Street Justice: A History of Police Violence in New York City Paperback - 2004

First line

Like many Americans, I watched in disbelief in April 1992 when a California jury acquitted four police officers in the beating of black motorist Rodney King.

Media reviews

'Johnson . . . has taken on a formidable and sensitive subject and has largely conquered it, thanks to indefatigable research and a rigorous, unblinking analysis . . . a well-written, intelligent and at times even colorful examination of one of the perennial problems of urban life . . . an invaluable contribution to the histories both of New York and of American law enforcement in general.' -Kevin Baker, New York Times Book Review

'A masterfully crafted chronicle . . . The pages are sprinkled with fascinating episodes and anecdotes, uncovering the 'story behind the story' for such police practices as 'the third degree' and 'sweatboxes.'' -James Alan Fox, Boston Globe

'This fascinating, highly detailed historical survey, beginning with the NYPD's founding in 1845, reads like a true-crime page-turner . . . [Johnson] provides a sensitive and insightful look at the range of social, political and economic changes that have affected how police brutality has been repeatedly redefined.' -Publishers Weekly

"Street Justice gives the reader pause to seriously reconsider the caliber of many of the people who've worn badges and carried guns on our streets." New York Resident