At 5:45 p.m. on September 9, 1919, Boston was effectively without a police force, leaving the city victim to four days of crime, looting, and violence. Ordered to disband their newly organized police union, the officers voted to walk off their posts in protest, leading to the greatest tragedy in American policing: the Boston Police Strike of 1919.

This is a compelling account of the historical antecedents that led to the strike and its complex political and societal ramifications. Through meticulous research, Oliver explores the perspectives and motivations of all involved, from the police officers attempting to unionize to the city’s leaders trying to retain command and control of its patrolmen.