Customer Reviews

Stoning the Keepers at the Gate: Society's Relationship with Law Enforcement

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Having spent 27 years with Cincinnati PD and now a Sheriff's Office, I can not recommend this book highly enough for every law enforcement officer in the country. Even though this book seems geared toward the public on understanding their relationship with law enforcement, it does an excellent job of cheerleading those in law enforcement who are still committed to doing police work. Every city manager, county commissioner, council member, etc. should read this book to see why they should stand behind their law enforcement agencies if they want to improve them. It's hard to hit a home run if the home team fans keep 'booing.' As Americans we need to cheer the everyday heroic acts of law enforcement officers, not just when it's politically correct. Dr. Blum explains why the 'occuptaional bigotry' against police by some in the media creates a lack of spirit in officers that causes them to hesitate to do their jobs, which may cost them or other innocent people their lives. Stoning the Keepers at the Gate is a great morale booster for anyone in law enforcement.

This book was so accurate to what happens in the real life of what happens to an officer under duress from the police environemnt as well as the public's view of law enforcement. This book was a mental saver for me as I had to endure nearly four years of public and departmental scrutiny for my actions with a life or death lethal encounter with a suspect. I have had 7 years of law enforcement experience with the Chandler PD in Arizona and was the first officer charged since Wyatt Earp in the state of Arizona with an on duty shooting. I was crucified in the media, by my department and city and was laid the blame for all that was wrong with law enforcement in the state. A jury trial and acquital as well as a state police board review proved that the only wrong doing was actually from my peers in the department, city as well as the county attorney who made my case a platform for political endeavors as well as media's facination with categorizing which case they will champion and who they will make a scape goat. In Arizona, a good cop is a dead cop, which makes for good press. I have suffered tremendously and have found little support in attempts to get a law enforcement career again due to the politics. Lawrence Blum's books (Force Under Pressure and Stoning the Keepers Gates) have been a blessing only second to reading my Bible that have helped me make sense of my emotions, tribulations and my future. I use his material when I speak to other officers, church groups and even prisoners to help them understand the same things I now do. Good book, good reading, and a good way to save your sanity and possiblily the sanity and life of a fellow officer in need.

As a criminal prosecutor who prosecutes individuals who murder and attempt to murder police officers, I have a vested interest in understanding society's relationship, expectations, and criticism of police officers. I had high expectations for this book, to get a better feeling of why society does not, in my opinion, properly support officers involved in deadly force encounters.

Unfortuantely, all I learned from the book was what I already knew. Society as a whole does not support officers in deadly force encounters, nor do their law enforcement managers in many instances. What I still have failed to learn as much as I would like is why. This book fell very short is exploring non-law enforcement views toward the police or analyzing why there is a lack of support. Is it a liberal media bias? Is it more concern for risk management and lawsuits? Is it a perception that law enforcement got away with too much in the past, and now they are not believed or supported? Is it a concern that by speaking up in favor of the police you could be subject to social criticism?

I just don't know, and this book failed to help. I much preferred reading "On Combat" by Col. Dave Grossman. At least in that book he attempts to explain the relationship between law enforcement (sheep dogs) and society (sheep) relative to criminals (wolves).