Joseph Wambaugh, LAPD Officer-Turned-Crime Author, Dies at 88

The celebrated writer and TV creator revolutionized police storytelling with works like 'The Onion Field' and 'Police Story.'

Joseph Wambaugh passed away at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, from esophageal cancer at the age of 88.
A former LAPD detective sergeant, Wambaugh drew on his 14 years of police experience to craft acclaimed novels and screen adaptations.
His 1973 nonfiction bestseller 'The Onion Field' and its 1979 film adaptation were pivotal in his career, blending emotional depth with procedural realism.
Wambaugh created the Emmy-winning anthology series 'Police Story,' which offered an unvarnished look at law enforcement and influenced future police dramas.
He is survived by his wife, Dee, two children, two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking crime storytelling.