Policing in America: Assessment and Prospects

[JohnKelly]

Here is an excellent article by David H. Bayley, Dean of Criminal Justice, State University of New York at Albany.

It should make interesting reading for those who are interested in making comparisons between American Policing and that of their own country.

Policing in America (http://www.policefoundation.org/pdf/Bayley.pdf)

Cheers.

[Delta784]

Interesting article, but I vehemently disagree with the author's assertion that civilian review of police discipline is now accepted by the police. Nothing could be further from the truth.

As I've said all along, when the various state Bar Associations let non-lawyers participate in their disciplinary proceedings, then I'll entertain the idea.

[Sleuth]

In our increasingly specialized society, we can no more expect a computer 'wonk' to understand how an officer made an instantanious decision, than an officer could diagram the wiring of a computer.

But, the author is clearly high in the towers of academia, and not expected to know what the people he pontificates about really want.

[friedom77]

Here's a strategy for this author: K.I.S.S.

I can't stand these elitists that have never actively been involved in the operations of LE. How can he say that there has been little progress in developing new strategies in policing?

Funny that SUNY Albany is right next door to the Trooper Academy. Maybe he should tell those guys that there's been a lack of creativity in dealing with the public.

I guess you could relate this author to economics professors;if they really new what was up....would they still need to teach it?

I'm sure the German Polizi would get a good laugh at this.

[oscarmitre]

The article is getting a bit venerable now being published in 1998 but he makes some valid points. And give him a break, the bloke is actually sympathetic to the lot of the average cop grunt and understands the vagaries of the police organisation and police management and their effect on ordinary cops.

[Sleuth]

There is an old book called "Signal Zero" by George Kirkham. He was also a CJ Professor, who was challenged by one of his students to become a cop. Kirkham did, and his approach to law enforcement changed 180 degrees. He was honest enough to admit that what he had been teaching was BUNK!
It's a good read if you can find it. My copy is not for sale.

[Delta784]

Originally posted by Sleuth
There is an old book called "Signal Zero" by George Kirkham. He was also a CJ Professor, who was challenged by one of his students to become a cop. Kirkham did, and his approach to law enforcement changed 180 degrees. He was honest enough to admit that what he had been teaching was BUNK!

Excellent book. IIRC, Kirkham was challenged to join the sheriff's reserve, he went one better, got a sabbatical, and did the job full-time for a year. He found out really quickly that theory and practice often don't coincide.

When I was in graduate school, a professor I had, Dr. Don Hummer (http://www.uml.edu/Dept/criminal/grad/faculty.htm), was asked a question about police procedure by a non-cop student. He said "Hey, I just teach theory and statistics. If you want to know what it's like to be a cop, ask those guys", gesturing to me & the other cops in the class, as we were, of course, all sitting together.