Hold the Line: The Insurrection and One Cop's Battle for America's Soul

I’m not giving this book 5 stars for prose but for content. It’s well written, yes, but the author doesn’t mince words or play politics. He tells it the way he sees it and bravely shows authenticity. Be forewarned the language is rough. Fanone became the unwitting face of the beleaguered police at the Capitol on January 6th. He was simply doing his job when he was pulled by duty to defend the Capitol against a mob that subsequently pulled him into the mob, beat him with fists, clubs, flagpoles, etc., tased him three times, attempted to take his gun, while screaming, “Kill him with his own gun!” He returned to the tunnel semi conscious and slipped into unconsciousness for approximately 4 minutes. I encourage everyone to watch his body camera footage. He is every officer defending the Capitol that day. <br /><br />Fanone is, for the most part, apolitical. Although not explicitly stated, I am under the impression that he subscribes to Republican ideals. That said, he is equally critical of far left and far right politics and strongly advocates to depoliticize police, provide more comprehensive training, and quit using the police to run political scrum. See a problem? Provide a solution and involve all parties to address it. Then fund it. <br /><br />Fanone provides a comprehensive background on himself and does not hide his character flaws. He owns his mistakes and provides how they shaped him and taught him. He was a Capitol Police officer for a short time and street cop for most of his career. He understands the unintended biases and worked with the attitude of increasing public safety, taking the real criminals off the streets. His goal was not to be punitive or meet quotas. He served the people in his assigned area. <br /><br />The last part focuses on some real world ideas to bring about police reform. As he sees the people he served, he doesn’t believe in punitive actions except in the case of truly bad actors (he singles out Chauvin), but pushes the ideas of training in all aspects of law enforcement, including the cultural aspect. <br /><br />I really liked the book.<br /><br />Honest review provided in return for a copy provided by Netgalley.

There are different reasons to give a particular book a 5 star review. Sometimes a novelist writes so beautifully that the book is a work of art. Sometimes a vastly knowledgeable biographer writes with evenhanded nuance. Sometimes an historian plumbs the depths of a time period in an unexpected and illuminating manner. And then there’s Hold the Line. <br /><br />Fanone isn’t a writer, though the book isn’t badly-written, but what makes me give this book 5 stars is its importance. Fanone doesn’t obfuscate or whitewash, and he certainly doesn’t hold back. He just writes plainly of both his pre-Jan 6th career and his horrifying experiences during and after the insurrection. His utterly justified outrage and disbelief come at you off every page. <br /><br />This book matters, because what happened matters, deeply. The way Fanone was treated, first by the crazed mob on January 6th, and then by the police union and especially by spineless members of Congress, is beyond shameful. More power to Fanone for telling the story.<br /><br /> I cannot recommend this read highly enough.

So much of this was like reliving a nightmare, which in actuality it was: a nightmare of epic proportions. That Jan 6 actually happened was horrific enough but that so many, including members of Congress who were rushed to safety on that day, actually refused to later admit that an Insurrection took place, is even more horrific. Officer Farone and his fellow police officers and all those who rushed TO the mob to help on Jan 6th, deserve every single American's gratitude and respect. They saved our democracy and showed Donald Trump and his cohorts, in egging on the crowds that day, to be the despicable cowards that they truly are: whine and rant and rave and stir up the crowd and then run back to their gilded mansion at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and gleefully watch the horrible events play out, safely protected from the carnage and desecration of the United States seat of government.<br />Bravo to Officer Fanone.<br />And forever shame be on all those who chose not to support him and the other officers who<br />fought to protect their freedoms, as well, on Jan 6 th.

As more and more information comes out about what led up to the horrific events of January 6, 2021—-that Trump not only incited the conflagration but purposefully did absolutely nothing to mitigate or stop his followers for several hours; that some Republican members of the House and Senate aided and abetted the terrorists as they broke through the police lines; that the attack on the Capitol was a far more coordinated effort than originally thought—-it is disheartening that so many people don’t seem to be appropriately outraged or passionate about it.<br /><br />Is it a case of news burn-out? People just get tired of hearing about it, so they stop caring? Or is it a case of helplessness and apathy? The average person just feeling like he or she can’t do anything to change the corruption in Washington, DC, so why bother? It seems to me that both cases are exactly what Trump and his lackeys want, because they want us to forget and move on, disingenuously claiming that letting bygones be bygones will somehow bring a sense of unity back to partisan politics when, in fact, it is nothing more than an attempt to dodge true accountability.<br /><br />January 6 still angers me. I am still horrified and bewildered by the events of that day, and I refuse to let it go. Like Michael Fanone—-the DC vice cop that answered the call to help his fellow Capitol police officers under siege by a violent mob (each officer there was outnumbered 58 to 1) and suffered a beating that resulted in a heart attack, major concussion, and PTSD—-I find it a disgrace the way some Republicans have either downplayed or completely denied the events of that day. The implication is clear: they see their own culpability—-four years of sycophantic ring-kissing and either turning a blind eye or blatantly green lighting Trump’s anti-democratic (and, yes, criminal) policy-making—-so they need to downplay or ignore it for posterity’s sake. They believe that the average American is stupid and will forget about all this in a few years. They also believe that history will forget about it, too, if we all just shut up about it.<br /><br />Well, Fanone isn’t shutting up about it. In his book “Hold the Line”, Fanone tells his first-hand account of being knee-deep in the shit of that day: being dragged into the middle of the insurrectionists and beaten with a flagpole that ironically waved a “Blue Lives Matter” flag; tazed repeatedly at the base of his neck resulting in being knocked unconscious for four minutes and subsequently suffering minor brain damage; hearing someone scream “Shoot him with his own gun!”; being terrified that he was going to die and screaming, “I have kids! I have kids!”, which may have actually saved his life; having some insurrectionists actually pull him back to safety. Famously, on a live TV interview, Fanone, in regards to those in the crowd who helped him, responded, “Thank you, but fuck you for being there in the first place.”<br /><br />I personally love him for that. That one line, strangely enough, riled up a hornet’s nest of anger from many people, all for the wrong reasons, in my opinion. No, Fanone isn’t saying that he’s against protesting. He’s also not saying that everyone at that protest necessarily went there with the intention of doing harm and attempting to overturn the election. What he <i>is</i> saying is that everybody involved in that attempted coup (and let’s not sugar-coat it: it <i>was</i> a coup attempt, and an insurrection) was there because they were either gullible and actually believed Trump’s Big Lie or knew the truth but didn’t care because they wanted to make history.<br /><br />Fanone has pissed off a lot of people. Foremost among the pissed are, of course, the Trump supporters and supporters of the insurrectionists. He still gets death threats. He’s also pissed off a lot of the Republicans who are trying to push a false narrative that January 6 was just a peaceful protest and a day of “hugs and kisses”. Sadly, though, he’s also pissed off a lot of his fellow brothers-in-blue. Many of them, if not all, he notes, are white, because Fanone is smart enough to see the role racism and white supremacy played in the events of January 6, and he’s not afraid to say it.<br /><br />“Hold the Line” is an important book to read for anyone who believes in things like Truth and Integrity. Fanone is a true American hero.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.<br />This book was like reliving a tragic day in history that so many want to forget even happened and Fanone is here to make sure you never forget! I really liked the format of the book and how it was broken down into before, during and after and the raw emotions that he wrote with. I felt the same emotions while reading and couldn't put the book down. This book is definitely something that every American should read, if you can get past his excessive use of the F word, you'll see him as the hero that I believe he is.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. I’ve watched Michael’s interviews on TV. Seen him testify in front of congress and read the articles on him. I’ve appreciated his no nonsense style while feeling worry for his clear struggles from the physical and emotional after effects of January 6th. His story was fascinating. I wasn’t bored reading about what I read about in articles or heard in interviews. His journey from high school dropout to a compassionate and fierce MPD police officer was compelling. His honesty is something sorely missing in todays world. Most of all his thoughtful views and opinions on the state of policing in America are worth the read. Don’t let the no filter guy you see on TV keep you from reading this book. Fanone is an intelligent and thoughtful person and has a story that should be heard.<br /><br />I just reviewed Hold the Line by Michael Fanone; John Shiffman. #HoldtheLine #NetGalley <br />

This book is a powerful condemnation of the traitorous, seditious insurrection committed against the people and government of the United States of America by Donald Trump and his cohorts. Michael Fanone ran towards the violence, and got beaten, tased, suffered a heart attack and unconsciousness for his trouble. A former Trump voter, Fanone did his duty and more on January 6, 2021.<br /><br />Although it is somewhat of a cliche, this memoir reads like a novel. It is a page-turner. I was fascinated, and repulsed all at the same time. I was particularly interested to read about the cowardice of that lickspittle toady Lindsey Graham who wanted the Capitol Police to shoot the rioters in the head. <br /><br />This is an important book with good ideas on how to reform police training, written from the point of view of someone who has been there. It is worth reading no matter what your politics are. Heartily recommended.<br /><br />Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I have total and utter respect for our military members and those that serve as first responders. I can't imagine what it must have felt like down in DC on January 6. But, to go towards danger rather than away from it should be applauded. <br /><br />Fanone is a what you see is what you get kind of guy. He doesn't hold back on his opinions of those that stood by him and those that quickly abandoned him. It’s touch to listen to what happened to him on January 6, but it’s also so very important. <br /><br />On a side note, the chapter were out of order at the end of my copy of the book. I never actually read the last page! <br /><br />

Hold the Line: The Insurrection and One Cop’s Battle for the Soul of America<br />Michael Fanone and John Shiffman<br />Atria Books<br />2022<br />⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️<br /><br />Michael Fanone self-deployed to the Capitol during the Insurrection when he heard officers screaming for their lives. Things were out of hand and the police were outnumbered by the insurrectionists. Fanone was helping to hold the line when he was brutally attacked, beaten with a Blue Lives matter flagpole, and tased in the neck which caused a heart attack. Five people died, four by suicide. He described the violence as medieval, hand-to-hand combat. He had been an avid Trump supporter, but January 6th changed his mind. To ensure no one forgets what happened on January 6th, he has written this book to help others remember that our democracy is at stake and that action is required.<br /><br />Fanone’s book is presented in three parts: Before, During, and After. The epilogue is “Legitimate Political Discourse.” The book is his journey.<br /><br />(Abe Lincoln created the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in 1861, three months after the start of the Civil War.)<br /><br />Fanone offers sound advice for police training: Gun training under stress, not just shooting at a static target; showing new recruits how to engage with the public; getting to know a source and treating them with respect and compassion even if you didn’t like them. He writes about White Privilege and Black Lives Matter and how it affects police work. He discusses the impact of the Trump presidency on himself (He voted for Trump’s “law and order” speeches) and the police. He turned his back on the president and voted for Biden. Fanone’s mantra is “See the humanity in the people you will meet today.”<br /><br />On January 6th, Fanone rose at 6:00 am and had breakfast with his mother. She had CNN on in the background and the reporters were discussing the Stop the Steal rally at 11:00 am where then-President Trump would speak. Nanone suspected that there may be property damage but suspected nothing like the insurrection that occurred. He went about work as usual, planning a drug bust later in the afternoon. He was at the gym and the television was on and the reporters were commenting on the size of the crowd and the anger in the crowd, which was scheduled to walk to the US Capitol after the rally. Back at his mother’s, he heard that the rhetoric coming from the speakers was espousing violence to ensure that Trump remained in power. “…trial by combat…” said Rudy Giuliani. “ We have come to demand that Congress do the right thing…” Trump said, indicating that they should only count the real electors-those who voted for Trump-and that they will walk down to the Capitol together to ensure that happens. <br /><br />Fanone heard on his radio that riot equipment was to be donned. The crowd was massive and was gathering at the Capitol. This meant the protesters were inciting violence against the police. Next was a call for tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash bang grenades. Things were escalating fast. Fanone decided to go in to assist as the attacks appeared coordinated and planned in advance. At 1:49 pm, the attack was now a full-blown riot. <br /><br />Fanone and his partner arrive in uniform and riot gear and are heckled by the insurrectionists with chants of, “You’re on the wrong team! 1776! USA! USA! F—- you, traitors!” They headed to the Rotunda where officers had requested assistance. They found a few Trumpers yelling and hanging onto the statutes but there was no violence. They headed out to the West Terrace Tunnel where they met battered and exhausted officers, some lying down while others were keeping the rioters out of the tunnel. It was brutal hand-to-hand combat. Then, Fanone was grabbed by one of the rioters. The guy yelled, “I got one!” You’ll have to read the book yourself to know what happened afterwards. It’s a page-turner.<br /><br />Fanone and Shiffman have written a minute-by-minute breakdown of July 6th. The narrative is frightening and so well-written that I couldn’t stop reading. Page after page I lived the horror of that day. I am so proud of the police and all the others who helped them get through the insurrection. I am ashamed of those Americans who fought against our law and order. Needless to say, the presidential election certification successfully resumed.<br /><br />I recommend this book for those who want a first-hand experience of July 6th and the saving of our democracy. It will get your adrenaline pumping as you experience what one courageous cop did when needed. Now, that’s a real patriot.<br />⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️<br /><br />Thank you to #NetGalley and #AtriaBooks for the earc. The opinions are my own.

Have a seat in Kevin McCarthy’s office for the Prologue and buckle up for the ride!<br /><br />Begins with a brief auto biography, moves on to an hard hitting, first person, thrilling account of being front and center inside the January 6th riot on the Capitol and ends with a proposal for updating arcane and ineffective policing techniques, strategies and policies. <br /><br />Michael Fanone is a tough cop who loves our country. A self proclaimed “beer drinking red neck”, he moves expertly from drug dealers to political elite. His writing is loaded with expletives, f-bombs included, but it’s also exploding with passion and fervor. The opening chapter in Kevin McCarthy’s office is packed with tension and barely restrained anger for what I assumed to be Fanone exercising decorum. The chapters during the riot read like a top notch thriller. Closing the Epilogue are the few paragraphs describing how to revamp policing at a national level that involves reforming the entire criminal justice system along with a charge to current officers.<br /><br />Repression of body cam footage seems to be a dual party responsibility that has me both cranky about it and wanting to see it for myself to find out why. Regardless of which side of the aisle you wander, “Hold the Line” is a book that will make you think about this horrific event in a new way?