Follow Here To Purchase Uniform Decisions: My Life in the LAPD and the North Hollywood Shootout

Author: John Caprarelli 
Publisher: End of Watch
ISBN: 978-0984916702

John Caprarelli has many life experiences to share about growing up in the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles. His book Uniform Decisions is not only about the famous botched bank robbery of February, 1997, where two armed assailants were killed and over eleven hundred rounds of ammunition were spent, but it is about his personal life of how to accept and adapt as a husband, father and police officer. The blend of these three aspects can be hard and complicated.

In this one hundred and eighty-seven page biographical story, John takes the reader from his childhood days in private school and marrying his high school sweetheart through the nuances and drills of the police academy and into the every day life of one who “serves and protects.” With twenty-seven years in the LAPD, he covers both the banal and fascinating stories while in different law enforcement venues, from the beat on the streets, filling out endless paperwork to dealing with the first dead body or going undercover and snagging a drug dealer. However, the focal point of the book is the robbery itself and its toll on the officers involved. The book not only includes photographs of the famous shoot-out but also of his parents, wife and children.

Towards the end of the book, John blends how he personally dealt with the aftermath of the shooting and health-related issues that altered his lifestyle which led to his retirement. In addition to taking a look at himself and changing areas of his life, he deals with his core beliefs and Christian values from his upbringing. He explains how the LAPD used to handle (or lack thereof) post traumatic stress syndrome. Due to this particular shooting, many police departments across America have changed their follow-up practices and protocols involving attitudes and behaviors toward their officers.

If you want a deep perspective how a policeman views his stressful job, co-workers, diversified work situations and most of all, his faith and determination, this book covers it. It is easy to read and engaging, forcing the reader to want to know what will happen on the next page. Besides capturing historical events of the famous robbery, it is a helpful book to pass on to someone contemplating joining the police force by explaining realistically its perks and pitfalls. Kudos to John for writing his book personally “like it was and is” and how he grew up and matured, both mentally and spiritually, in law enforcement.