
Escaping the Kill Zone
My Journey from LAPD's Zebra Unit to Undercover Federal Operative in the Las Vegas Mafia
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Narrated by:
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Ric Chetter
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By:
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Mike Powell
About this listen
“Man’s Life Resembles Spy Movie”
Headline in San Pedro News Pilot
Monday, December 7, 1981
Mike Powell’s blood and guts stories go far beyond his days working as a plainclothes officer in one of LAPD’s Zebra Units—a unit tasked with tracking down violent criminals in South Central L. A. “Shootin’ Newton” was notorious for its many police shootings including the Black Panther and Symbionese Liberation Army shootouts. Two of Mike’s four shootings occurred in Newton.
Mike and his partners tracked down murder suspects, bank robbers, and a serial killer: a killer of young boys. Mike’s police stories take us back to the days when cops were allowed to be cops, and when police chiefs like LAPD’s Ed Davis and Daryl Gates sent former military, “warrior cops” into the streets to hunt down violent criminals.
Mike also served as a key undercover operative for both the LAPD, undercover as a woman, and the federal government, undercover in the MAFIA, and he lived to write about it. If you’ve seen the movie Casino, then you have seen the mobsters he brushed shoulders with.
Mike ended his investigative and undercover career after he received several death threats, and his home was set ablaze while he and his first wife, Manette were in it.
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What listeners say about Escaping the Kill Zone
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- Amazon Customer
- 11-16-23
Very cool
One of my favorites so far!ggggg fggg veg guy guy jjj Jj hgd dds Cv hhh you ijj hub gff Jj,.
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- Anna Ashley
- 08-23-23
Wow! Did not expect this to be SO GOOD!
My colleague’s husband wrote this book and I said I would give it a go. Little did I know this was going to be one of my most enjoyable, audible books ever. I expected to it be one long, drawn-out story, but each chapter or two was a new and mind-blowing adventure. I was so happily surprised by the in-depth stories and unbelievable stories; sometimes hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking. Mike Powell is quite the story teller and I look forward to chatting with him someday to hear more about his off-the-wall experiences.
If nothing else, just buy this book just for the episode on Larry Flynt taking a wild ride in his wheelchair. It’s truly laugh-out-loud funny. Although, so is the time Mike dressed up undercover as an old lady. I don’t want to give the story away, because it is so worth the listen. Truthfully, this is one of my all-time favorite books from Audible. Buy this book, then then sit back and prepare for a new and unique version of Mr. Toad’s wild ride. Oh, and don’t forget to fasten your seatbelt before you hit play.
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