In 1893, Chicago's mayor gave Marie Owens the title of "patrolman," even though she had no authority to walk a beat. She did "women's work" and was a patrolman in name only. Throughout her 30 years of service, she was never allowed to wear a uniform. It would take nearly a century for women to be able to join the police ranks as full-fledged officers. Even today, women comprise just 15 percent of the nation's nearly one million law enforcement officers.

Spanning 160 years, "History in Blue" is the first book to tell the riveting story of the uphill struggle for respect and recognition sustained by women in the modern police force. Featuring rare photographs and original interviews with pioneering female officers, this fascinating book chronicles the ongoing fight for equality in the world of law enforcement. In this vivid and remarkable history, Allan T. Duffin tells of the extraordinary women who broke down the barriers of gender so that they--and many generations of successors--could do the work they loved most.

Darryl Kimball always wanted to fly. This is the story of how he accomplished his dream. It's the story of how a small town country boy found his way to San Diego, California, and eventually into the helicopter unit of one of the largest sheriff's departments in the country. In many ways it's a success story, a story of perseverance -- one that says when the odds seem to be stacked against you, or when your mind tells you that you're not smart enough or good enough, or tells you to quit and go home, you don't listen. You stick it out, you move forward . . . and you persevere. As a helicopter pilot with the elite air support unit of the San Diego Sheriff's Department, Darryl Kimball has hunted for missing children, extracted captured drugs and other contraband out of cramped locations, medevac'd injured hikers from valleys thick with boulders and brush, directed deputies during gun battles, and tracked carjackers as they tried to escape pursuing officers through heavy freeway traffic. Catch the Sky is the first in-depth look at the life of a police helicopter pilot. Kimball pulls no punches, unfolding his nail-biting personal story in enthralling detail. From death-defying rescues to stories both bizarre and humorous, Catch the Sky puts you inside the helicopter cockpit for a breathtaking ride you'll never forget.

The definitive biography of the World War II events leading to the novel, plus a history of the novel, film, television series (including complete, detailed log of the show), and enough behind-the-scenes information and pictures to keep a whole squadron happy!