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Rating: 
Summary: Great Reporting
Review: A great book. There was obviously tremendous research done for this book. Without taking sides the author was able to explain frfom all sides what led up to the King arrest, riots and trials. It is one of the most objective books I have ever read. The author treated the cops, victims and citizens of LA all with respect. I was tremendously impressed with the writing style. It gave all the facts without being dry. A must read!
Rating:
Summary: Cool, dispassionate discussion of the Rodney King incident
Review: An outstanding piece of reporting that takes the long view of the effects of the Rodney King trial and subsequent events, "Official Negligence" makes some fresh points about a sequence of episodes most people are tired of talking about. Of the fascinating cast of characters profiled in this book, the only one who emerges as anything approaching a hero is perhaps the least likely candidate: Stacy Koon, the sergeant who oversaw the original arrest of King and was later convicted of violating King's civil rights. Cannon's argument, at root, is that it is highly debateable whether a crime was committed in Pasadena in March, 1991, when King was pulled over and eventually beaten, and that racial animosity played virtually no role in the event. What is NOT debateable, according to Cannon, is the "official negligence" of the L.A. city council, Mayor Tom Bradley, the L.A. court system, and the LAPD leadership that produced the poorly trained officers who originally confronted King and the subsequent chaos that engulfed Los Angeles. Cannon is a terrific reporter who refuses to engage in policy prescriptions, but he does an outstanding job of detailing the sequence of communication breakdowns, judicial fiat, local political arrogance and LAPD miscalculations that produced an environment where riots were a natural consequence. The only (minor) flaw is a sense of repetition that suggests another editorial pass at the manuscript would have been useful, but overall, "Official Negligence" is an absolutely compelling read that will, despite whatever preconceptions you have of Rodney King, the LAPD, or the causes of the 1992 riots, challenge your preconceptions and force a rethinking of basic assumptions surrounding law enforcement, urban America, and Los Angeles.
Rating: 
Summary: CNN Headline News + Film Every Five Minutes = Injustice
Review: Echoing sentiments expressed by other reviewers, I wholly concur after reading "Official Negligence" that negligent, inflammatory US media reporting, abetted by the jump-to-conclusion negligence of the Los Angeles Police Department, significantly and overwhelmingly warped public perception of the Rodney King affair and propagated the worst riots in recent history.Taken in the context of the entire story, as reported in "Official Negligence," the police officers were racially railroaded and politically double-jeopardized by a media/legal system that -- once it had seen the film excerpt -- truly never wanted to make any further effort to learn the facts of the case. This is an important book to read, if for no other reason than to keep you alert from now forward when watching television news. They're going to show you what SELLS, and not necessarily what TELLS.
Rating:
Summary: CNN Headline News + Film Every Five Minutes = Injustice
Review: Echoing sentiments expressed by other reviewers, I wholly concur after reading "Official Negligence" that negligent, inflammatory US media reporting, abetted by the jump-to-conclusion negligence of the Los Angeles Police Department, significantly and overwhelmingly warped public perception of the Rodney King affair and propagated the worst riots in recent history. Taken in the context of the entire story, as reported in "Official Negligence," the police officers were racially railroaded and politically double-jeopardized by a media/legal system that -- once it had seen the film excerpt -- truly never wanted to make any further effort to learn the facts of the case. This is an important book to read, if for no other reason than to keep you alert from now forward when watching television news. They're going to show you what SELLS, and not necessarily what TELLS.
Rating:
Summary: Should be required reading for Politicians&Police Managers
Review: Lou Cannon has put together an account of the culture and climate within the city of Los Angeles preceding the Rodney King incident and the ensuing riots that really hits the mark. As a person who was directly involved in law enforcemnt during the period the book focuses on, I thought I had the entire King incident and riots figured out. on the contrary, I was completely blindsided by the information in this book. Cannon has done his homework and has put together a shocking and revealing account of the King incident, trial and years leading up to it. I would strongly recommend this book to anybody interested in the history of L.A., it's police department and political climate. It should be required reading for all Police recruits, lawyers, politicians and managers.
Rating:
Summary: Balanced and In-depth
Review: This book is an excellent read. If you want to know the real story of the Rodney King incident, the trials, and the riots, this book is a must-read. Mr. Cannon spent a lot of time researching this tome, but his ability to tell the story well is what sets this book apart. Clear your mind, read this book, and think about how your ideas about the incident have changed.
Rating:
Summary: It,s about time
Review: This is the most engrossing book that I have read in a while.. It is gripping and unbiased. Lou Cannon states the history behind the Los Angeles Police Department, with straight forward, objective proof. Cannon describes the transformation from the beginnings of the LAPD and how it was molded into the elite law enforcement agency in the world. It then goes into great deal behind the whole Rodney King incident and the riots, giving indepth thought to what happened and why. An unbelievable book!!!
Rating:
Summary: A Full History of the LAPD and how one incident changed it
Review: This is the most engrossing book that I have read in a while.. It is gripping and unbiased. Lou Cannon states the history behind the Los Angeles Police Department, with straight forward, objective proof. Cannon describes the transformation from the beginnings of the LAPD and how it was molded into the elite law enforcement agency in the world. It then goes into great deal behind the whole Rodney King incident and the riots, giving indepth thought to what happened and why. An unbelievable book!!!
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