Publishers Weekly
10/02/2023
Former police officer Reinhardt, who’s now an associate director of student life and applied ministry at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, debuts with a well-intentioned case for police reform. According to Reinhardt, “police brutality against minorities is... a systemic condition of a compromised institution,” and “until police culture changes, police practices will not substantially change.” He identifies a strict “hierarchy of authority” that promotes power abuses, partly by opening up a “deep divide” between line officers and police leadership, and a culture that pits officers “against the rest of society.” As a corrective, Reinhardt proposes a “servant leadership” model—like Jesus, law enforcement officials should be “clothed with humility.” Reinhardt’s insights into the police mindset are sharp and perceptive, though his lack of practical detail and tendency to waffle between depicting police culture as horrific and individual officers as blameless sometimes confuses. For example, Reinhardt recalls how “some of my brothers on the SWAT team regularly referred to the people we encountered during raids as rats,” but he cautions readers against “reacting in anger” against his former colleagues, without providing enough context as to why. Still, this is a worthwhile guide for those seeking an end to police brutality. (Nov.)
Lore Ferguson Wilbert
"With impeccable research and long-lived experience, Daniel Reinhardt is winsome in his words about policing and peace. No matter where you land on issues of policing, systemic racism, justice, and the way to peace, there is something to learn in Rethinking the Police. Part confessional and part plea, Reinhardt's book refuses to demonize any one entity and puts forth a realistic pathway to reform in our communities and world."
Mike Shutt
"At its most successful, the book’s argument simply connects the dots between the history and hierarchical structure of police departments, the 'toxic leadership' bred into the system, and the biased enforcement patterns that result."
Aaron Griffith
"In Rethinking the Police, Daniel Reinhardt has given us a learned and helpful introduction to problems in American policing and has offered a compelling vision for possible reforms. This is a book that Christians, law enforcement officers, and anyone else who cares about justice and safety will want to read and take seriously."
Jamaal Williams
"In Rethinking the Police, Daniel Reinhardt speaks not as an outsider but as an insider who served as a police officer for twenty-four years, retiring as a lieutenant. With vulnerability, storying, and invaluable research, Reinhardt offers a thoughtful critique addressing attitudes and practices that contribute to a negative police culture within the United States. In this book, the author invites readers to consider a model of policing that reflects Jesus' life and words on leadership. Moreover, as you read, Reinhardt's burden to see police departments and American neighborhoods flourish is evident. Please look at the author's path forward if you want to see both policing and communities thrive."
Timothy Paul Jones
"Reinhardt speaks with the heart of a Christian leader, the experience of a retired law-enforcement officer, and the wisdom of a scholar. He not only recognizes real problems in police culture but also provides hope for a better way. Readers are not likely to agree with all his conclusions, but his analysis of the problems is compelling and the uniqueness of his solution is challenging."
DeLacy Davis
"Daniel Reinhardt calls people of goodwill to act against police violence, terror, and the inhumane treatment of Black people in America at the hands of the police. He advocates police reforms that focus on internal structures of police organizations, and he highlights the links between systemic racism, police brutality, and the organizational culture of policing with all the frailties of human failure. In the book, the us-versus-them mentality emerges as a component of the police subculture that serves as the normative framework for police-community interactions. Reinhardt argues that the foundation of police violence solutions requires a Christian response rooted in understanding the nature of police culture. "
Daniel Hahn
"Rethinking the Police is a rare example of an author who speaks to changing the long-standing, seemingly insurmountable challenges of police legitimacy in our most challenged communities through understanding history and police culture. Daniel Reinhardt talks from personal experience about social distance, dehumanization, and power as challenges to be addressed. A much-needed, thought-provoking look at a way forward."
