TO KILL A COP

by Robert Daley ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1976

Based on the author's year as a New York deputy police commissioner, this compresses and intensifies the experience Daley related in the true-life Target Blue (1973). It starts with the apparently random police assassinations, later orchestrated into a program of FEAR, directed by a one-time leader of the Black Power movement, now in exile. The program includes a series of bank robberies and eventually of designated killings which has the cops in turmoil, contending as they are with charges of corruption and internal shakeups, down to the innovation of policewomen in patrol cars (a story in itself). The investigation is taken over by Chief of Detectives Eischied whose own behavior is scrutinized by the cool Police Commissioner. Eischied, an educated old-timer, master of infighting, has many of the characteristics of the real life Albert Seedman whose fondness for the good life got him into trouble with the Department. There are a few fanciful inventions dealing with Eischied as lover and prodigious drinker, but the truly climactic moment occurs. . . in church. You may not cate for Daley's blanket acceptance of the police estimation of themselves and his own rather dangerous statement--""crime was the most exciting game in town""--but you'll find him as hard to evade as those sirens blaring, red lights flashing.

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1976

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Crown

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1976

Categories: FICTION