In the tradition of Leland Gregory's STUPID collections, here are authentic tales of life behind the badge, featuring hilarious anecdotes as told by the cops who experienced them--everything from stupid crooks and bungled crimes to station-house banter and quick-witted comebacks. In the tradition of Leland Gregory's best-selling Stupid collections, retired NYPD officer Scott Baker and author Tom Philbin present A Lighter Shade of Blue. With authentic tales of life behind the badge, A Lighter Shade of Blue features hilarious anecdotes as told by the cops on the scene--everything from stupid crooks and bungled crimes to patrol etiquette, station house banter, and mangled English.

From a gun-stealing chimpanzee to the good-natured hazing of a new recruit, A Lighter Shade of Blue mixes the hilarious with the downright unbelievable through more than 100 firsthand accounts from police officers across the United States and Canada. In addition, a handy glossary of funny cop lingo apprises readers of why they would much rather have a fat pill (buttered roll) as opposed to a finger wave (rectal exam). Consider A Lighter Shade of Blue as the ultimate ride-along--a sidesplitting collection rife with real stories from the cops who have seen and heard it all, including:

* A rookie who is locked in the back of a cop car during his first patrol and driven, windows down, through an automatic car wash.

* A gun-stealing chimpanzee.

* A college professor attacked by a wild gang of teenage girls who promptly steal his watch.