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Summary Of Armed And Dangerous By Gina Gallo

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Armed and Dangerous, a memoir by Gina Gallo, presents the reader with an in-depth look into the life of a Chicago police woman. Gallo, whose father was also an officer, spent 16 years of her life patrolling some of the worst, rundown streets of Chicago's south and west side. Her stories while on the beat are shocking, somewhat comical, and extremely frustrating as she gives the reader her life story as an officer from her first days at the academy to her heartbreaking end as a policewoman. Gallo discusses her experiences in the police academy and the struggles of being a woman surrounded by the constant presence and reminder that being a police officer is a "man's job". She takes readers on a roller coaster ride of emotion while she portrays …show more content…

With her father always gone working during holidays, school functions and family celebrations she witnessed the strain it put on her family. She vowed never to become an officer, but life's circumstances forced her to change her mind. Gallo joined the academy in 1982 because she needed a secure job to support her two children. She was previously a psychologist but with her facility downsizing she would’ve been forced to take a substantial pay cut and lose out on her medical benefits if she were to stay. She learned that the Chicago Police department was hiring, and already a trained psychologist, she thought she’d be working as a therapist in the department’s counseling center. She was …show more content…

This book is shocking and honest. I love that she admits that cops have short comings, she even says some are down right dogs, but most are just trying to serve and protect. She addresses a number of situations that range from entertaining (the priest getting caught with the prostitute) to horrifying (finding a discarded infant corpse in a trash can.) This is a great book for women interested in becoming police. It shows not only the difficulties police face, but also the ones specific to women on the force. It has moments of great humor and great

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