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It could be said that police work touches more lives than any profession, whether directly or indirectly. Certainly, it remains as the cornerstone of virtually all government functions. Yet with almost a century and a half of formalized policing in our history, police work is one of the least understood professions of all. The mystique and misunderstanding surrounding police work generates a certain amount of controversy, hostility, and resentment toward them. The police view themselves as society's protectors: dedicated professionals who risk their lives, sacrifice time with their families, and work nights and weekends, all out of a sense of devotion to the profession and service to the community. At the same time they are often maligned by the public, criticized by the courts, and scrutinized by the media. This book was written to introduce the reader to the police: who they are and who they are not, what they can and cannot do; and, finally, why their exact role in society remains so unclear to so many.
The Police: An Introduction, Third Edition, is designed with learning in mind. To that end, a number of pedagogical learning aids have been included in its preparation; for example, chapter objectives that highlight the main points of each chapter and topical vignettes, including Highlights in Policing, A Closer Look and American Police Under Fire. Each of these discusses specialized and timely topics of interest.
The section titled "Improve Your Professional Vocabulary" is designed as a learning tool at the end of each chapter that identifies key chapter terms. Discussion questions for useful review of chapter material are updated andincluded. Of particular significance are four new appendices included with the book's new editions. These include: Selected Provisions from the 2001 LISA PATRIOT ACT, Sample Police Academy Curriculum, Model Police Policy Links, and Police Web Links. These will all give students a better and clearer understanding of the function of police in a free society.
Additional aids include: a helpful instructor's guide and test bank, comprehensive index, and a detailed look at the new Department of Homeland Security as well as the expansion/reorganization of federal law enforcement in the aftermath of the new terrorist threat. Also included are updated sections,on police research and statistics, police liability, racial profiling, domestic violence, women and minorities in policing, changing demographics, the war on terrorism, and private policing.
Finally, many of the points made in the book are illustrated with case examples of recent police stories. The book provides students with the basic framework for understanding fundamental police issues while at the same time empowering them to question the conventional wisdom about policing.
The writing of any book represents a considerable commitment of time and energy. But such a project cannot be completed without the help and support of many people: the always helpful people at the National Institute of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, and those professionals at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Police Executive Research Forum. Special thanks to the Columbia Police Department, Columbia, Missouri; Boone County Sheriffs Department; the Missouri State Highway Patrol; the Oklahoma Highway Patrol; and the Daily Oklahoman newspaper.
A special thank you goes to the following people for their reviews of this text: James Albrecht, Sam Houston University, Huntsville, TX; Chuck Brawner, Heartland Community College, Bloomington, IL; David Graff, Kent State University-Tuscarawas, New Philadelphia, OH; Mark Jones, Atlantic Cape Community College, Mays Landing, NJ; and Dana De Witt, Chadron State College, Chadron, NE: I would like to extend individual gratitude to the following people: Detective Mike Himmel of the Columbia, Missouri, Police Department and Carroll Highbarger for providing many of the photos for this book; and Stephanie Faler for her capable assistance in organizing and formatting the manuscript, instructor's manual, and test bank for this book. Thanks go also to Prentice Hall's Kim Davies for her confidence and support in the writing of this book.
I also would like to thank you for using this book to help you better understand your police. Any comments about how this book can be improved for future editions will be greatly appreciated.
MICHAEL D. LYMAN, PH.D.
