Jim Cirillo's Tales of the Stakeout Squad

This book was begun by the author along with Cirillo before he died. It is an excellent account of Cirillo's life and a fast and easy read. I wish it was longer. I could have read another 300+ pages if it was all like what Kirchner put together. The insight into Cirillo's mindset still applies today even if his weapons and tactics have become politically incorrect. It the politics ever turn to a more realistic approach to law enforcement, the NYCPD's Stakeout Unit would most certainly work again. One can only wonder what would have happened to NY's robbery rate if Cirillo and his fellow SOU members had continued for another five years. Kirchner really gave me a quality insight into Cirillo that not many authors could probably have provided. Kirchner's respect for the man comes through in his writing. I highly recommend this book to any law enforcement officer with an interest in such things. It's also a great companion to Cirillo's own book.

This isn't poetry, but in terms of real world accounts of dynamic split second events this deserves 5 stars. The story was well worth the effort to capture. The man was a special type of human, a sheepdog in a world of wolves and sheep. It is evident he cared deeply for the victims and protecting the public. He understood very well how the Zen of subconscious shooting can take over in split second events. Nothing he writes here is going to turn you into a gunfighter, but it does tell you the basics for things for the recipe that tend to make you a survivor (no guarantee you will be so lucky). The hard training and practice work he put in is mentioned but don't underestimate those accomplishments. With those under his belt, he was able to survive when combined with that special something that only some folks have in their blood. Some forms of competition and hunting are good and others are better at this sort of need. The book is a must read in many ways.

This book was written and published after Cirillo's death, and you can see it was a response to reader demand. Nonetheless it is a thrilling read, and provides both sides of the argument - should you fight armed robbers on their own terms, and blast them as soon as they twitch an eyelid, or should they be taken alive, counselled, educated, found jobs, and generally turned around somehow into good citizens? Many shooting scenes are described, where we find that armed offenders are in fact more ready to shoot someone than the police are, any day. Many citizens expect the cops to protect THEM and not the offender, and this is no doubt how the store-owners and customers feel. Others think that the cops should fire warning shots galore, shoot the weapon out of the robber's hand, etc etc. You are given the chance to choose. The truth lies somewhere between. Having shot so many armed robbers, the inevitable happens - Cirillo's team is disbanded for political reasons. Yet the author does mention that the great majority of the gunmen and robbers shot are black. Does it point to something? Who knows?

I seldom rate an item as five stars, but this one deserves it. The language is a bit "salty", but in perspective, seems appropriate for the situations being described. One item that I find unusual, but VERY nice is that in many segments you end up laughing. These are from once a page to as many as three times per page. When you think about the subject(s) being discussed, that's amazing. I strongly recommend that any wild-eyed liberals, that do not want to learn the truth, should avoid this book. So many, with their twenty-twenty hind sight and hours to evaluate a situation, want to know why a bad guy was not simply wounded, or had his gun "shot from his hand". This book provides many examples of why an armed assailant, attempting to shoot you, needs to be stopped (note the specific word there), and not just at some time in the future. [/soap-box] EXCELLENT book, I recommend it, and will do so to my friends.

I was fortunate to have shot against Jim, in several matches. In fact I even beat him in a few in the late 60's and early 70's. I beat him in Ayoob's NH State Undercover Match, I think in 1972. He wasn't happy to have lost to a virtual unknown. I also beat him in several matches held by Jeff Cooper, at Hyde Park, NY, where I came out second to Ray Chapman in the Night Shoot. I was also fortunate to have personally listened as others too gathered around, when Jim spoke of his various encounters some recalled in this book. It was like he was holding "Court" and everyone paid attention, because they knew he was the real McCoy. He believed in training the way you have to fight, and not the way most LEO's are trained. Most LEO's go through an entire career without shooting anyone, Jim was certainly an exception. Every LE Dept of any size should have a "Stake Out Squad" and smaller agencies should designate one or two of their members to form several teams, train together, and do stake outs, in their various jurisdictions. I think there would be less armed robberies if the bad guys never knew if in fact a "Stake Out Team" just might be on the premises. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to hear the way it really was, and is, from a guy who was there and did it. Jim's untimely death was unfortunate, because he had a lot left to give. I was also fortunate to have had Gunsmith Austin Behlert living in my town, and he made me some guns like the ones he made for Jim, and others of the era. I'm long "retired" but still carry, instruct, and shoot when I can. Practice like you fight. Best regards to all, Russ Thomas, Roxboro, NC [email protected]

This a great read, and there is more here than just gun fights. Jim Cirillo was a Hell of a man, and I wish I could have met him. This book relates a very interesting period in the NYPD, and gives a little insight into the mind and personality of a real modern day gunfighter. A real addition to the library of any person interested in personal defense or deadly encounters.

VERY good book, a real modern classic to be sure about one of the greatest and most interesting gun fighters to have ever lived. Packed with priceless knowledge and incredible stories of survival and courage, while all at the same time being fantastically fun and easy to read. Good information, good reading, GOOD BOOK!

A very well written book told by an old school cop on the mean streets of New York City. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Excellent book!