' Described as a \"must read\" for police officers and prospective candidates for law enforcement, this book invites readers to step back and examine their views and attitudes from a different perspective. In the process of defining and discussing the cultural underpinnings of the criminal justice community, the author addresses topics of special importance including sources of tension in police-citizen interactions; the challenges of law enforcement in a democratic society; policing as a \"noble\" profession; and police-community relations in a \"Post 9/11 \" environment. FEATURES

• A writing style reflective of the author\'s experience as a police practitioner and educator
• Examines the role and expectation of policing from both the citizen and officer perspective
• In-depth discussion of out-of-control subcultures; corruption and racial profiling
• Examines the role of the leader in the development and management of a police culture
• Outlines a range of strategies for strengthening police-citizen relationships
• Abundant examples from the \"real\" world of policing
• Proposes a set of \"Core Values\" characteristic of professional policing
• Each chapter opens with a set of \"Guideposts\" to help the reader focus on key issues
• Discussion questions to provoke further examination of key issues

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This work for policing students and citizens defines and discusses the cultural underpinnings of the law enforcement community, examining controversies that illustrate issues of officer safety, policing gone awry, and interactions between citizens and the police. It outlines citizen and police perspectives on law enforcement, then examines police culture, reasons why police officers behave the way they do, whether a police agency can effectively investigate itself, how citizens can cooperate with police, and how to make a complaint. The author is a retired police officer.
Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

' \"Discussion questions to provoke further examination of key issues facing America.\" — Ronald Swan, Lincoln College '

Blazing new trails in its incisive examination of the culture of policing, this volume clearly defines and discusses the cultural underpinnings of the law enforcement community. The book addresses several areas of importance — the tension that sometimes drives interactions between citizens and the police, officer safety, policing gone awry, and programs and initiatives to bridge the gap between citizens and the police. Written in a concise, well-documented, street-level policing style, this book presents readers with a well-balanced discussion of some of the major events and issues confronting law enforcement today. The author details the nature of policing from both the citizen's point of view and the police officers point of view, the culture of policing, officer safety, the police mission gone awry, the failure of law enforcement leadership, "policing" the police, citizen behavior skills, making a complaint against the police, and bridging the gap between citizens and the police.

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 1. The Job of a Police Officer (Citizen\'s Point of View).

 2. The Job of a Police Officer (Police Officer\'s Point of View).

 3. The Culture of Policing.

 4. Officer Safety.

 5. The Police Mission Gone Awry.

 6. The Failure of Law Enforcement Management.

 7. Who Will Police the Police?

 8. Citizen Behavior Skills.

 9. Making a Complaint Against the Police.

10. Bridging the Gap Between Citizens and Police.

11. The Nobility of Policing.

Bibliography.

Index.

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