Introduction to Police Culture

Introduction to Police Culture: An Anthology provides students with a carefully curated selection of articles that familiarize them with various aspects of the policing profession.

The anthology is organized into four units. Unit I provides readers with an overview of the history of law enforcement in America, as well as the evolution of modern policing. Unit II focuses on police tactics, with articles that address community-oriented policing and the intersection of crime and geography. In Unit III, students consider how police culture impacts decision-making. The readings in this section examine how unique police work is and thus, how it creates a distinct culture; ethics and value-based decision-making; and organizational accountability and police officer stress. The final unit presents contemporary issues in policing, including psychological services for law enforcement officers, racial profiling, and the police-media relationship.

Succinct and informative, Introduction to Police Culture is an ideal textbook for courses and programs in law enforcement and policing.