Joseph Wambaugh, L.A. Cop Turned Novelist and Screenwriter, Dies at 88

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Joseph Wambaugh, who spent 14 years with the Los Angeles Police Department and later wrote gruff novels based on his experiences, such as “The Onion Field”, “The New Centurions”, “The Blue Knight” and “The Glitter Dome” (all of which have been adapted for film), passed away last Friday. He was 88 years old.

Wambaugh, known for co-creating the hit 1970s series Police Story for NBC, passed away at his home in Rancho Mirage due to esophageal cancer. This was confirmed by longtime family friend Janene Gant to The New York Times.

Wambaugh, who became a patrolman with the LAPD in 1960, gained attention with his first book, The New Centurions, an expansive narrative about three young LAPD officers over a five-year span culminating in the 1965 Watts riots. Published by Little, Brown and Co. in 1971, it proved popular, spending 32 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller List.

In his critique for the Times, Thomas Fleming stated: “Whether you’re fond or averse to cops, delve into ‘The New Centurions.’ This novel possesses an indispensable and lasting ability unique to it among other literary forms. It offers us insight into the feelings, thoughts, sensations, and even the innermost workings of different individuals – and when skillfully penned, it produces a blend of empathy and impartiality that fosters authentic comprehension.

The next year saw the transition of “The New Centurions” into a full-length film, with George C. Scott and Stacy Keach starring. At that time, Wambaugh was a detective with the LAPD, and he would often joke about how his newfound fame made suspects request autographs as he was cuffing them.

In 1973, his second novel, titled “The Blue Knight“, made its appearance in bookstores. Unlike his initial work that revolved around rookie cops, for this piece, Wambaugh chose to focus on a seasoned officer nearing retirement.

The book skillfully immerses readers into the minds of police officers through passages such as: “I drove to Seymour’s, and upon arriving, I noticed two individuals in the parking lot at the back of the Pink Dragon across Fourth Street. I observed them for about 30 seconds, and it appeared they were preparing a transaction, likely a drug deal. Even after two decades, I still feel the excitement that comes over a police officer when they witness things that are unnoticeable to an ordinary citizen.

The popular novel, “The Blue Knight”, was adapted into a 1973 NBC television film, with William Holden portraying the lead character, Bumper Morgan, as depicted in the book. Two years after that, it was transformed into a CBS series, which starred George Kennedy and ran for a total of 25 episodes.

Wambaugh opted to explore nonfiction works, achieving his peak success in 1973 with “The Onion Field”. This book was based on an event that occurred a decade prior, and it narrates a gripping tale about two LAPD patrol officers who were kidnapped during a routine traffic check. Unfortunately, the situation quickly turned sour. The abductors took them near Bakersfield, California, which is where the book’s title is set. One of the police officers was murdered, while the other managed to escape.

Wambaugh thoroughly documented the chilling events of that fateful night and its aftermath, with critics praising the book, drawing comparisons between The Onion Field and Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood. The author’s third work spent a remarkable 14 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller List and was honored with an Edgar Award.

In 2008, Wambaugh expressed that he felt as though his purpose on Earth was to pen “The Onion Field.” It was a deeply emotional journey for him. As a result, he took a six-month break from his job at the police department to focus on writing this book. He delved into 40,000 pages of court transcripts, interviewed approximately 63 individuals, and completed the book in just three months.

Later on, Wambaugh transformed his writing into the script for Harold Becker’s 1979 movie titled ‘The Onion Field’. In this movie, James Woods and Franklyn Seales played the roles of kidnappers, while John Savage and Ted Danson portrayed the roles of police officers.

The achievement of “The Onion Field” marked a significant milestone for Wambaugh. As a result, he decided to devote himself entirely to writing and thus, handed in his No. 178 badge, officially retiring from the Los Angeles Police Department in 1974.

Joseph Aloysius Wambaugh Jr., born on the 22nd of January, 1937, hails from East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His father initially served as a police chief before transitioning into a steelworker. When he was fourteen years old, his family moved to Los Angeles.

In the year 1954, Wambaugh decided to join the United States Marine Corps and later continued his education through evening classes. Once his military service was completed, he found employment at a nearby steel factory while also pursuing his studies part-time at college.

With a passion for literature, he contemplated pursuing a career as an English teacher, but his familial ties to law enforcement drew him instead toward the LAPD. However, even as he underwent training and became part of the force, he persisted in his academic endeavors, eventually earning a B.A. in 1960 and then an M.A. in 1968 from Cal State L.A.

In my spare time as I climbed the ranks to become a detective sergeant with the LAPD, I found solace in crafting short stories during my days off. These stories were turned down for publication, but one editor took notice and offered words of encouragement, suggesting I attempt writing a full-length novel. My first foray into this new endeavor was penning “The New Centurions“.

1973 saw the collaboration between Wambaugh and E. Jack Neuman, who penned the teleplay for The Blue Knight. Together, they brought to life Police Story, a groundbreaking cop show that foreshadowed others like Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue. Notably, Police Story garnered the Emmy for outstanding drama series in 1976 and spawned three spin-offs, one of which was the popular show Police Woman, starring Angie Dickinson.

Besides his hit novels, Wambaugh is also known for adaptations such as “The Choirboys,” made into a 1977 film by Robert Aldrich, “The Black Marble,” which became a 1980 movie directed by Becker, and “The Glitter Dome,” the basis for a 1984 HBO movie featuring James Garner and John Lithgow. His other works include “The Delta Star” and “The Secret of Harry Bright.

He adapted his nonfiction book “Echoes in the Darkness” and novel “Fugitive Nights” for television broadcasts which were aired in 1987 and 1993, respectively.

During the 1990s, Wambaugh penned three novels – “The Golden Orange”, “Finnegan’s Week” and “Floaters”. However, his following book, published in 2002 as “Fire Lover: A True Story“, marked a shift for the author. Instead of fiction, this work delved into the real-life story of John Leonard Orr, an arson investigator who served with the Glendale Fire Department.

In 2006, Wambaugh went back to working on crime stories with the book “The Hollywood Station“. This novel brought forth the character “Hollywood” Nate Weiss, a former actor who is now a cop and has more of an obsession with gaining fame than solving crimes. The book also features other vibrant characters like Flotsam and Jetsam, a couple of laid-back surfing cops/guys who are sun-kissed.

With more breezy flair compared to his previous pieces, “The Hollywood Station” and its subsequent four installments provided the author an opportunity to take a humorous swipe at the star-struck mentality prevalent in Los Angeles’ entertainment scene. An example excerpt:

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In a more relaxed style than before, “The Hollywood Station” and its following four books allowed the writer to satirize LA’s celebrity-centric mindset. Here is one illustrative quote:

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With a lighter touch than in his previous endeavors, “The Hollywood Station” series offered the author an occasion to mock the star-struck mentality that pervades Los Angeles’ entertainment industry. As a sample example:

“Wanna play pit bull polo, dude?”
“What’s that?”

I learned that while working with the Metro Mounted Platoon.”)

“It’s surprising to think of you as a ‘cowboy cop’.”)

The only thing I can say about horses is that they’re troublesome, to be honest. However, they provided us with overtime opportunities. Remember my BMW? I wouldn’t have been able to afford it if not for my time at Metro. In my final year at Metro, I made over a hundred thousand dollars. I don’t miss dealing with those unruly horses, but I do miss the overtime pay and wearing a cowboy hat. During the mini-riot at the Democrats convention, an attractive lobbyist with noticeably large breasts commented that I resembled a young Clint Eastwood while wearing my cowboy hat. At that time, I wasn’t carrying a Beretta nine; instead, I had a six-inch Colt revolver, which seemed more fitting when I was on a horse.”

“Isn’t it unusual to carry a wheel gun these days?” (Wheel gun is an informal term for a revolver.)

The Oracle continues to carry a revolver after almost five decades of service. If he chooses to wear a vest, so be it. However, unlike Clint Eastwood, you don’t have the same rugged charm. Instead, you resemble the character from King Kong, but with an even more prominent beak and bleached hair.

I’ve got sun-kissed hair from surfing, man. And I tower over Clint by two inches when riding, but on the ground, I stand a full foot taller than Tom Cruise, who is roughly 4 feet 10 inches.

Throughout his career, the Mystery Writers of America bestowed upon Wambaugh three Edgar awards and later presented him with their Grand Master Award in 2004.

Among the individuals who carry on are his spouse Dee, whom he wedded in 1955, along with their offspring David and Jeanette. Regrettably, another child, Mark, aged 21, met an untimely end in a car accident back in 1984. Later on, David himself released a memoir, titled “The Last Call“, in the year 2013.

In 2010, when asked about the source of his novel ideas, Wambaugh revealed that his characters are often amalgamations of individuals he’s encountered. On occasions, these characters bear a striking resemblance to real-life persons.

In my writing, I focus on developing characters first, and then allow their unique personalities and actions to guide the storyline. As I progress through the narrative, I gain deeper insights into each character’s traits and motivations, making adjustments along the way to ensure they remain authentic and true to themselves.

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2025-02-28 20:55