StreetCreds
Street Creds is a look inside the world of street gangs and the copsthat work them. I worked thestreet for many years before I entered the Gang Task Force, joining it with theidea that I could rise to the level of violence of any banger I encountered- a really stupid idea. I wantedto “earn back” the respect of the citizens for the police; I grew up in thiscity, and I worked its streets the best way I knew how, feeling that I had a firsthandunderstanding of what the citizens were experiencing. The increasing frustration at gang crimes, drive bys,robberies, never feeling safe with your kids in your own neighborhood - Iwanted to do what I could to make that fear go away.
Once I was inside the task force, though, the reality was a rudeawakening for me. The task forcewas poorly managed and staffed by detectives mostly out for themselves, and theinternal politics made success incredibly difficult and almost impossible - almost,but not quite.
Street Creds is my story. Against the odds, outnumbered by gang members, and with very few alliesin the department and only the bare minimum of support. Having witnessed bad cops, brutal crimes, and realizing thedepartment had been compromised, the cost was much higher for me personallythan I anticipated; however, while on the task force, I achieved a 100%conviction rate of every case on which I made an arrest.
