NYPD Police Officer Joe Poss shows the reader crime and police work in the 75th Precinct in his book Brooklyn Bounce: The True-Life Adventures of a Good Cop in a Bad Precinct.  According to the book description of Brooklyn Bounce: The True-Life Adventures of a Good Cop in a Bad Precinct, “An upper-class college graduate from a Ohio suburb joins the New York Police Department on a bet and finds himself in the city's toughest precinct: Brooklyn's East New York, where he struggles with unceasing violence and police corruption.”

According to a reader of Brooklyn Bounce: The True-Life Adventures of a Good Cop in a Bad Precinct, “I have a lot of first hand experience with this subject matter and can tell you that this book will give a reader the best idea of what working on the NYPD is like. I read the book in one sitting it was that good. I don't normally read cop books, but I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in what they do. The author pulls no punches when he describes the job and he lays out the nature of the beast in an un-heroic and truthful manner. The book is the best education a person can get on being a NYC cop without actually having to wear the uniform. Joe Poss and Henry Schlesinger have really put together an exceptional book. Well done! A review from one of the finest.”

Brooklyn Bounce: The True-Life Adventures of a Good Cop in a Bad Precinct Joe Poss  More Info

About the New York Police Department (NYPD):

The first law-enforcement officer began to patrol the trails and paths of New York City when it was known as New Amsterdam, and was a Dutch settlement and fort in the year 1625. This lawman was known as a "Schout – fiscal" (sheriff – attorney) and was charged with keeping the peace, settling minor disputes, and warning colonists if fires broke out at night. The first Schout was a man named Johann Lampo.

The Rattle Watch was a group of colonists during the Dutch era (1609 - 1664) who patrolled from sunset until dawn. They carried weapons, lanterns and wooden rattles (that are similar to the ratchet noisemakers used during New Year celebrations). The rattles made a very loud, distinctive sound and were used to warn farmers and colonists of threatening situations. Upon hearing this sound, the colonists would rally to defend themselves or form bucket-brigades to put out fires. The rattles were used because whistles had not yet been invented. The Rattle Watchmen also are believed to have carried lanterns that had green glass inserts. This was to help identify them while they were on patrol at night (as there were no streetlights at that time). When they returned to their Watch House from patrol, they hung their lantern on a hook by the front door to show that the Watchman was present in the Watch House. Today, green lights are still hung outside the entrances of Police Precincts as a symbol that the "Watch" is present and vigilant.

When the High Constable of New York City, Jacob Hays retired from service in 1844, permission was granted by the Governor of the state to the Mayor of the City to create a Police Department. A force of approximately 800 men under the first Chief of Police, George W. Matsell, began to patrol the City in July of 1845. They wore badges that had an eight-pointed star (representing the first 8 paid members of the old Watch during Dutch times). The badges had the seal of the City in their center and were made of stamped copper.

Source:

nycpolicemuseum.org

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