An Introduction to Policing [Paperback]

John S. Dempsey (Author), Linda S. Forst (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 053464290X | ISBN-13: 978-0534642907 | Publication Date: July 21, 2004 | Edition: 3

Written by two professors with extensive real-life experience in all ranks and assignments of policing, this introductory text is ideal for those interested in learning who the police are, what they do, and how they do it. No other text can offer such a current insider's look at what policing means today. With a remarkable blend of solid theory and practice, INTRODUCTION TO POLICING features comprehensive coverage of all major topics, emphasizing today's most current technology, the newest statistical data, and important new directions such as homeland defense and community policing. A "must read" for anyone considering a career in law enforcement, this book gives students straightforward information about the many rewards, and the often intense stress, that are part of police work.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The book has remained a solid text that presents a very applied approach to policing. It clearly has been revised and kept up to date. Hats off to Dempsey and Forst for keeping this book of the same high quality and application it had when first published."Willard M. Oliver, Sam Houston State University

"This text is extremely readable and on point with the history, duties, and structure of the police. The boxes offer valuable information, definitions, appropriate quotes, and interviews. The review questions are engaging and assist a person to put themselves "on the job."Christine L. Stymus, Bryant & Stratton College --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

John S. Dempsey was a member of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for 24 years. He served in the ranks of police officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain. His primary assignments were patrol and investigations. He received seven citations from the Department for meritorious and excellent police duty. After retiring from the NYPD, Mr. Dempsey served until 2003 as Professor of Criminal Justice at Suffolk County Community College where he won the college's prestigious "Who Made a Difference Award" for his teaching and work with students. Currently, Mr. Dempsey serves at the State University of New York – Empire College, where he teaches criminal justice and public administration courses and mentors ranking members of law enforcement and criminal justice agencies. He is also the author of INTRODUCTION TO INVESTIGATIONS, Second Edition. (Wadsworth, 2003). Mr. Dempsey is married with four children and three grandchildren.

Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing; 3 edition (July 21, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 053464290X
• ISBN-13: 978-0534642907
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #617,539 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thorough, but Not Very Engaging, June 25, 2010

By 

Janice Van - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: An Introduction to Policing (Paperback)

I ordered this for a class. I am reading it only because I have to. The writing is very structured and thorough. It is not the most engaging textbook that I have had to read, but it nowhere near the worst thing I've had to endure. Given the subject matter of the material covered in this textbook the authors have done a good job.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An EXCELLENT text book on American Policing, July 22, 2009

By 

L. Lakeman (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Introduction to Policing (Paperback)

Recently I wanted to learn more about the American policing. I have worked for the Victorian Criminal Justice system for 2 years, have a degree in Criminology, read hundreds of academic and textbook criminology books in addition to true crime books etc.. I decided that rather than reading a book that contained a study of a particular squad or police department I would read a general textbook that covered American policing in general. I chose this one and I couldn't of picked a better text book!

This book has everything you could want in a text book. I hope one day Australia releases an Australian counterpart. it contains chapters on everything from terrorism to detective work to forensics to patrol work. There is even a section on how to join the police force. I also appreciate that they acknowledge unsworn members in the police force, a very important part! The authors are retired police officers so often they give snapshots of personal experiences they have encountered, both as uniformed members and detectives.

What I like about this book, is it caters to all tastes, sometimes it reads like a textbook, other times it reads like an academic criminology book, other times it even reads like a true crime book (when the authors provide narratives of previous cases). There really is something for everything here!

I really hope a former police officer turned academic in Australia follows the footsteps of these two authors and writes a similar book. When/if I complete my PhD in Criminology and start lecturing the only thing that would stop me from using this book is it is Americanised (although in my degree we often used American textbooks so it could work).

Recommended for anyone interested in policing!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars This textbook stinks..., August 5, 2006

By 

navylady (Camp Lejeune NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Introduction to Policing (Paperback)

This book is unorganized, out-of-date, too focused on New York City, and on every other page promotes the authors and their careers...On page 7 they are telling you how much has changed with the computer age, and the internet, and one of the authors tells you he went to grade school and they used quill pens and fountain jars...okay, I didn't need to know that. It was so annoying that by page 14, I was going to submit to them a list of improvements, but it would have been EXTENSIVE! From there on just gritted my teeth and got through it...Good luck! You'll be really tired of the references to the Trade City Bombing, and NYC in general, by the end of it!