Police and Law Enforcement Books

I picked this up after finishng Dr. Jetmore's Police Seargent Exam Prep Guide. Jetmore is a 20-year law enforcement veteran and former Police Commander. The focus of this book is on ethics as it relates to personal and professional development. This book ancient "codes of honor" and recounts stories of actions that police office took in their daily duties and the related values conflicts, psychological and physical stresses. It is a challenging read, but it raises interesting questions.

Dr. Jetmore, a law enforcement veteran of 21 years, challenges students and veterans alike to awaken their souls and become "warriors." Using "war stories" and the "ancient philosophy and code of honor used by King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table," Dr. Jetmore provides a concise yet encompassing work of challenges.

This work recounts stories of actions that police officers take in the daily conduct of their duties, only to be questioned later by the public. Such exposure to values conflicts subject officers to both psychological and physical stress.

Dr. Jetmore challenges all who read this work to "take control of their destiny," and seek professional and private development. He even speaks the previously "unspeakable" inner sould reactions to years of affiliation with traumatic events.

I suspect many in law enforcement will disagree with Dr. Jetmore. All the reason those that are tasked with protecting us need to read and review his work.

I couldn't put this one down. I've been looking for something that addresses the things I've been trying to deal with on the job, and this book nailed it!

It doesn't give you all the answers, just the right encouragement to keep looking.

I would say this one's a must for anyone in law enforcement or any stressful field.

I've read several books on the subject of police ethics. Jetmore's is by far the best. A wonderful combination of research and actual stories from the streets, this books captured my interst from te very beginning. Very insightful.

Larry Jetmore, a retired Hartford, CT Police Commander and current university educator, seeks to reawaken the ethical bearing of working police officers.

In a short book, less than 140 pages, that is liberally sprinkled with both inspirational quotes from philosophers and pertinent "war stories" Jetmore challenges his readers to recapture their "shadow".

"To become a warrior you must turn your back on the consensus of others, open the gate, cross the bridge and begin the inner quest of your heart and spirit."

In a time when ethics and ethics training are "hot topics", Jetmore has contributed a challenging and substantive work that will stand the test of time. It is an actual contribution to the ongoing dialogue within the profession.

This is a tremendously important book concerning the macho culture of the NYPD (and police departments in general), dealing with the multiple ways in which machismo and prejudice bolster each other. Police officers constantly find themselves in hostile and dangerous situations and it is no wonder that they deal with this by slipping into a "them vs. us" mentality. Bouza illustrates the many ways in which this attitude is counter-productive and offers constructive alternatives.

A man from a terribly poor and disadvantaged background, Mr Bouza has - admirably - gone to great lengths to educate himself. However, his determination to present himself as educated and urbane results in some of the most dense and, frankly, unreadable prose I have ever ploughed through. For example:

"Inwardly, I swelled with pride over my sesquipedalian talents, a reaction that makes me wince with embarrassment today as I contemplate how bureaucratese and dead Latinates crippled whatever talents I might have developed as a writer. If brevity was the soul of wit and simplicity and clarity its very sinew, I had furnished the very antithesis of communication in that orotund work."

Precisely.

Anthony Bouza, the former Chief of the Minneapolis Police Department, the former second in command of the New York Transit Police and a retired senior commander with the New York Police Department, weighs in with ascerbic comments linked with thoughtful ideas on policing, society and public administration.

The book confirms Bouza's reputation for confronting issues in a unique manner - a blend of liberal compassion and conservative pragmatism - while attempting to "tell the unvarnished truth". His opinions are certainly unique among senior police administrators, consider these excerpts:

Police Integrity:
"The mafia never enforced its code of blood-sworn omerata with the ferocity and enthusiasm the police bring to the Blue Code of Silence."

Selection Process for Police Chiefs:
"Political figures who appoint the nation's chiefs have a dismal record of selection, invariably opting for the safe, familiar and predictable choices."

On Community Policing:
"So when the Chiefs trot out their community policings, charts, graphs and other props, you'll pardon my skeptical yawn."

Chief Bouza terms his relationship with policing as a "love affair of heightening intensity". His unique personal perspective provides the reader with a richer and more complete understanding of the dynamics of modern urban municipal police administration.

I guarantee that at some point in this book he will challenge each reader's core beliefs and basic assumptions. This book is special blend of autobiography, public policy criticism and advocacy. It is worth both your time and money.

Bouza's book is an awesome *GEM*. Incredibly interesting, insightful, informative, at times irreverant, always enlightening and refreshing. Anthony V. Bouza is one of a kind--defying any ideological label, he calls it as he sees it. Most of all, he is a person of unwavering principle and integrity. Two qualities all too rare in public officials. His book is replete with examples where his devotion to "what is right" "cost him."

Part autobiography, part sociology, part managerial science, part police history, part advocacy, POLICE UNBOUND should be *required* reading for everyone involved in any aspect of law enforcement or governance. Indeed, I recommend the book to EVERYONE.

Bouza's book is eminently readable. Here's why:

**Bouza is an accomplished *wordsmith* whose love and knowledge of the English language is evident in every sentence he writes.
His vocabulary is gargantuan; have a dictionary nearby when you read his book. His syntax and style are refreshing, stunning and
compelling; the words just fly off the pages.

**The book is arranged in a highly readable fashion. Topics such as: mass demonstrations, police brutality, corruption, women cops
war on drugs, etc. are clearly marked so that you can start at virtually any page.

Bouza exibits a keen understanding of organizational bureaucracies based on both his academic training and wide-ranging experiences. Most important, he knows HOW TO MAKE BUREAUCRACIES WORK and be EFFECTIVE instruments for goal attainment.

Not afraid to rock the boat in order to get it moving on course, Bouza was the initiator of myriad police innovations which have become the norm. Among them were:

**Incorporating minorities in police forces.
**Use of name tags.
**One officer patrol cars.
**Allowing police women to wear slacks.
**Sting and decoy operations.

It is a tribute to Bouza that while ALL of these initiatives were initially strongly resisted by most cops (including his superiors), police unions, politicians and others, he staked his reputation on them and did not retreat from his conviction regarding their benefits and justice.

Bouza loves cops and police work but doesn't love some aspects of police culture such as the "blue wall of silence", cops being enforcers of *punishment* and "convenience lying." He has made his views on such crystal clear to the rank and file when he was in command. Most crucial, he knew how to oppose them *effectively* while still retaining the respect of the cops he commanded.

Bouza is a person who marches to his own drummer. One that beats to the tune of honesty, respect, the rule of law, decency and integrity.

While clearly not a person who diminishes his many and significant accomplishments, Bouza also displays a sense of modesty and commitment to public service as manifested in the last sentence of his book:

"...my humble desire is for my family, friends, colleagues and the many people I've been fortunate to encounter in my life to remember me not only as a cop but as a PUBLIC SERVANT."

This very readable book is about the functions of police departments. It is also partly the autobiography of the author, who ascended through the ranks of the NY City police, and became police chief of Minneapolis. He often serves as an expert witness in suits over police actions. He tells many stories of corruption within various police departments, but rarely identifies them by name and date. He only testifies in the worst cases of injustice (p.207). He says a police chief isn't doing his job unless the police union complains (p.235), but the chief must depend on the support of the mayor and an aroused citizenry.

After a new mayor ended his job as police chief, Tony Bouza was given a job as President of the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence Inc. (p.186). His comments on the 'TODAY' show (President Bush can see homeless people across the street) led to his firing the next day. But no one had complained! Could CPHV Inc. be indirectly funded by Federal subsidies? If not, who really controls it?

The author mentions the shooting (but not the attempted bombing) at Columbine high school. These tragedies have led to garrison schools, guarded by cops and security devices, leading to a climate of paranoia and public hysteria (p.243). But the reality is that schools are the safest havens, and the home the most dangerous! Most violence occurs from people we know. (The author doesn't ask if there is a hidden agenda in publicizing these rare occurrences.) Violence often results "from drugs, alcohol, disordered homes, and mental illness" he says' but he disregards the economic factors behind them. He claims (p.245) that in an unarmed society criminals lack access to firearms but can cite no examples!

On page 250 he notes the widening chasms between rich and poor, but seems to not understand the politics of this. Perhaps our "overclass" want to turn America into a banana republic where a tiny percentage live in fabulous wealth and luxury, and the many live in poverty? He talks about the "enormous building boom" in prisons in the 1990s and wonders what will happen in the future. But isn't the prison boom the obverse of the reduction in public housing and welfare? Or an example of forced relocation of the "underclass"?

Chapter 20 "Issues Across the Landscape" summarizes his viewpoints. He questions the policy of mandatory sentences for non-violent crimes, since they fill up prisons and result in the release of violent criminals. He also questions the policy of releasing the mentally ill while hoping they will take their daily medicine. He recommends combatting crime with stakeouts, decoy operations, stings, and infiltration. Aren't these labor and capital intensive operations that may not work in small towns? He says the underlaying causes of crime are poverty and racism, which remain largely untouched by the rulers of society; it will continue.

The author's early years with the "Red Squad" must have given him the connections needed for his success, but little is said about it.

Bouza's book is an awesome *GEM*. Incredibly interesting, insightful, informative, at times irreverant, always enlightening and refreshing. Anthony V. Bouza is one of a kind--defying any ideological label, he calls it as he sees it. Most of all, he is a person of unwavering principle and integrity. Two qualities all too rare in public officials. His book is replete with examples where his devotion to "what is right" "cost him."

Part autobiography, part sociology, part managerial science, part police history, part advocacy, POLICE UNBOUND should be *required* reading for everyone involved in any aspect of law enforcement or governance. Indeed, I recommend the book to EVERYONE.

Bouza's book is eminently readable. Here's why:

**Bouza is an accomplished *wordsmith* whose love and knowledge of the English language is evident in every sentence he writes.
His vocabulary is gargantuan; have a dictionary nearby when you read his book. His syntax and style are refreshing, stunning and
compelling; the words just fly off the pages.

**The book is arranged in a highly readable fashion. Topics such as: mass demonstrations, police brutality, corruption, women cops
war on drugs, etc. are clearly marked so that you can start at virtually any page.

Bouza exibits a keen understanding of organizational bureaucracies based on both his academic training and wide-ranging experiences. Most important, he knows HOW TO MAKE BUREAUCRACIES WORK and be EFFECTIVE instruments for goal attainment.

Not afraid to rock the boat in order to get it moving on course, Bouza was the initiator of myriad police innovations which have become the norm. Among them were:

**Incorporating minorities in police forces.
**Use of name tags.
**One officer patrol cars.
**Allowing police women to wear slacks.
**Sting and decoy operations.

It is a tribute to Bouza that while ALL of these initiatives were initially strongly resisted by most cops (including his superiors), police unions, politicians and others, he staked his reputation on them and did not retreat from his conviction regarding their benefits and justice.

Bouza loves cops and police work but doesn't love some aspects of police culture such as the "blue wall of silence", cops being enforcers of *punishment* and "convenience lying." He has made his views on such crystal clear to the rank and file when he was in command. Most crucial, he knew how to oppose them *effectively* while still retaining the respect of the cops he commanded.

Bouza is a person who marches to his own drummer. One that beats to the tune of honesty, respect, the rule of law, decency and integrity.

While clearly not a person who diminishes his many and significant accomplishments, Bouza also displays a sense of modesty and commitment to public service as manifested in the last sentence of his book:

"...my humble desire is for my family, friends, colleagues and the many people I've been fortunate to encounter in my life to remember me not only as a cop but as a PUBLIC SERVANT."

A good book answering my questions about encription and if it's safe to send your credit card over the internet, but now all of them.

During the civil war in Beirut some years ago, Life magazine ran a photo essay of people lounging around a hotel pool, ostensibly oblivious to the hostilities around them. In a similar sense, many people are unaware of a skirmish currently being fought on the digital battlefield: the war for protection of personal privacy.

The authors of this book assert that privacy is one of the underpinnings of a democratic society, and that if the democratic society in the United States is to survive, Americans must maintain privacy in communications. In addition, the means of protecting that privacy must be built into all current and future communication systems.

In recent years, the convergence of the Internet, telecommunications, and other technologies has elevated personal privacy to new levels of importance. It is now possible to effortlessly track a person's every movement, from the path of the morning commute to the choice of sandwich at lunch. Every keystroke and e-mail transmission can likewise be monitored.

Authors Whitfield Diffie and Susan Landau assert that in the "old days," when communications largely occurred face to face, privacy was simply a matter of stepping aside from those who butted in. With voice communications traveling over cellular networks, through the Internet, and via other pathways prone to compromise, the best method of securing such communications is with strong encryption.

The authors argue their case effectively and engagingly, and are uniquely qualified to do so, especially in the case of Diffie. He is one of the seminal computer scientists of the last 30 years, and hardly a household doesn't benefit from security technology he helped develop. While he has written scholarly tomes and dissertations on encryption, Diffie does an excellent job here of explaining in plain English how such technologies operate and why they are crucial to a free society.

The book details numerous privacy issues, from personal privacy to national security. It starts with a brief overview of cryptography, just enough to educate the reader without boring the nonmathematician. The rest of the book explores issues related to today's communications systems, such as wiretapping. A welcome surprise is that the book often reads like a Tom Clancy novel, interwoven as it is with episodes of domestic and international intrigue.

Privacy on the Line is a timely and important book, relevant to every citizen, wired or not. Security professionals will find this work well worth their time.

This review of mine originally appeared at http://www.securitymanagement.com/library/000740.html

This is an excellent viewpoint into personal privacy isssues in contemporary society. I recommend it to people interested in understanding the current issues associated with govt legislation of cryptography and personal privacy. The book is written from a viewpoint critical of the US govt position and it serves as an excellent balance to law enforcement writings on government requirements for key escrow systems.

This is the most clearly written book on the sources of the problems facing our right to privacy that I have seen yet. Well documented, well written and shows just what the Federal Government is doing to eliminate our ability to have private communication. I suggest that this book should be considered urgent reading. It could be the one that wakes everybody up.

For those out of the crypto loop, the lead author, Whitfield Diffie was co-developer of public key encryption technology at Stanford several decades ago and stands as one of the most knowledgeable figures in the field of cryptography. Though the public policy aspects of cryptography are an important part of what this book is about, it is really a book with much broader implications, especially with the passage of the Patriot Act which strips U.S. citizens of any meaningful court oversight in the search and surveillance arenas. Now that the justice department has unleashed the Magic Lantern trojan horse on the public, the warnings found in this book pale by comparison since it was written before 9/11 events. The author delineates the many rationale for why respect for privacy is a good idea and how arguments to the contrary are basically flawed. Those in law enforcement and national security roles cyclically lobby for totalitarian capabilities, get them, become insatiable with MKULTRA type scenarios, get discovered, get their hands slapped and start over again when the headlines subside. Meanwhile taxpayers take a beating in lost jobs, ruined reputations, unwarranted jail time, suicides and the like. Since it is obvious that lawmakers have been delinquent in learning these lessons, what will happen when someone detonates a nuclear device in a large city and the justice department introduces legislation for mandatory implants? How will you be able to turn back after that? Tick, tick, tick...
Read Diffie, think hard about lessons unlearned and what you can do about it. Ask your lawmakers to MAKE NEW MISTAKES.

As my title hinted...."The book was somewhat disorganized but it covered the topic well!" I am a student of Presidential History in my retirement and looked forward to adding this book to my collection. As I type this, I have finished about 1/2 of the book. We have jumped from the early security of the President/White House up to the Reagan shooting in DC in the 1980's, but now, we are back to the early days of Monroe, Lincoln, Adams. There just seems no rhyme or reason for the lay out of this book. Sorry guys....it just doesn't cut it!

An excellent look at the history and daily workings and responsibilities of the U.S. Secret Service. Easy reading, interesting to the point where I did not want to put the book down. The author is to be commended for a first class book that goes behind the scenes and enlightens the average citizen about an agency that is so vital to national security but gets little recognition or appreciation. George T. Miller, Jr. (Edison, N.J., U.S.A.).

As a proud former member of the United States Secret Service, I believe that this product is worth your time and money...and I also feel it is my perogative to inform everyone here that, while Vince Palamara is to be commended for his notable research acumen and getting many of my colleagues-and myself- to speak to him, he has also done so at the expense of many of their feelings, beliefs, and trust. In short, Vince Palamara believes the means justifies the ends.
So, imagine my horror when I turn on the television a few years back and I SEE the young researcher who promised myself and many others that he was not a journalist, stating facts, theories, and innuendo as the gospel truth. Emory Roberts, for one, cannot defend himself. I will concede that I have no good explanation for what transpires on the film Palamara shows-but does that have to lead to conspiratorial conclusions? Does it, Vince?
From what I gather, many members of the AFAUSSS, myself included, are quite upset with him, as well they should be.

Can we let sleeping dogs lie? Lee Harvy Oswald killed President John Kennedy, acting alone. Yes, my colleagues did not do their jobs as effectively as they could have or probably should have-but will that bring back the man? No. What useful purpose is served by defaming Kennedy's memory and all the still-living former agents with calling into question the very painful loss of said man, as well as their job performance.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
T.R., proud alumni/ past member of the folowing organizations:
MSU
Army 1957-1959
USSS 1961-1982

For most of us the Service Service (a rather ominous sounding agency name in a democratic society) is best known as the security detail for the president and most foreign dignitaries, and maybe some know it also pursue counterfeiters. Stern, unsmiling, in black suits & sunglasses. (Clint Eastwood's "In the Line of Fire" (1993) did a lot to humanize the Service.) As a historian-type, gadfly, civil libertarian, civics junkie & polyhistor I came across the book and had to read it. For anyone interested or considering going into the Secret Service this should be a must-read. This is not a dissuation, but know what to expect being an agent--it is not an easy life. First it is a tough process. Second it is a storied agency. Third, it's had its moments (good and bad--the best are in the law enforcement part; unfortunately what people remember is when things go bad). It is a special kind of discipline to be an Agent, more about 'protect' than about (counter)-offense. Boredom vs. the anxiety of 'what if'. Meticulous detail work on preparation. It takes a special kind of discipline, and from reading about the other federal agencies, it takes quite a bit to be an FBI agent, but it takes something different (more?) to be a Secret Service Agent. I know I don't have the stuff, but my brother (CPA, former security officer, and aikido sho-dan, attention to detail, got stuff together, can put mind in 'pause') would have excelled at the fraud counterfeit investigation work. (I wish there was more on the work of forensics of counterfeiting--it may sound boring but I'm somewhat familiar because of a family interest in numismatics; my brother collected coins and our grandfather (also a CPA) had a large collection of silver dollars.) This is incredible work done by highly trained and dedicated people. As the historian type I actually do like them coming forward to support/verify *as a second or third sources* any stories historians are pursuing on presidential/high level persons (years/decades later, usually deceased or at least long since retired from public service and as documents and personal papers are being declassified & released after the usual 30+ years), but am thoroughly against having agents as 'listening bugs' for 'high crimes and misdemeanors' for oversight given the present & past atmospheres. (I think how the Jenna Bush fake ID was handled well, after all she was 'in custody' of federal law enforcement agents at all times.) Having worked with multiple agencies about bio-terrorism, this was interesting about their liaison/interface work with other agencies at all levels.

Again, this is a must read for anyone considering joining the Service. Also, there is a Uniformed Branch of the Secret Service (they are not called Agents) who also do protective detail work and around US Treasury facilities. After reading this I have a greater appreciation for these agents--now having to see through their sunglasses, when on that protective detail about who's just enthusiatic, who's just protesting, who's just angry, and who's actually about to ....

[Many years ago, I read my dad's copy of Bouton's "Ball Four" in [....]. So it was a look behind the curtain of baseball's 'clean image'. It was a funny book, and real people. Today I know more about baseball than most people, particular its history, statistics & sabermetrics, and a card-carrying member of SABR (Society for American Baseball Research). I consider baseball people the most quotable species on earth. While baseball, like most disciplines, has a seamy side (it's partly what gives it some color, not always the scandalous but stunts), it is not an indictment of the sport. Nor should what is seen behind the Secret Service's mystic dissuade anyone from pursuing a position. It is simply not an agency for those who are introspective, emotionally restless, or racked with doubt. Just know what to expect. It was a good read from beginning to end.]

As the leading civilian authority on the U.S. Secret Service, I was much looking forward to the REVISED AND EXPANDED version of this book, as ***my*** own book ("The Third Alternative-Survivor's Guilt: The Secret Service & The JFK Murder" [1993-1998], now massively expanded and updated as "Survivor's Guilt: The Secret Service & The Failure To Protect The President", available now!)was listed in the original version and it is obvious Melanson made good use of my material for his chapter on the JFK assassination entitled "Losing Lancer." [pages 74, 77, 80, 87, 343-344 (endnotes), 358 (bibliography), & 371 (index) ["etc."]

Well, Melanson evidently heard all the first-edition bad reviews regarding editing and typos and the like: gone is his co-author, Peter F. Stevens. Also, he added a nice new cover and TWO new chapters, as well as sourcing former agent Joseph Petro's excellent 2005 book entitled "Standing Next To History." (It still says "the authors" [plural] in the Bibliography and, from the larger font, you can tell that Petro's book was added!]

That said, I highly recommend this book (as I did with regard to the poorly edited/ proofread first edition)---still alittle bit of a "dry" text, but he listened to all the criticisms regarding STYLE. And, while I achieved a world's record---SIXTY SEVEN former agent interviews (the old record was by the HSCA: 44)---Melanson did interview a handful of former agents (such as Winston Lawson, also interviewed numerous times by myself)and his book serves as a good general overview---using mostly secondary sources--- of the (history of) the Secret service, 1865-2005 (while my work focuses more on the FDR-Reagan days, with special emphasis on the JFK/ LBJ years...and alot more PRIMARY research). For the record, my work is now credited on pages 72, 74, 77, 85, 388, 389, 408, 424 ["uncredited": pages 59, 60, 70, 71, 73, 75-76]

Potscript: Melanson writes on page 61: "Some of the agents, THOUGH NOT WINSTON G. LAWSON, lied to the Warren Commission about how thorough they were [my emphasis]." It is obvious that Melson didn't want to ruffle Lawson's feathers, as he interviewed him and probably feared he would take exception to that!

If you want an extremely thorough, take-off-the-gloves approach to the Secret Service, get my 276-page book "Survivor's Guilt: The Secret Service & The Failure To Protect The President." In the meantime, Melanson's 30 pages regarding 11/22/63 should suffice...and the rest of the book, now mostly improved and expanded, should still be a good start for anyone interested in the U.S. Secret Service.

A book packed with detail on the world of close protection and sure to create much debate. The author takes an independent view and approache's the subject with a view of been impartial. He certainly achieved his objective and I was unable to put the book down and unfortunately finished reading it in three days. His ability of providing information never published before but also using that information so as to give the reader a real view of life as a bodyguard is excellent. If you have ever been interested in the world of close protection or just interested in how VIP's use bodyguards this ais a must get book.

A book packed with detail on the world of close protection and sure to create much debate. The author takes an independent view and approache's the subject with a view of been impartial. He certainly achieved his objective and I was unable to put the book down and unfortunately finished reading it in three days. His ability of providing information never published before but also using that information so as to give the reader a real view of life as a bodyguard is excellent. If you have ever been interested in the world of close protection or just interested in how VIP's use bodyguards this ais a must get book.

This book gives a good introduction to the world of Vip protection. It mainly centers on the United Kingdom and the United States, but does touch on a few other countries. More detail on the other countries would have made it an excellent book. For the reader who is looking for specifics on how to conduct Vip protection, this book does not provide that. It gives a history of how the industry has evolved and the types of problems faced. It is written in a style which makes for enjoyable reading.

I m the chief of the security details division of Turkish Presidential Protection Department.

I bought this book from Washington D.C. during the Turkish President's visit to USA for NATO Summit in 1999. This book has so many interesting details and stories about VIP Protection World. I learned to much (Especially about Secret Service). There are very educative details about Secret Service and I think it will give very important lessons to other countries Protection Teams.

I recommend this book to everybody especially who want to learn what is real VIP Protection.

By this chance I would like to thank Richard O'Connor for this beatiful book.

Sincerely

Hasan ALSANCAK

Inspector

Turkish Presidential Protection Department

I can only give this three stars and I graded it on the curve as I wanted to like the book.

This is a book that needs a better narrative device, you have to work at it to finish and that is shame as there are some gems here in the stories.

I never buy these self published books and if had not been for Allan Cole name I would have passed, but I liked his work with Chris Bunch.

It read like it was dictated with out much thought on how the spoken word is different from the written and an author like Allan Cole should of helped his uncle more by telling him that and seen that a better narrative would of make this a much better read.

As I said there are some great stories here, but the bit of Mr. Grubb talking via a tape to his nephew got old by chapter three.

Not having ever been a cop but only live near a few of them as I grew up in Olney and know a few as friend, well as much as any non cop ever knows of a the life, I do think it is honest portrait of the times and life of a Police officer in Philadelphia who live and worked during a time when the City changed as did the department and the people who worked there.

So If you want to try and understand cops this is worth reading as it shows you how far things have come since 1953 and yet how much they stay same. If all you know is TV or fiction cops this will be an eye opener, but this is book that could have been so much more.

I thought it most interesting that Mr. Cole and Mr. Grubb have won highest praise possible - the good opinion of police officers themselves. Here are just a few of the comments I read on the back of the book: "'A Cop's Life'" is a must read by anyone who ever wore the uniform or badge!" - Robert V. Eddie, Recording Secretary Philadelphia Lodge #5 Fraternal Order of Police; "If you like the inside story, if you like dealing with facts and not fluff, then you will love reading 'A Cop's Life!'"- Michael G. Lutz, President, Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police; "I thoroughly enjoyed 'A Cop's Life.'" It was both witty and right on target." - Bill Pawley Inspector, Retired, Philadelphia Police.

If you want to know what it is really like to be a police officer in "real life", you must read this fun, informative book. The style is, informal, real, refreshing, and very enjoyable. I could not put this book down. If you are like me and enjoy understanding your world a little better then this book belongs in your personal library. I loved it!

This book is a departure from my normal reading genres, but a friend recommended I read it and I'm glad he did. It is written in an unpretentious, personal narrative writing style of an uncle to a nephew (Grubb to Cole). The book draws you into the world of a rookie cop, poorly equipped and trained by today's standards, in Philadelphia in the 1950's. Mr. Grubb takes us back into his world and provides lessons in both history and humanity. What impressed me most was the quiet, unassuming professionalism and personal character Mr. Grubb demonstrated while working in some of Philadelphia's toughest neighborhoods peopled with pimps, prostitutes, pushers and junkies -- good cops and bad. This book is nothing like the sanitized TV cop shows of today. It is instead an accurate account of a difficult job in a different time. Check it out. I think you'll enjoy it.

"Cops Under Fire" examines a minatory industry that has come to loud life over the past decade-the activists who exploit tragedies to further their own cause, or more commonly, to increase their own fame. While not denying that isolated incidents of police brutality exist nor in any way reducing the scourge of true racism, this book investigates false claims whose only intents are to destroy hard-earned reputations and bring celebrity status to trouble-making accusers.

When a police officer kills a member of a minority community in the line of duty-sometimes even if the officer is himself a member of a different minority-he will face a phantasmagoria of controversy. This onslaught is usually started by individuals who have no direct connection to the case-nor any first hand knowledge of it. Neither of these deficiencies prevents the vociferous activists from becoming instantaneous self-proclaimed experts who somehow command extensive media attention and whose hypothetical charges rarely receive substantial evaluation.

This well-researched work documents several accounts of heroic policemen who had their lives turned upside down by such roisterous fame-seekers. As bad as the wild charges by outside interlopers are, many of these courageous men saw opportunistic politicians condemn them too. One cited example happened in Newark, New Jersey where Mayor Sharpe James called a policeman a "murderer" because the officer fatally shot a person attempting to run him down!

These conscienceless activists in reality care very little about true racism; secretly they are probably glad they have these minority victims to help enhance their pelf. Obviously, they care nothing for the dedicated officers who must feel tremendous angst after taken a person's life, regardless of how justified the action was.

Hopefully this timely collection will be the first in a long line of works to help expose this fraudulent and dangerous conglomerate because the ranks of these activists have been escalating. Currently, Hilary Clinton is attempting to traduce some New York City policemen in effort to become her target state's next senator. Across the Hudson River and party lines, political correctness queen and New Jersey Governor Christie Whitman cared little when some dedicated state troopers were slenderized. The wild charges that she at least partially endorsed have ruined the morale throughout the force. Fortunately her efforts to receive a blind coronation over the remains of heroic cops backfired and she had to abandon her bid for the United States Senate. "Cops Under Fire" is a necessary weapon to help restrain all self-serving ax-grinders who would ride racism and tragedy to ignoble fame and glory. Those of us who detest real racism should beware of individuals who shout fictitious accusations that bolster their own interests.

After constant media bashing of the police, it is refreshing to read a book about some of the things that are really happening out there to those who risk their lives on a daily basis FOR US. Way to go Regnary Press for having the guts to print the politically incorrect truth. Read this book for the real story on the Nevers and Budzyn, Malice Green case and many others. We need a book like this every year.

The book's ``reign of terror'' subtitle is silly. And I'm not sure all these cops qualify as ``heroes.'' But the truth is that some ordinary, honest cops, like civilians, can fall victim to wrongful, overzealous prosecution in the course of doing a dangerous, difficult, and often thankless job. This book makes that important point. Thanks to McShane's solid writing, this is a facinating read.

Larry McShane shows proof here of the old saying "No good deed goes unpunished". I was lucky in 1972 when I fatally shot a suspect trying to kill my partner and me. No one tried to say I was anything other than an officer doing his duty. Others have obviously not been so lucky. This book points that out, and I am gratified to see that these incidents are getting some attention. A good read for all who care about their community.

Wayne D. Ford, Ph.D., author of Managing Police Stress. docwifford@msn.com

I have to disagree with D. Rogers that there is "no scientific approach." Just one example would be the utilization of what is called by Dr. Robert Cialdini, (Influence; Science and Practice) the Commitment and Consistency Principal. The Reid Technique encourages interrogators to never let the suspect say, "I didn't do it." The scientific studies concerning why the suspect would be more solid in his denial are clearly supported in Cialdini's new book, "Yes," and also "Freedman, J.L;, and Fraser, S.C. (1966). Compliance without pressure: The foot-in-the-door technique. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 4:195-203.
This is just one instance of a plethura of examples I could site concerning the science involved in the Reid Technique.
As for "overtly simple in style," I find nothing assaulting to my intelligence by a well written, clearly explained book. After all, the purpose of instructional books is to teach others. I give this book an A+.

This is a good book for anyone going into law enforcement. I had to buy it for class, but I will be keeping it because the book will be great for reference down the road!

Old material that has been rehashed a number of times, but it is necessary to read it in order to understand the bias that is inherent in contemporary investigations. It is clearly illustrated that there is no actual scientific approach, no consideration of alternative explanations, but instead there is only an attempt to obtain confessions. Inbau, Reid, and others have never included consideration of other, more scientifically supported discussions such as those by Gudjunsson and G. Wells. The writing in the book is not very good. It is overly simple in style, and the organization is also simple, but not informative. Read the book for history and for understanding, but not for factual, supported knowledge.

Decades after its first edition, this is still considered the best work on interrogating a criminal suspect. The authors walk you through every step, towards the goal of clearing the innocent and eliciting confessions from the guilty. No detail or nuance is left unexplored, not only of the suspect's behavior, but of your own as well. This book is a must read for anyone involved in criminal justice.

As a K-9 handler I found a good deal of information in this book to be on the mark. Though it is a short book by comparison, it is full of useful information for dog handlers. I highly recommend it.

For any officer or department considering becoming a K9 officer or questioning the benefits with use of a K9 addition to the department, this book is a must have. An officer who had first hand experience wrote it and provides adequate information to assist in making a very informed decision regarding the use of K9 with the smallest to the largest organization. This book covers liability to officer and dog selection.
Linda Connor
Director Orting K9 Program

I found this book to give in-depth information in an easy to follow format. Very well written, provides the needed material for current or aspiring canine officers.

This book has good advice for people interested in the field of law enforcement with canine's. This book has a great wealth of information and is useful to those persuing a career in that field.

The number of pages of information this author offers you in this title is ridiculously over priced considering the professional audience it's written for. Like most books written for the police field, the authors expect LEOs to dish out $30-100 for most material that contributes little info of value at such an exorbitant amount. Most of the material is this book is available elsewhere for free; internet, review with states attorney, etc. Be more resourceful and save the bucks!

I found it to be informative as well as entertaining. Jim used his years of experience as a lawyer and a judge to compile his research into his book. It touches many aspects of testifying I had never thought about. I will definitely use this new found knowledge in the future.

One stressful aspect of police work is testifying in court. In the past, testifying has been a skill that was often learned by experience only. Mr. Vukelic has written a text that will help guide a new, or seasoned police officer, through often-complicated process involving giving testimony or depositions. He offers easy to understand advice, practical tips on how to prepare for court, as well as what to expect and what to do once on the stand. A must for every law enforcement officer's library.

This book is a must for every law enforcement officer's library of professional development. As sheriff of Hettinger County, I've made the reading of this book mandatory for all of my deputies for their professional development. Several trick of the lawyer's trade are revealed (do's and don't while on the stand). What is particularly usful is the state's attorney/law enforcement officer's relationship in preparing cases. I've heard horror stories reference the sometime strained relations between the two. If this is the case with you and yours, this book will better prepare you for the stand. From what's needed before and during trial to becoming a better witness are all revealed in this book. My favorite section is surviving cross-examintion.