Police: Streetcorner Politicians

by William Ker Muir Jr.

"This book . . . examines the problem of police corruption . . . in such a way that the stereotype of the crude, greedy cop who is basically a grown-up delinquent, if not an out-and-out robber, yields to portraits of particular men, often of earnest good will and even more than ordinary compassion, contending with an enormously demanding and challenging job."—Robert Coles, New Yorker

"Other social scientists have observed policemen on patrol, or have interviewed them systematically. Professor Muir has brought the two together, and, because of the philosophical depth he brings to his commentaries, he has lifted the sociology of the police on to a new level. He has both observed the men and talked with them at length about their personal lives, their conceptions of society and of the place of criminals within it. His ambition is to define the good policeman and to explain his development, but his achievement is to illuminate the philosophical and occupational maturation of patrol officers in 'Laconia' (a pseudonym) . . . . His discussions of [the policemen's] moral development are threaded through with analytically suggestive formulations that bespeak a wisdom very rarely encountered in reports of sociological research."—Michael Banton, Times Literary Supplement

Genres: Politics, Police

313 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 1979

Reviews

[Cortney · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting study, if you want to learn about coercion and its applications in the 1960's and 70's in regard to policing as well as see some of the effects of stringent training standards, this might be the book for you.

[Martin Janočo · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the point of view of a prospective police cadet, it was a highly beneficial read. It provides an insight into what the job of a police patrolman entails (from observances of a sociologist/philosopher supplemented with interviews with several actual officers), into different personal styles of policing and attitudes toward it. It tries to identify and describe a desirable, "professional", policing attitude based on behavior of the exemplary interviewed officers, as well as the various ways it can be less than ideal - avoiding, cynical, aggressive. The book also hints at the character traits and world views of the "professional", exemplary officers - here I would have liked to see the book to go into greater depth.

[Anikka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to read this for a class back in college but would have definitely picked it up on my own. Very interesting study of how police officers are, in essence, politicians and explores the four distinct types of politicians that exist.