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Check for Availabilityout of stock. Click on the button below to search for this title in other formats.  This title in other formats:Our Enemies in Blue: Police and Power in America
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:More than just a chronology of the history of police brutality in the United States, Our Enemies in Blue is a scholarly work that studies the reality of sanctioned violence against certain segments of society and the ways in which police use brutality to preserve existing structures of inequality. The simplistic myth of police officer as hero is prevalent in our society, and often obscures the facts, and silences those who would question police actions. The author believes the American public deserves a well-researched counter argument that confronts the realities of policing in modern society. Our Enemies in Blue examines the strong-arming, racial profiling, and other objectionable tactics used by the police on an everyday basis and provides an intelligent, in-depth critique of police brutality in all its forms. Review:"Sweeping generalizations and little nuance make self-described anarchist Williams's first book likely to appeal only to a preselected readership who will not be put off by the title and the oversimplified theme that police officers are inherently aggressive, racist and brutal tools of the powers that be. Williams, who has written for Dissent and the Progressive, traces the development of the American police from colonial times and Southern efforts to keep slaves in check. He's strongest in delineating the unintended consequences of well-intentioned efforts to reduce police corruption and brutality, but barely a page goes by without the voicing of extremist views (e.g., a New York PBA rally that became a riot against then-mayor David Dinkins, followed by the election of the police-friendly Rudolph Giuliani, is called a 'municipal-level coup'). While the litany of police misdeeds — ranging from collusion with the Klan to the shooting of unarmed Amadou Diallo — makes plain that there has always been unjustified behavior by police, it doesn't prove his argument that nothing can be done to reform the force. His alternate proposal — replacing a government force with a voluntary community patrol — will strike many as nave in a post-9/11 world, and too rigid when he dismisses, as a form of co-optation, community policing, which has enabled officers to rely less on force." Publishers Weekly (Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information, Inc.) Review:?Seldom does one come across a book so right on target as this one. Clearly framed, drawing upon a wealth of data, straightforwardly presented and reaching uncomfortable but nonetheless unassailable conclusions on every point, Our Enemies in Blue is imperative reading for anyone in the least concerned by the implications attending the rampant growth of police power and violence in the United States. Kristian Williams is to be commended on his achievement.? Ward Churchill, author of Perversions of Justice Review:"[A] well-researched, historically grounded and mordant critique of American policing past and present." Christian Parenti, PhD, the author of The Soft Cage: Surveillance in America from Slavery to the War on Terror, and Lockdown America: Police and Prisons in the Age of Crisis Synopsis:Rather than an aberration enacted by "bad apples," police misconduct is a function of law enforcement's emphasis on repressive values and unenlightened tactics, argues Kristian Robert Williams. Firmly rooted in history and current practice, Our Enemies in Blue offers a clear-eyed account of law enforcement practices, including how police target certain groups and work to preserve power imbalances within society. Efforts to grow the prison industry are revealed along with a surprising account of modern police forces — many of which evolved from protection rackets and slave patrols. As a growing number of United States citizens encounter the criminal justice system, this resource provides useful historical perspective and real-life strategies for opposing abuses of power. About the AuthorKristian Williams studied literature and philosophy at Reed College. As a member of Portland Copwatch, he has helped document cases of police brutality and trained dozens of people on their rights when dealing with the cops. What Our Readers Are SayingAdd a comment for a chance to win!
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