Character and Cops: Ethics in Policing

Rating:
Summary: Character and Cops:Ethics in Policing
Review: I used this book in a research paper for a grade and it helped me alot. My professor commented on the facts I used and how up to date the material was. Needless to say, I did earn an A.

Rating:
Summary: This Book Is A Sleeper!
Review: If you run out of sleeping pills, read this! Delatre is the King of run on sentences. For proof, check out the 1st sentence on page 76. It's on the Hypothesis of Structural Deviance and contains whopping 143 words!!!! Wow, Edwin! Your English teacher is turning over in her grave! If she is still alive, don't let her read this. It may cause her to stroke out!

This book is for academics looking for research to quote, but certainly not for anyone who wants a practical guide on ethics in policing. Delatre presents a lot of information in an unclear and vague manner. We would be best suited with the Cliff Notes. We would probably have them, too, but Cliff is probably still in a trance over this one!

Delatre offers both sides of several arguments, but at times, fails to take a side. How annoying!

In another book I read recently on Policing, its author says that the best way to relay information is to "be clear, be concise, be gone!" Delatre is not clear, he is not concise and he is not gone! Why, because I am still try to burrow through the last couple chapters of this book.

The only way this book could maintain a respectable, steady volume of sales is if it were required reading, i.e. for a college course.

Seriously, this book could lose half its pages and be much closer to readable. Make your points, give your examples, take a stand, then wrap it up.

Rating:
Summary: This Book Is A Sleeper!
Review: If you run out of sleeping pills, read this! Delatre is the King of run on sentences. For proof, check out the 1st sentence on page 76. It's on the Hypothesis of Structural Deviance and contains whopping 143 words!!!! Wow, Edwin! Your English teacher is turning over in her grave! If she is still alive, don't let her read this. It may cause her to stroke out!

This book is for academics looking for research to quote, but certainly not for anyone who wants a practical guide on ethics in policing. Delatre presents a lot of information in an unclear and vague manner. We would be best suited with the Cliff Notes. We would probably have them, too, but Cliff is probably still in a trance over this one!

Delatre offers both sides of several arguments, but at times, fails to take a side. How annoying!

In another book I read recently on Policing, its author says that the best way to relay information is to "be clear, be concise, be gone!" Delatre is not clear, he is not concise and he is not gone! Why, because I am still try to burrow through the last couple chapters of this book.

The only way this book could maintain a respectable, steady volume of sales is if it were required reading, i.e. for a college course.

Seriously, this book could lose half its pages and be much closer to readable. Make your points, give your examples, take a stand, then wrap it up.

Rating:
Summary: More a text book than a book for the general reader
Review: This book appears to be used by police academies in training police. It seems to be more of a textbook rather than a book for the general reader.

Police forces throughout the world are at risk of having certain problems. There is always some pressure for police to accept bribes. Police can also slide into habits of using excess force and some times other problems can occur such as simple laziness. One of the problems for any police command is thus to ensure that these problems are either eliminated or minimized.

This book talks about the sorts of reasons why police become corrupt and urges police to develop morale character. One of the chapters for instance looks in part at the question of whether police should accept free cups of coffee from restaurants. On the face of it such an offer would seem a simple measure of gratitude from a member of the public to underpaid officers. The author however indicates that often in such situations the offer of even a coffee may lead to an expectation of something in return. To warn customers of the restaurant instead of giving them parking tickets. To be around if the restaurant has problems. Such a process can lead to police accepting the idea of quid pro quo's and entering into other arrangements. This chapter goes on to explain the mechanics of corruption and why even non-corrupt officers will remain silent in the face of corruption. The police force is a cohesive unit whose members will from time to time face situations of real danger. The need to depend on others can lead to officers falling into the habit of not rating so that they will have support in any dangerous confrontations with criminals.

One of the strengths of the book is that it is filled with thousands of examples in which police can face pressure to do the wrong thing. These examples are carefully chosen and no doubt would in a class setting be valuable for trainee officers.

Other chapters, obviously again intended for class discussion rather than being definitive in themselves are disappointing. One chapter looks at the question of drug enforcement and examines arguments for changing the current policy of prohibition. Although the author presents both sides of the argument with fairness there is no real discussion of the empirical reality and the costs of the policies. His approach is one based on morality and rights rather than looking at the operational problems of policing drugs and the cost of imprisonment. In addition he puts the dilemma as an either or choice between legalization and probation. He seems to be unaware of harm minimization strategies. Another chapter that touches on positive discrimination is also disappointing.

These criticisms are perhaps churlish, as the book does not seem to have aimed at being one read by the general public. No doubt a reasonable text book but not something which would contribute to the debate on how to structure police forces to deal with problems and violence.

Rating:
Summary: Essential reading for law enforcement
Review: This book depicts a geniune need in law enforcement. The need to hire, train, and maintain ethical personnel is explained and stressed to the reader in a way that has been overdue. The occupation of a law enforcement offical world wide has a real need to be a true character , role model, or the public offical that can be trusted. Edwin has a clear style of writing with a no nonsense approach to describe past , present, and future occurrences of police conduct. I believe the criminal justice system would beam with pride and public trust if law enforcement would read and act on the issues and suggestion that Delattre brings forth in this fine book.

Rating:
Summary: Essential reading for law enforcement
Review: This book depicts a geniune need in law enforcement. The need to hire, train, and maintain ethical personnel is explained and stressed to the reader in a way that has been overdue. The occupation of a law enforcement offical world wide has a real need to be a true character , role model, or the public offical that can be trusted. Edwin has a clear style of writing with a no nonsense approach to describe past , present, and future occurrences of police conduct. I believe the criminal justice system would beam with pride and public trust if law enforcement would read and act on the issues and suggestion that Delattre brings forth in this fine book.

Rating:
Summary: Best overall text on the market for L.E. professionals.
Review: This to-the-point book answers many of the questions that concern officers, supervisors and adminisrators serving communities today. Not a re-hashed, warmed-over version of business management theory rewritten in police jargon, as we find in so many other books professing to be "police text". This book addresses issues ("cop things") in the realm of reality (the"cop world"). Don't let the title fool you, although it has much to say about ethics, this text expands on the "real" ethics of law enforcement; the "street level" use of ethics, morals and values in relation to the reality of the job. Each chapter deals with a diffenent core subject; they can stand alone as a lesson. I constantly review portions when met with a difficult challenge. In my estimation, history will hold this text as one of the best sources of information for professional police offices of all ranks. Many agencies issue a copy of this to all new supervisors. This is one book to have in your desk at all times.

Rating:
Summary: Best overall text on the market for L.E. professionals.
Review: This to-the-point book answers many of the questions that concern officers, supervisors and adminisrators serving communities today. Not a re-hashed, warmed-over version of business management theory rewritten in police jargon, as we find in so many other books professing to be "police text". This book addresses issues ("cop things") in the realm of reality (the"cop world"). Don't let the title fool you, although it has much to say about ethics, this text expands on the "real" ethics of law enforcement; the "street level" use of ethics, morals and values in relation to the reality of the job. Each chapter deals with a diffenent core subject; they can stand alone as a lesson. I constantly review portions when met with a difficult challenge. In my estimation, history will hold this text as one of the best sources of information for professional police offices of all ranks. Many agencies issue a copy of this to all new supervisors. This is one book to have in your desk at all times.