"The Real Police" is a phrase which is probably used in every police department with more than a handful of officers. It serves to differentiate officers who do the down-and-dirty work of first responders from the people who perform staff functions and administrative work. Career real police take a stubborn pride in their choice of assignment. They are not on the street because they cannot achieve promotion or find a hiding place - they are there because "real policemen work the street" (women do too, it's just an old-fashioned saying).

 

When I began writing my book, The Real Police, I didn't even think about a title. It was just obvious. And, I didn't research other works with similar titles because titles cannot be copyrighted. This is why you will occasionally find completely separate books, movies, and other works with the same title.

 

I only looked for other works titled The Real Police after I had written and copyrighted my book. As luck would have it, there is another book with a title very close to mine. It is called "The Real Police: Stories from the Crescent City", and was published in 1996 by James S. Prine, who  is a veteran of the New Orleans Police Department as well as other agencies.

 

James's book was published eight years before mine and the titles are sufficiently close to have already caused some confusion. But, being a member of the same peculiar extended family - street cops - James was unusually gracious about the trouble I have caused him. You can read about his book at the link below, and we are working on a deal for confused readers - a special price if you buy one of each. More info soon -

 

I read James's book in two sittings, ignoring work to do so. I loved it, and recommend it enthusiastically. He is a very effective writer - the really good ones make it look easy.