a man sent down, who killed a work mate. For the crime of calling him dickhead. Makes sure the guilty party hears the insult one last time, as he is sentenced to life.
There is the story about the Police Department which used a photocopier, to get confessions, from suspects. They would write on three pieces of paper Truth Truth. and False. After asking, the name and gender, of the suspect. The police would ask him, if he had killed someone. Hit copy, and produce the word false and than announce he was a murdering bastard
Its a frustrating world. Its a world, where justice is imperfect. Where pennies are chased. Where the press, and the whims of jurors, throw away days of hard work. As the jurors and voters don’t trust the Police Department, as its not like Hawaii 5-0. (Apparently CSI has made the situation worse. Jurors who want to go home. And cannot understand why the evidence is not crystal clear smoking guns)
The Men, who make sense of this world are the Homicide division. For a pension, and a modest salary. For all the cheap domestic beers, you can afford. For the Camaraderie. They wash our dirty laundry. They clean up after us. When the rage, and lust and the greed get to much.
``It is a Man’s Man’s Man’s world''. As James Brown sang. Detective Garvey breaks a case, by smashing a lamp, in a fit of temper. Detective Larney chases Lenore the Whore. Lenore is the only eye witness, to a slaying and Baltimore Police Department simply can’t find her and make a case
A detective who, seeing a man sent down, who killed a work mate. For the crime of calling him dickhead. Makes sure the guilty party hears the insult one last time, as he is sentenced to life.
There is the story about the Police Department which used a photocopier, to get confessions, from suspects. They would write on three pieces of paper Truth Truth. and False. After asking, the name and gender, of the suspect. The police would ask him, if he had killed someone. Hit copy, and produce the word false and than announce he was a murdering bastard
Its a frustrating world. Its a world, where justice is imperfect. Where pennies are chased. Where the press, and the whims of jurors, throw away days of hard work. As the jurors and voters don’t trust the Police Department, as its not like Hawaii 5-0. (Apparently CSI has made the situation worse. Jurors who want to go home. And cannot understand why the evidence is not crystal clear smoking guns)
The Men, who make sense of this world are the Homicide division. For a pension, and a modest salary. For all the cheap domestic beers, you can afford. For the Camaraderie. They wash our dirty laundry. They clean up after us. When the rage, and lust and the greed get to much.
I (almost) cried and I laughed out loud when I read this book.
All human life, is here. It's not pretty
Comments