Two badges
Subtitle: the lives of Mona Ruiz
By: by Mona Ruiz with Geoff Boucher.
Contributors: Boucher, Geoff.
Publisher: Arte Público Press
Published: 1997
Place of publication: Houston, Tex
Language: eng
Number of pages: 288
Subjects: Ruiz, Mona.; Policewomen -- California -- Santa Ana -- Biography.; Gangs -- California -- Santa Ana -- Biography.; Hispanic American women -- California -- Santa Ana -- Biography.; Law enforcement -- California -- Santa Ana.
Description: With this autobiography, Mona Ruiz and co-author Geoff Boucher spin a tale of one woman's private war to escape the tentacles of the street gangs that have carved her barrio into turfs where one misstep leads to violence.

This page-turner charts the map of Ruiz's journey toward self-identity, tracing the tortuous path of her life - a life in which Ruiz assumed contradicting roles: gang chola, high school drop-out, disowned daughter, battered wife, welfare mother, student, policewoman and finally success story. At each step in the journey, Ruiz faced violence, ridicule and skepticism. She nevertheless prevailed in exchanging her badge of social defiance for one of protection of her community.