Comments From Readers
Reviews of Guardians of Angels:
Ariel Flores
5.0 out of 5 stars Great stories and history of a proud and often misunderstood department.
Reviewed in the United States
As a young boy I wanted to be a police officer. Playing 'Cops and Robbers', watching The New Adam 12, and graduating to watch Cops in the early 90's, I was hooked! As I got older and you lose that innocence and decide to go into a field different from police work, but I still had that admiration for the LAPD. So I wanted a book that spoke about it's history and gave amazing photos of a department that was often times seen in a negative light. I watched the Rodney King beatings growing up, the Riots of 1992 unfold before my very eyes, High Profile cases such as OJ Simpson and Christopher Dorner, and the 1997 North Hollywood Shootout...all of these are highlighted in this book and many more. It's an easy read and gives you more of an appreciation of what these officers face in a city that often times looks on them with disdain, but will always trust in them when their lives are at danger. This is a great book to buy and to read!
Walking Bear
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
Reviewed in the United States
This is a very well-written and thoroughly researched book on one of the greatest police departments of the world. The book takes you from some of the earliest periods in Los Angeles, when vigilantes administered "justice," to volunteer town Marshals, the establishment of a small police force, paid on commission, to the actual establihment of a real police department and concluding in our present time. It candidly acknowledges and even explores long periods of political interference and the need to have a police chief who isn't beholding to self-serving politicians. The work is lavishly illustrated with dozens of period photographs. It is by far the most comprehensive book on the history of the LAPD to date.
Albert Rush
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent History
Reviewed in the United States
Mr. Bultema has written a very excellent history of the LAPD. This book offers an objective depiction of one of the country's most famous police departments, illustrating its highs and lows and officers both stalwart and tarnished. Its both a fitting tribute to LA's law enforcement community and good reading.
David Alfred
5.0 out of 5 stars I experienced some of this history
Reviewed in the United States
I recommend this book to anyone who worked with the LAPD. As Bultema states in his book, there is no where else that makes you feel like "family". I joined the department in 1968 and walked on the grounds where a lot of this history took place. I did not recognize this at the time. It wasn't until after retirement that I looked back on my career and realized what I had witnessed in the history of the LAPD and the city of Los Angeles. The book gives a very good description of how the political machine works and effects the people that are trying to do their job. I miss the people I worked with the most, they were all good people with a common goal. I worked under five Chiefs and Gates was the best.
Keith Bushey
5.0 out of 5 stars FELLOW LAPD OFFICERS STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THIS GREAT BOOK!
Reviewed in the United States
As a retired LAPD officer (commander) and serious student of that department's history, I can say without contradiction that Jim Bultema did a GREAT job. The photographs were superb, and the description of the events was absolutely spot on. I had the opportunity to work with Jim when we were both on the job; he was a great cop and he is a great writer and historian. This is a must read for anyone who is interested in the Los Angeles Police Department. WELL DONE!!
David Twitchell
5.0 out of 5 stars Life on the mean streets of LA down the ages
Reviewed in the United States
I just completed reading this informative, interesting and fascinating book about the History of the LAPD. It held my attention and answered many questions I had about how the Department weathered the century of it's existance. I learned the background and obscure details about people and incidents I had heard about during my 27 year career with the LAPD. This should be a primer read for every recruit joining the LAPD. I worked with James Bultema while we were officers on the job, so good work partner.
Josh Hewitt
5.0 out of 5 stars 10/10
Reviewed in the United Kingdom
Such an interesting story of the history of the LAPD. I wish England police could take a leaf out of the LAPD. Behind the badge stories are brilliant
Larry
5.0 out of 5 stars I completely enjoyed it. Great job
Reviewed in Canada
This book was extremely well written. It had very interesting details of certain events. I completely enjoyed it.
Great job. Well done.
Unsolved:
From Bruce Drewett, retired Phoenix Police Department, 1974-1999.
Skimmed thru the book and read about 1999's Davina Jones in Bald Head Island [North Carolina-chapter 86]. That was troubling, 7 years to get the suicide overturned and the fire chief hosing down the scene. Hard to read that, I can imagine how hard it was to research and write it...When I skimmed your book I read the Davina Jones case because I have a friend who had a place on BHI that we spent a long weekend at. I emailed him about your book and commented on the story and here's his reply:
I remember that case (Jones). It happened about 4 years after we bought our place on BHI. I actually met her, introduced by the then BHI Chief Karen, I can’t remember her last name. It was hinky and smelled of a cover up from the beginning and both the DA and Sheriff that wrote off the case were later indicted for some kind of corruption.
Reviews of Guardians of Angels:
Ariel Flores
5.0 out of 5 stars Great stories and history of a proud and often misunderstood department.
Reviewed in the United States
As a young boy I wanted to be a police officer. Playing 'Cops and Robbers', watching The New Adam 12, and graduating to watch Cops in the early 90's, I was hooked! As I got older and you lose that innocence and decide to go into a field different from police work, but I still had that admiration for the LAPD. So I wanted a book that spoke about it's history and gave amazing photos of a department that was often times seen in a negative light. I watched the Rodney King beatings growing up, the Riots of 1992 unfold before my very eyes, High Profile cases such as OJ Simpson and Christopher Dorner, and the 1997 North Hollywood Shootout...all of these are highlighted in this book and many more. It's an easy read and gives you more of an appreciation of what these officers face in a city that often times looks on them with disdain, but will always trust in them when their lives are at danger. This is a great book to buy and to read!
Walking Bear
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
Reviewed in the United States
This is a very well-written and thoroughly researched book on one of the greatest police departments of the world. The book takes you from some of the earliest periods in Los Angeles, when vigilantes administered "justice," to volunteer town Marshals, the establishment of a small police force, paid on commission, to the actual establihment of a real police department and concluding in our present time. It candidly acknowledges and even explores long periods of political interference and the need to have a police chief who isn't beholding to self-serving politicians. The work is lavishly illustrated with dozens of period photographs. It is by far the most comprehensive book on the history of the LAPD to date.
Albert Rush
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent History
Reviewed in the United States
Mr. Bultema has written a very excellent history of the LAPD. This book offers an objective depiction of one of the country's most famous police departments, illustrating its highs and lows and officers both stalwart and tarnished. Its both a fitting tribute to LA's law enforcement community and good reading.
David Alfred
5.0 out of 5 stars I experienced some of this history
Reviewed in the United States
I recommend this book to anyone who worked with the LAPD. As Bultema states in his book, there is no where else that makes you feel like "family". I joined the department in 1968 and walked on the grounds where a lot of this history took place. I did not recognize this at the time. It wasn't until after retirement that I looked back on my career and realized what I had witnessed in the history of the LAPD and the city of Los Angeles. The book gives a very good description of how the political machine works and effects the people that are trying to do their job. I miss the people I worked with the most, they were all good people with a common goal. I worked under five Chiefs and Gates was the best.
Keith Bushey
5.0 out of 5 stars FELLOW LAPD OFFICERS STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THIS GREAT BOOK!
Reviewed in the United States
As a retired LAPD officer (commander) and serious student of that department's history, I can say without contradiction that Jim Bultema did a GREAT job. The photographs were superb, and the description of the events was absolutely spot on. I had the opportunity to work with Jim when we were both on the job; he was a great cop and he is a great writer and historian. This is a must read for anyone who is interested in the Los Angeles Police Department. WELL DONE!!
David Twitchell
5.0 out of 5 stars Life on the mean streets of LA down the ages
Reviewed in the United States
I just completed reading this informative, interesting and fascinating book about the History of the LAPD. It held my attention and answered many questions I had about how the Department weathered the century of it's existance. I learned the background and obscure details about people and incidents I had heard about during my 27 year career with the LAPD. This should be a primer read for every recruit joining the LAPD. I worked with James Bultema while we were officers on the job, so good work partner.
Josh Hewitt
5.0 out of 5 stars 10/10
Reviewed in the United Kingdom
Such an interesting story of the history of the LAPD. I wish England police could take a leaf out of the LAPD. Behind the badge stories are brilliant
Larry
5.0 out of 5 stars I completely enjoyed it. Great job
Reviewed in Canada
This book was extremely well written. It had very interesting details of certain events. I completely enjoyed it.
Great job. Well done.
Unsolved:
From Bruce Drewett, retired Phoenix Police Department, 1974-1999.
Skimmed thru the book and read about 1999's Davina Jones in Bald Head Island [North Carolina-chapter 86]. That was troubling, 7 years to get the suicide overturned and the fire chief hosing down the scene. Hard to read that, I can imagine how hard it was to research and write it...When I skimmed your book I read the Davina Jones case because I have a friend who had a place on BHI that we spent a long weekend at. I emailed him about your book and commented on the story and here's his reply:
I remember that case (Jones). It happened about 4 years after we bought our place on BHI. I actually met her, introduced by the then BHI Chief Karen, I can’t remember her last name. It was hinky and smelled of a cover up from the beginning and both the DA and Sheriff that wrote off the case were later indicted for some kind of corruption.