Policing Unrest: On the Front Lines of the Ferguson Protests

Policing Unrest provides an up-close account of policing during the Ferguson protests, offering insights from both police officers and community members. It raises important questions about police-community relations and the role of police as peacekeepers in support of social justice. The book covers topics such as police-community relationships, community policing principles, the role of an officer's characteristics, and the implications for police recruitment and training. It also explains how the Ferguson protests ushered in an era of police reform and reveals what it is like being a police officer facing public unrest.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 25 October 2022
Publisher: New York University Press

Introduction:

The Ferguson protests, which followed the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a police officer, were a watershed moment in American history. The protests brought to light deep-seated tensions between police officers and members of the community, highlighting the need for reform and improvement in police-community relations. Policing Unrest provides an up-close account of policing during the protests, offering insights from both police officers and community members.

Police Officers' Perspective:

The book features interviews with dozens of police personnel who policed the protests. These officers provide a firsthand account of their experiences, including the challenges they faced, the decisions they made, and the impact the protests had on their personal and professional lives. Tammy Rinehart Kochel, the author, aims to shed light on the shared experiences of police officers and community residents, raising important questions about police-community relations and the role of police as peacekeepers in support of social justice.

Community Residents' Perspective:

In addition to the police officers' perspective, Policing Unrest also includes interviews with community residents who were directly affected by the protests. These residents offer their insights into the tensions between the community and the police, as well as their experiences with police misconduct and racial profiling. The book aims to provide a balanced perspective on the protests, recognizing the concerns of both police officers and community members.

Key Themes:

The book covers a range of topics related to policing during the Ferguson protests. These include police-community relationships and community policing principles, the role of factors such as police subculture and organizational culture in shaping officers' behavior, the impact of an officer's characteristics, particularly race, on their self-legitimacy, and the implications for police recruitment and training. Kochel argues that the protests highlighted the need for increased transparency, accountability, and procedural justice in the police department.

Conclusion:

Policing Unrest is a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate about police-community relations and the role of police in society. The book provides a nuanced and comprehensive account of policing during the Ferguson protests, offering insights from both police officers and community members. By raising important questions about police-community relations and the role of police as peacekeepers, the book contributes to the effort to restore trust and legitimacy between the police and the community.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479807352