Since 2001, I have had the pleasure of calling Tony “Pac-Man” Moreno friend, mentor and trusted associate (Tony’s work in South-Central L.A. inspired the Pac-Man character played by actor Sean Penn in the movie Colors, co-starring Robert Duvall).
For those not familiar with Tony, he is a 31-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, and in my view, the most talented gang cop in the world today. While Tony is set to retire soon, his expertise is carried forward in a 2003 book I edited and published called Lessons From A Gang Cop. The esteemed police publication Blueline Magazine says the book is “more in tune with modern day policing than any book currently available”, and to date, Tony has sold 15,000+ copies of the book to people throughout North America.
While the title may leave one with the impression that it is a tome for police officers, the book is appropriate for anybody dealing with gangs – police, corrections officials, probations personnel, school teachers and administrators, social service workers and community leaders. The book does not focus on gangs, their origins or their criminal activities. Rather, it presents the key principles Tony believes are essential for the mental, physical and emotional well-being of front-line professionals dealing with gangs and fighting to make our communities safer.
To me and others dealing with street gangs in any manner, this $25 book is a “must-read” (I have no financial stake in this publication!), and you can get a copy from Amazon here.
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