PRAISE FOR CODE 33

Transcribed from Amazon verified purchase July 9, 2017, 5 Stars

This book, told from the perspective of a young police officer working in San Francisco and then in Santa Cruz, is a clear eyed view of life in 70's history. He sheds light on a period I remember well, and reaffirming my memory of the 1970's as a decade of major change, increased freedoms and excitement, and grisly crimes. Things often felt like they were spinning out of control.

The author's stories begin after the period in San Francisco of love and flower power. He tells of a time of serial murders and war on authority and cops in the 70's. The world and San Francisco were changing, and he offers an honest look at that change from behind the wheel of a black and white. The author's very personal police perspective and gives welcome and fresh insight to the decade, not often available from historians and journalists.

It is an enjoyable and first hand read and I really enjoyed the trip back to the 70's.

Deborah Bueche, Ann Arbor, MI

Transcribed from email post July 10, 2017.

Just finished Code 33 and I wanted to say how much I enjoyed it. The book was an easy read and quite interesting. No doubt that Tom Wamsley had a exciting 10 years as a cop.

Chuck Watkins, Charleston, SC

Testimonial transcribed from email on May 27,2017

Message body:
It is not often you get book you honestly don't want to close until you finish it. Though my busy life
made finishing this compelling book in a sitting impossible, I kept thinking about it and looking forward to getting back to it in the interims. Author Tom Wamsley just drew me into his life as a cop and detective. I mean, he so clearly defines the often hair-raising crimes he was called to deal with and his own personal emotions in the process that I was right there dealing with it all myself. What a great book! Wamsley's in-your-face, matter of fact recounting of the actual crimes and the criminals involved in them, gave me a whole new understanding of police work. Cops like Wamsley actually risk their lives every time they are called to investigate a crime, and as his book relates, even sometimes routine calls can explode into something death-defying. I also appreciate the occasional narrative on the absurdity and humor that he sometimes encounters on the job. "Code 33" is a great read from the beginning to end and it educated me about the necessary courage and intelligence required in the police profession. I highly recommend this anthology of crime and punishment for everyone. it would be a valuable addition to any high school library or as an online study.

Rev. Jack Groverland
Author, The Ego Wars and Miracles Made Easy

Best cop book I have ever read, and it was hard to put down. Author Tom Wamsley gives us an exciting, behind-the-scenes view of what it was like to be a police officer and detective in the San Francisco area during the 1970s. He neither glamorizes nor routinizes his gritty work with murderers, prostitutes, drug dealers, and fellow police officers, but presents it in a matter-of-fact and heartfelt manner. This book gave me a glimpse into the seedy underbelly of society and a new perspective of the job of bringing criminals to justice.

Code 33 readily draws you into the world of law enforcement, from career start to patrolling the streets. The author’s daily “ride along” experiences take you into the murky depths of investigations and the intricacies of prosecuting horrendous crimes. Wamsley was confronted with the complex worlds of good and evil on a daily basis, and he gives the reader a glimpse of what it was like. Being a police officer is not easy; being a motivated professional is even harder. This well-written book is a glowing testament to our nation’s law enforcement community and the ongoing need for restraining evil in society.

Tom Wamsley has written an utterly original, thoroughly engaging memoir about his experiences as a police officer during the colorful, turbulent era of 1970s California. His intense curiosity and youthful fearlessness—but above all, his humanity, humor, and sincere desire to be of service to others—shine on every page. This book has radically expanded my appreciation for what it truly means to be a cop! Code 33  was so enjoyable that I could not put it down.

Code 33 is written in an open, almost folksy manner that comes from the author’s heart. Readers with a law enforcement background will have their own experiences revived. Those without a background in law enforcement will have the opportunity to visit a world that is not generally available to them.

In his reflections and stories collected from a decade in law enforcement, Tom Wamsley captures his experience as a police officer and deputy sheriff in both big city and small county policing during the disco decade of the 1970s with unique perception. Wamsley spans a breadth of memories that include those of the relatively anonymous patrolman in the bright lights and glitter of the city to those of the solitary mountain patrolman where not only does everyone know your name, they also know where you live.