The Super Cops: The True Story of the Cops Called Batman and Robin

I first read this book 20 or so years ago. I heard about it from a review about David Toma, which had been made into an 80's TV series. Toma was a real-life cop from North Jersey. So are these guys. This is a good read for anybody who likes to hear about the good cops and their exploits. Too bad that's a rare thing these days.

This is an excellent book full of action, humor, friendship, and fighting against the odds. Greenburg and Hantz start out as traffic cops and become great friends, but want to do something to stop crime, so they pull off big arrests on their days off, when they're not stuck directing traffic. Instead of being congratulated, they are discouraged from being "overzealous." They don't give up, and eventually work their way up to being full-blown police officers, and this book highlights their fight against crime in the slums of New York. They are always thinking of new ways to bust narcotics dealers, including climbing buildings with grappling hooks, hiding in garbage heaps, under cardboard boxes, etc. Eventually, hundreds of arrests later, they are nicknamed Batman and Robin by the citizens in their area, and are looked up to even by those they are busting. Their adventures are exciting and hilarious, and their methods of catching criminals and getting back at those who try to keep them from being "overzealous" will have you rolling with laughter. There is a decent amount of swearing in this book, but it was probably necessary for the story, since it took place in the slums of New York City. Overall grade: A

This was recommended to me and i loved it. Grab it while its still in print.

From when I was 9 years old, The Super Cops was, and still is, one of my favorite books. I liked the idea of them working to save a community. The villains were more or less drug dealers. David Greenberg and Robert Hantz will always be heroes of mine. In college I did a little bit of research on the two of them, including speaking with real cops. In fact, their exploits were certainly exaggerated. The end of their careers was somewhat tragic. David Greenberg went to jail twice for white collar crime. Robert Hantz was accused of smuggling marijuana, and lost his Detective's shield because of it. Nevertheless, I still find the characters heroic. Perhaps they don't live up to the image that is projected in the book. Nevertheless, I still believe the book projects a positive message. I certainly wouldn't call it a typical book on law enforcement. Nevertheless, I recommend it for anyone who enjoys action-packed cop stories, with just a grain of truth added. (Incidentally, there is a "Super Cops II." It's called "Play It To a Bust." It was written by Greenberg. Additionally, the duo are mentioned in Edward Droge's biography, "A Cop's Story.")

"The Super Cops" by L.H. Whittemore is an excellent book about up-and-coming cops who want to save the planet but have to cut through miles of red tape and a "this is how it's always been" type attitude. Although published in 1973, the book is still a good read about two real New York police officers called Batman and Robin by drug dealers and people in the neighborhood they patroled for the way they apprehended criminals other officers were waiting to arrest, but did not know how to find them. It is a fast read, and ends leaving the reader wanting a "Super Cops II."