Armed and Dangerous free essay sample

For the purpose of this class, you asked us to read the book Armed and Dangerous: Memoirs of a Chicago Policewoman by Gina Gallo. I’ll be honest and admit that at first the book didn’t sound all too appealing, but it turned out to be an interesting and enjoyable read. Many of the chapters were highly interesting, taking an inside look at the duties of a Chicago police officer. Chapters dealt with illegal drugs, shady characters, brutal crimes, and other situations that police are part of every day. Gallo’s recollection of events is far more dramatic that that of other officers, but that is probably why the book was so enjoyable. Throughout the book the author takes readers on a roller coaster ride of emotion while she portrays the life of a police woman and recounts some of her days while working in the Chicago Police Department. Mrs. Gallo captured the art of telling cop stories as only one who has been in those situations can. She manages to place you in the middle of the scene and by doing so, the book provides a compelling glimpse at inner city policing. The book chronicles Gallo’s 16 years of service with the Chicago Police Department, starting with her grueling training days in the academy all the way until her career was ended in an on duty event that almost killed her. The daughter of a Chicago police officers, Gallo received a master’s degree in psychology, but financial obligations forced her into policing. Intending to work as a police therapist, she was shocked when she was assigned to the Chicago patrol division. I found it interesting that throughout the book Gallo often makes mention of uniqueness of female cops in the force. She talked about how male officers would sometimes look down upon her because she was a female and other times use it to their advantage during domestic calls and other situations. Those same feminine qualities that she was looked down upon for, actually benefitted her in the streets. The books perspective counters typical TV images of cops, as she describes the experiences of [t]hose who muddle along trying to do the right thing.   She gives devastatingly effective accounts of relations between brother officers and of trying to avoid being perceived as a bimbo with a badge or a dog cop (lazy or irredeemably greedy). While reading the book I kept imagining how difficult the job of being a police officer in Chicago and even more a female cop in the city. Over the last 30 years, the proportion of female police officers has grown steadily after some formal barriers were broken in the 1970’s. That being said women in the police force still face many issues and it is a topic for concern across the country. Policing is viewed as a male dominated profession, yet studies have shown that female officers are just as capable as males in handling situations and sometimes are even better. After her initial training was completed, Gallo was the first female recruit assigned to the rough South Side Chicago district in over three years. Many of her fellow male coworkers did not thing she would last. Little did they know that years later she would become a very decorated police officer. Page 44 of the book references how she was viewed as â€Å"a decoration† when first starting out on the job. I can only imagine that Gina was not the only female cop to be treated this way. However, more disturbing than the gender biases is the lack of professionalism within the Chicago Police Department which is discussed. I believe having a job where you see gruesome and heinous crimes on a daily basis would change a person’s attitude and perception of the public. The officers who were involved in illegal activity and simply went too far in many situations did so because they were mentally unfit and apathetic towards people and sometimes even the law. A good of example of this would be when Vince, Gina’s partner at the time, decides to confront a few kids who are spray painting a building and decides to shoot off a round while yelling and screaming orders. He eventually forces the kids to spray paint a car owned by gang members with obscene slogans. The officer’s demeanor was hostile and he used his authority in a less than correct way. This situation shows how the role of a senior officer has changed to more drastic and illegal activity instead of taking the lawful courses of action. Lastly, officers who disrespect or treat others unfairly will create a riff between groups and races. This is why cops are viewed more negatively than positively in certain geographic locations because there is unequal justice being served and those with bad character are slipping through the system. As the reader, you know that officers encounter certain situations that most people never have to see in their lifetime, but Gallo is so descriptive and detailed that you are able to visually grasp her stories. A great example of this would be the tragic ending of the book where Gallo was nearly beaten to death with a bat by a suspect. She draws the reader in with such vivid and even graceful dialogue as she describes her feelings and emotions while being beaten and treated at the hospital. It’s as if she is talking directly to you, while the event is taking place. Gallo does this successfully throughout the book and it allows you to connect and feel sympathetic for her as the story progressed. I liked how Gina was not afraid to hold anything back; she told her story the exact same way it happened without boasting or being pompous about any of it. She was gritty to the core, but she was also sincere, honest, and at times very funny. Gina wanted to open the reader’s eyes to the constant immoral and unprofessional behavior of the Chicago Police Department along with the constant stressors of the job. I admire Gina’s courageousness to write such a revealing book, and even though the book in its entirety is very sad, I would recommend it to anyone interested in true stories about policing and think it was a good addition to this class.