Commissioner Roosevelt: The Story of Theodore Roosevelt and the New York City Police, 1895-1897
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"A lively, entertaining and well-researched portrait of a zealous reformer during the historic crusade that successfully launched his career in government."—Booklist COMMISSIONER ROOSEVELT: The Story of Theodore Roosevelt and the New York City Police, 1895 - 1897 When Theodore Roosevelt took office as New York's police commissioner in 1895, the Metropolitan Police force was barely more than a confederation of thugs and petty criminals whose chief activity was to extort protection money from local merchants. The thirty-seven-year-old Roosevelt rode roughshod over the corrupt bosses and power brokers and transformed the police into one of the first modern law enforcement agencies in the world. Combining the best elements of biography and social history, Commissioner Roosevelt reveals a fascinating episode from the life of one of America's most colorful cities, and one of her most charismatic leaders. Publishers Weekly In 1884 Roosevelt shepherded seven bills through the New York Assembly designed to reform the NYC police department; his subsequent performance on the U.S. Civil Service Commission added to his reputation for probity. Thus, when the Republicans won City Hall in 1895, TR was named to the board of police commissioners, where he was elected president. With the help of reformers and rising young journalists Jacob Riis and Lincoln Steffens, he converted a graft-ridden force into a constabulary run on the principles of promotion through merit and enforcement of all laws, no matter how unpopular. His innovations included hiring the first woman on the force and creating the first police fingerprint department. TR served for just two years, but even his enemies conceded that his performance had been spectacular. Jeffers (Bloody Business) captures the public-spirited TR in all his pugnaciousness. For a fictionalized account, see Caleb Carr's bestselling The Alienist. Photos not seen by PW. (Sept.)
Prologue: Mr.Steffens Gets an Assignment.I Have Read Your Book.Mulberry Street Blues."TR Is Enough".The Gospel According to Teddy.A Set of Teeth.Midnight Rambles.Honesty and Efficiency."I Deal with the Law".Unbought, Unawed, Unknown to Fear.Other Half, Other Hat.Very Rough Work."Pistols or Anything Else".Nothing of the Purple.Epilogue: A Larger Kingdom.Sources.Bibliography.Index.
