C-Case

An Unlikely Journey from Transit Cop to Internal Affairs Bureau Squad Commander

By: Robert L. Bryan

Narrated by: David L. White

Length: 6 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Investigating other police officers is a job no cop wants to do.

Against the backdrop of the 1995 merger of the NYC Transit and Housing Police Departments into the New York City Police Department, this is the true story of a transit police lieutenant who abruptly finds himself walking a tightrope.

The author, then a 14-year veteran lieutenant in the Transit Police Department at the time of the merger, is thrust into command of a squad of seasoned NYPD investigators with the Internal Affairs Bureau.

But the problem is...

He has no prior investigative experience, having spent the previous 14 years patrolling the subway system and dealing with subway-related crimes. But now, Lieutenant Byran must be a leader to an Internal Investigations squad that were all so much more experienced than he was.

With almost 40,000 uniformed members of the service, the NYPD is a microcosm within the city. Just as there are murderers, thieves, and drug dealers in the city, there are also murderers, thieves, and drug dealers inside the police department. Somebody has to weed out these bad apples in the Big Apple.

It’s a tough job physically, mentally, and emotionally - especially with the "rat" stigma that is so closely associated with Internal Affairs. Imagine managing a hardened team who had spent years working in the tough, thankless job of investigating homicides, narcotics cases, and organized crime rings, and bringing corrupt cops to justice.

Was the author able to deftly walk the fine line of leading his squad and gaining their respect without having experience in the job? Could he quickly get up to speed and learn how to perform the wide range of investigations conducted by the Internal Affairs Bureau without being undermined?

In this insightful, humorous, and sometimes poignant reflection on his distinguished career, Robert Bryan offers listeners a window into the NYPD at a time when there is a lot of controversy and criticism of policemen.

If you enjoy true, no-holds-barred cop stories then you’ll love C-Case. Written by an insider, this memoir will give you new and unexpected insights into what it takes to be a successful cop in the toughest city in America.

©2017 Robert L. Jestic (P)2019 Robert L. Jestic

Good light listening

interesting story and a great performance. There are a number of production / editing goofs but, while noticeable, they don't really diminish the overall experience.

interesting, but not definitive

The book was entertaining, though narrowly focused and not the definitive story of the NYPD's IAB (for that read Blue on Blue). Overall, a solid book, and I recommend it.

The audio production suffered from the occasional mispronunciation, and several times the narrator's several attempts at reading a line were left in (an editing error).

I went looking for the audiobook versions of this author's other books, but was unable to find any. I do own his two Dark Knight books as ebooks.