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DETECTIVE: The Inspirational Story of the Trailblazing Woman Cop Who Wouldn't Quit
Shares the personal story of the New York City police department's most highly decorated woman detective to recount her early achievements as well as her work with some of the department's most elite units during high-profile cases, a career that was challenged by a landmark federal lawsuit filed by the author against the department for sexual discrimination. 40,000 first printing.
334 pages, Hardcover
First published August 22, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 18, 2008
Every time you think it can't get more depressing, it does. To give you a hint of the gruesome and miserable nature of this book, a quote:
"When I first decided to do this book, many people felt that my story did not have a happy ending. My partner died. The outcome of the trials was not totally satisfying. We weren't able to lock up the bad guys forever and ever and ever.... What's more, I ended up retiring from the Police Department under a cloud. My marriage fell apart. I was diagnosed with an extremely treacherous form of cancer, a disease that may, one day, end up killing me."
This should be at the beginning of the book as a warning to anyone foolish enough to consider reading it.
"When I first decided to do this book, many people felt that my story did not have a happy ending. My partner died. The outcome of the trials was not totally satisfying. We weren't able to lock up the bad guys forever and ever and ever.... What's more, I ended up retiring from the Police Department under a cloud. My marriage fell apart. I was diagnosed with an extremely treacherous form of cancer, a disease that may, one day, end up killing me."
This should be at the beginning of the book as a warning to anyone foolish enough to consider reading it.
August 17, 2011
Kathy Burke was a NYC police detective from 1968 to 1991. When she joined, women made up less than 1% of the New York police force. Burke was instrumental in paving the way for women in the force. She worked undercover in the 1970s making drug buys, later worked homicide, then organized crime. She was shuttled around the department to keep her from making waves. She battled with, then sued, the chief of the major crimes unit. She was shot on the street, effectively ending her active police career. At the time the book was published, 2006, she was actively involved with the police self-support unit, helping police officers who had been mentally or physically traumatized on the job. She is a brave woman. The book is impossible to put down.
November 5, 2011
Although not a "light" read, it's quite an interesting book. I took a liking to it when Kathy admits to struggling with the aftermath of her trauma. I don't think we get to read about that enough, the emotional toll that the job has on P.O's. Some books tend to give you the juicy details of shoot outs, car chases, but they skip over the consequences the officers suffer emotionally. Kathy addresses it and fights through it. This book has it all, grimy details of her work, "cop speak", abuse of power, corruption, statistics, survivors guilt. Definitely something I'd recommend to others if you don't necessarily require a happy ending.
March 5, 2012
I really enjoyed this memoir, and as a woman going into policing, I have to be thankful for the first women who had it so hard and forged our way. As it is a memoir, I wondered how accurate it was, as it is someone's memories of what happened, and therefore biased, even if not purposefully. I have recommended it to some female officer friends, because I did find it a very interesting read.
October 16, 2013
Burke joined the NYPD in 1968 and soon became a successful undercover dug cop in a field where women were rarely treated as equals. She was injured in a shooting that left her partner dead. This action-packed story also recounts police politics, sexual harassment, and the breakup of her marriage.
August 29, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. It took me longer to get through, and it is definitely not a "light" read, but I found it extremely interesting.
January 19, 2016
This is about a woman's struggle in 1968 to make it male dominant profession. Very inspiring and scary all rolled up in one.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews