PETER BRONSON -- BEHIND THE LINES

Peter Bronson and I argued often at The Enquirer. We still have lunch to renew that pleasure. His new book, Behind the Lines: The Untold Story of the Cincinnati riots, is classic Bronson: facts others overlook, insightful, opinionated and sometimes outrageous. But Pete, you need a better copy editor. Proctor? President Robert Taft? Vince DiMasi was a captain, not a lieutenant colonel in April, 2001 (see photo on page 128). Picky, picky. But don't let me put you off Pete's valuable challenge to the conventional history and wisdom about the 2001 riot by young blacks. He reviews the record and talks to central figures in the meltdown of communal confidence and authority, making no effort to resolve conflicting stories. Pete is contemptuous of elected, appointed and annointed leaders in 2001, including Councilman John Cranley, then-Assistant Police Chief Ron Twitty, the Rev. Damon Lynch III and Gov. Bob Taft. He loathes appeasers and others who reflexively blame police. He praises officers -- the "line" -- who relied on non-lethal force to limit the violence of shooters, thugs, looters and arsonists. If there is a hero in this book, it is Chief Tom Streicher. Lawyer Ken Lawson and then-Mayor Charlie Luken come off badly then and insightful today. Pete says abject surrender at council's Law & Public Safety Committee triggered the riot, not Timothy Thomas' shooting death three days earlier. He says black radio stoked the fury and he chastises all news media and especially the Enquirer for years of what he calls "cop-bashing." I wish Pete had said more about Enquirer opinion pages he edited then and writes for today. (Ben L. Kaufman) Grade: C+