I Was A Philly Cop

Very few people have been as fortunate as I to have been blessed with two careers; both fulfilling and rewarding. From a free-spirited lifestyle as a professional musician with an affinity for jazz to a “spit & polish” austere and responsible vocation as a police officer. During the interim and to satisfy my fascination with human nature I drove a taxicab, ergo getting an intimate knowledge of the street; the “COPS’ WORLD.” I became adept at talking people in and out of things, thus the “PEACE OFFICER.” So, finally fulfilling my abeyant interest in law enforcement since my high school years, at 33 I traded my tenor saxophone for a badge and a gun; my new career exceeded my wildest expectations.I was able to preserve some of my experiences on film as I covertly carried a camera on-duty, verboten at the time. With over 200 photos it is a pictorial and easy to digest portrayal of the rigors and exactions of a Philadelphia Cop, circa the 1980’s, the Reagan era. Vicariously experience the daily precarious circumstances, the split-second decisions, physical challenges, the thrill of the chase. The balancing act of psychology vs brawn, empathy vs temper. The joy of helping or saving lives vs the devastating repercussions of using deadly force and as a result being at the mercy of departmental and city politics, and a hostile media. From the police academy to patrol to plainclothes to firearms instructor to county detective to retirement. At one point I left the Philly PD to join the Clatsop County, Oregon, Sheriff’s Department as a Patrol Deputy; thus, experiencing an interesting geographical disparity as to procedures and concepts of another law enforcement agency. This and so much more.Enjoy the ride - you will not be disappointed. Read more