About Adam Plantinga

Police Sergeant & Author

I've been in law enforcement for twenty-two years, seven with the Milwaukee PD and fifteen with the San Francisco PD. I am the author of two nonfiction books about urban law enforcement. My debut novel The Ascent will be available January 2, 2024.

AUTHOR

BOOKS

OTHER BOOKS

400 Things Cops Know

400 Things Cops Know is a collection of facts, anecdotes, and reflections from police work. I've had excellent teachers on the job and I paid attention when they said and did smart things. Figured out a few things myself too, mostly the hard way.

400 Things Cops Know was nominated for an Agatha Award and won the 2015 Silver Falchion award for best nonfiction crime reference.

BUY

Police Craft

A sort-of sequel to 400 Things Cops Know, but with a short essay format and an emphasis on specialty units such as Homicide, CSI, and SWAT.

BUY

NEWS

'400 THINGS COPS KNOW'
THE NEW BIBLE FOR CRIME WRITERS

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Friday, November 21, 2014

Read

AN ARRESTING DEBUT S.F. OFFICER'S BOOK A COLLECTION OF 13 YEARS OF OBSERVATIONS ABOUT REAL-LIFE POLICE WORK

San Francisco Chronicle

Friday, December 26, 2014

Read

PHIL IN THE BLANKS
DR. PHIL PODCAST

December 2019

LISTEN

REASONABLENESS STANDARD FOR POLICE IS UNDER PRESSURE AFTER HIGH-PROFILE SHOOTINGS

National Public Radio

March 12, 2019

LISTEN

EVENTS

Coming soon...

CONTACT

Literary Representation

Caitlin Blasdell, Liza Dawson Associates
121 West 27th Street, Suite 1201
New York, NY 10001
(212) 868-1365
CBlasdell@lizadawsonassociates.com

Film/TV Representation

Steven Fisher, APA
405 South Beverly Drive

Beverly Hill, CA 90212

(310) 888-4200

Media Inquiries
Andy Dodds, Publicity Director
Grand Central Publishing
Andy.Dodds@hbgusa.com