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.