The New Centurions

I remember this book sitting on my parents’ bookshelf when I was a child, and thought I should read it.Not bad, but 50 years later, the world has changed.Nostalgia can, but worthwhile.D

I read this book more than 40 years ago when it was first published in 1970. It made a strong impression on me, and made me a life-long Joseph Wambaugh fan. Re-reading it just reinforced how great a novel it is (and unbelievably a first novel) and why it's a classic. Many times when you look back at an author's first novel, particularly after more than four decades, it pales in comparison to his later works. That's certainly not the case with The New Centurions. It's an incredibly well-written and deep novel.Wambaugh follows three LAPD recruits--Roy Fehler, Sergio Duran and Gus Plebsley from police academy in the early summer of 1960 through the end of the Watts riots in the summer of 1965. The three recruits go their separate ways after the police academy, but are reunited at the tail end of the Watts riots.Wambaugh, a 14-year veteran of the LAPD, pulls back the multi-layered veil of the police officer to reveal the doubts, fears, uncertainty and frustrations they experience on a daily basis. Being a LAPD cop is an "often thankless" job, and getting a daily dose of the worst of society takes its toll. Reality is often the opposite of what police officers and the public believe it to be.Here are some insights from the characters in The New Centurions:Veteran police officer Kilvinsky: "Police work is 100 percent common sense. That's about what makes a policeman, common sense and the ability to make a quick decision. You've got to cultivate those abilities or get out."Supervisor Milton: "This is a brutal business...if you learn something about yourself that you'd be better off not knowing, well, just slide along, it'll work out."Officer Plebsley: "All my life I believed what people told me was the truth, and I was a lousy policeman until I got over that mistake. Now I know they'll lie when the truth would help. They'll lie when their lives depend on the truth."From Wambaugh: "Policemen have a secret which seemed to unite them more closely than normal friendships and that was the knowledge that they knew things, basic things about strength and weakness, courage and pain, good and evil, especially good and evil."The New Centurions provides a realistic view of what it's like to be a member of the LAPD and how police duty changes men. It's a powerful novel.

This is another great book by Wambaugh.

it should be, especially in today's mixed up race relation issues, which are nothing compared to this 1970's novel. Some might be put off by it, but if one keeps reading to the end, that clears up considerably. Here is one quote:"the softness of the Anglo, the way you tell the world you’re sorry for feeding them, and the way you take away the Negro’s self-respect by giving everything to him, I’m starting to think that the Mexican should avoid the Anglo."To understand this comment, one need only look at the past, compare it, and stop trying to tear down historical land marks simply because one is offended. Erasing the past does not change history and if history is changed, aren't we doomed to repeat it?!

JW still is the king of telling the human side of Police work

The first of Wambaugh's police novels that created an interest in policing and spawned many imitators, The New Centurions stands out as one of the best books ever written about police work. It spans an approximate five year period in the lives of three LAPD officers, taking them from their academy training to various assignments within the Department. The book details the lives of each, and deftly illustrates how police work affects them both personally and professionally. It culminates with the three of them being swept up in the Watts' riots. I doubt that there has ever been a better book written about police work. Wambaugh worked the mean streets as an LAPD copper himself, and was able to capture the essence of the job. I read this book when it first was published, and it influenced me to become a police officer. All these years later, the book's theme and lessons still hold true. Although Wambaugh has gone on to write many other fabulous books, The New Centurions will always be my favorite because it introduced me to the world of policing, and I later lived through many of the experiences that Wambaugh depicted. Whenever I reread passages of this novel, it never ceases to amaze me how he was able to convey the aspects of the job so effectively.

Wambaugh is a great writer. He dispays understanding of the human condition and the way cops, too, are human. A great read.

This story is a true classic. Written in1971, about the early 60s, many of the things discussed and the experiences these young police officers have hold true for today. This should be required reading for students in high school and for every person in politics or interests in a career in law, enforcement or otherwise. The officers here are humanized, with thoughts, doubts and fears that all people have ... And with human faults and frailties. Wambaugh has shown us a side that society seems to forget. In this era of uprisings, we can see just how universal things are, and time does not really change the human soul.

Despite its age this book should teach people a lot about the realities of white cop/black man interaction. Its isn't about race but due to the place and time of the book (written by a serving police officer) race is inevitable part of the mix. Unlike most books around these days the author is concerned with te.ling a story not making political points so what the book reveals arises from the story and isn't imposed on it. One of the best 'police novels of the last 70 years.

I remember the watts riots described vividly here the terror felt by young cops facing thousands of rioters began with their training and carried on to their first deployment doesn't have the brilliant humour of the Hollywood series but a compelling and well worth the read

Even though written about the early 60's it still rings true. Written episodically it tell the stories of three LA policeman. If you want to see the world as a policeman sees it you should read this. I doubt that it's lost any relevance.

This was Joseph Wambaugh's first release in the UK and introduced the world of the LA cop, Having picked it up again since first reading in the mid 70s I was pleased to find it had not lost any of its hard edged drama or the Wambaugh trade mark black humour! Whether this is your first or a re-read sit back and enjoy.....

Classic Wambaugh and very atmospheric. Excellent book showing the stresses and strains of urban policing in the 60s in Los Angeles. Gives a real flavour of the time. If only the film was as easily available in region 2.