In the early 1970's, the Federal Government undertook to investigate corruption penetrating the entire criminal justice system in New York, particularly the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) of the narcotics division of the New York Police Department. Young and enthusiastic detective Robert Leuci was chosen by federal prosecutors Rudolph Guliani, Maurice Nadjari, and Tom Puccio to probe this world of corruption as an undercover agent. Leuci had enjoyed a swift rise from patrolman to the rank of detective. He knew Frank Serpico and while he was sympathetic with Serpico he felt the corruption filtered down. The police were at the bottom of this food chain.


This is the true story. Leuci helped put together corruption cases against lawyers, bail bondsmen, mob figures and some of his own. Leuci seemed perfectly suited to his special job. His cover was deep with only the Police Commissioner aware of his dual role. As team leader within the SIU, Leuci had access to all of the players in criminal justice from judges down. He walked a tightrope that made his life a nightmare. His life was in jeopardy from both sides.


"If Prince of the City is any good, and I hope it is, this is because during the weeks and months of our interviews, I had the wit to keep silent and let Detective Robert Leuci talk. Having witnessed so much bizarre, comic, tragic, complicated human conduct on the streets of New Yoark, having observed and remembered every detail, his stories were more vivid and emotional than I had expected," said Robert Daley. Daley has captured Leuci's story and laid bare the contradictions in the criminal justice system.


In a world where conflicting pressures are excruciating, who should indeed bear the burden of being right when so much of the system is wrong.