Street Warrior: The True Story of the NYPD's Most Decorated Detective and the Era That Created Him Hardcover – July 25, 2017

This book was terrific. If you like real life police stories, you’ll thoroughly enjoy this. I am retired law enforcement and it was a pleasure to read this. Proud of my brother in blue.

Such a great read. As a police officer myself, I love to read stories of former officers who paved the way for us. And to read Ralph’s story is absolutely amazing. Could only imagine meeting such a legend.

This book recounted the career of a police officer who did a phenomenal job in some of the toughest streets in NYC.He did more in 14 years than most officers do in 30 years.I did 25 years in law enforcement - more than 20 in some busy places,but I am in awe of what Det.Friedman did.It's a hard book to put down.

A great book by a detective that lives it!! True crime buffs won’t be disappointed!?

Street Warrior by Ralph Friedman, the most decorated officer in the New York City Police Department is rapid-fire real life thriller and once you start reading you can’t put it down.I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants some insight into the real-life world of high impact policing in an extremely violent time in America.Street Warrior takes the reader back into the world of the South Bronx during an era that many people would not believe existed in the City of New York. I know because I was there at the time. I was a Tactical Patrol Force (TPF) cop and later worked as a narcotics detective in the 41st Precinct. Some of my biggest arrests were made in the 41. In 1971, I had been promoted to sergeant and was assigned as a TPF Squad leader working the South Bronx, specifically in the 41st Precinct known as Fort Apache. The TPF was there to back-up the 41 Precinct officers who were being overwhelmed by the non-stop violence and street crime and riots in that area.As I read through Ralph Friedman’s Street Warrior I couldn’t help but relate to his bravery compassion and dedication that he revealed as he told his of his exploits. I recognized many of the names of officers he mentioned throughout the book because I had worked with them as well. And I remember the funerals and grief that we all experienced when we lost an officer to the senseless violence that permeated the world of policing in the seventies.This book should be required reading for all those foolish naïve liberals who think that police work doesn’t require an insurmountable toughness when dealing with street thugs and an inner strength and belief in justice. It might also be required reading for liberal police commanders who got off the street as soon as they could and became supervisors because they were scared to death of confronting the evil that our first responders face every day as a matter of routine.Street Warrior is a book about an exceptional street cop hero who epitomized the word hero. It is also a testament to all police officers who dedicate their lives to protect and serve the community in the face of human evil that would consume that same community.Lieutenant-Commander (Ret.) NYPD Vernon J. Geberth, M.S., M.P.S.Former Commanding Officer Bronx Homicide.

This is a very special book for anyone wanting to get a realistic no holds barred first person perspective right from the mouth of one of the most decorated, active cops in American history. It is a fast paced gripping adventure that transports you back in time to the gritty violent crime plagued New York City of the 1970s and 1980s. It feels like being sucked through a vortex into a virtual reality movie the way Ralph describes everything. This book captures the sights, sounds, smells and perils accompanying the dilapidated inner city tenements, desolate streets, dark alleys. It is an adrenaline pumping, chaotic, dangerous, unpredictable, dynamic tour de force.It relays how policing was done not in theory but in practice, warts and all, with no apologies during this period of NYPD history. A testament of survival in an urban jungle. It feels like jumping in a car, going full throttle, pedal to the metal, head snapping back, along for the ride of your life with a NYC cop. Ralph has a dead pan, straight up manner of communicating his experiences. Ralph's dry gallows sense of humor and narrative will have you laughing out loud at times,then quickly reversing course, moved by the sincere emotions of his experiences. He aptly and honestly relays the heart wrenching loss, tragedy and destruction experienced by Ralph, those he worked with, and the many victims affected by senseless violent crime.Patrick Picciarelli deserves credit for making the book a unique period piece as well as Ralph's story. He manages to project Ralph's persona in the pages, as a living, breathing, crime fighting character comes to life. You can hear Ralph's voice resonating in your head as you sprint from one scenario to the next. It is a rare talent in itself, capturing the essence of the person, bringing their unique perspective to life. Ralph Friedman and Patrick Picciarelli are owed a debt of gratitude for capturing the essence, heart and soul of a cop's cop, and his comrades at arms as they held the line, and fought for the citizens of the city with their lives and bodies. After a quick page turning read you will finish the book wanting more. Enjoy!

This book isn't an ordinary book, this book is the reality most people will never experience, thank God ! However the stories relayed are very familiar to anyone who served in any department where extremely high crime, daily death, violence, rape and lack of civility were the norm. Detective Friedman is the epitome of what an old school NYPD cop was bar none! He is everything a cop should be, street-smart, tough both mentally and physically, pro-active and well respected. This book should be given to anyone thinking of becoming a cop and not just a police officer! Inside you will learn about what very few cops get to experience, lifes lessons, sadness and joy. I can't say enough good things about this book or this man that is the definition of a true hero. Thank God for Det. Ralph Friedman and the men just like him.

This was an interesting book but all of the author's bragging got old real quick and his pride about violence against suspects only served to reinforce the view about police brutality. I wish I hadn't bought this book and given him money.

Fantastic read from the man who was called New York’s Toughest Cop! Fantastic insight into the world of policing in that era! The man is a legend and the book is a great read!

Good interesting read.

Best book I have read in a long time. Well written and grabs you from the very first chapter. Best part is it's all real Experiences by the most highly decorated officer in the history of the NYPD. Gritty, real and non stop. Want a great book you can't put down buy this one.

The stories were interesting. Maybe more do to the author than to the average reader. Would like some of it to have been more in-depth.