Mr. Wambaugh’s best-selling books included the Los Angeles police novels “The New Centurions” and the true crime drama “The ...

He wrote 'The Onion Field,' 'The New Centurions' and 'The Blue Knight' and created the realistic anthology series 'Police ...

Former Los Angeles police officer turned best- selling author Joseph Wambaugh, known for books such as "The Onion Field" and ...

In novels like “The Glitter Dome” and nonfiction works like “The Onion Field,” he took a harsh, unglamorous look at the ...

In 1971, eleven years after joining the LAPD, Wambaugh saw his first novel, The New Centurions, published by Little, Brown ...

Joseph Wambaugh, the former LAPD officer who brought realism to the "Police Story" TV series and books like "The Onion Field, ...

(Photo by Chris Stone/Times of San Diego) Former Los Angeles police officer turned best- selling author Joseph Wambaugh, known for books such as “The Onion Field” and “The New Centurions ...

The prolific author, who initially planned to be an English teacher, had been with the Los Angeles Police Department 11 years ...

Before the release of Joseph Wambaugh’s first novel, “The New Centurions,” he received an unusual offer from the star of the straitlaced TV police drama “Dragnet” to look over the pages.

Joseph Wambaugh, a former police officer who became an acclaimed bestselling author, introducing audiences to the gritty, ...

Joseph Aloysius Wambaugh Jr. was born on Jan. 22, 1937 ... but one editor offered encouragement by suggesting that he take a stab at creating a full-length novel. His first effort was The New ...