Overview

• Joseph Wambaugh passed away from esophageal cancer at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, on February 28, 2025, at the age of 88.
• Wambaugh's groundbreaking works, including 'The New Centurions,' 'The Choirboys,' and 'The Onion Field,' transformed the depiction of police officers in fiction and non-fiction alike.
• He co-created the Emmy-winning TV series 'Police Story,' which introduced a more nuanced and humanized portrayal of law enforcement on screen.
• Wambaugh's writing, informed by his 14 years with the LAPD, focused on the psychological toll of police work, blending dark humor and raw realism.
• Survived by his wife Dee, two children, and grandchildren, Wambaugh leaves behind a legacy that influenced crime writers and reshaped public perceptions of policing.