COMMISSIONER - A VIEW FROM THE TOP OF AMERICAN LAW ENFORCEMENT

• NCJ Number: 44458
• Author(s): P V MURPHY; T PLATE
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 280 pages
• Sale Source: Simon and Schuster
• Publication Type: Dictionary
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS MEMOIR OFFERS AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE POLICE, POLITICS, AND THE LAW AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL AND ILLUMINATES THE PROBLEMS, STRUCTURE, AND REALITY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Abstract

THE AUTHOR ANALYZES IN DETAIL MANY OF THE MAJOR URBAN POLICE FORCES, PROVIDES AN INSIDE ACCOUNT OF THE FAILURE OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, QUESTIONS THE VALUE OF 'THE COP ON THE BEAT' AND CRITICALLY EXAMINES THE SMALL POLICE FORCES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. THE AUTHOR'S IDEAS ARE PRESENTED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF HIS OWN LIFE AND CAREER AS A POLICE OFFICER AND A POLICE EXECUTIVE, FROM ROOKIE TO COMMISSIONER. HIS ACCOUNT INCLUDES HIS YEARS AS COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE POLITICAL INTRIGUES AND HEADLINE-MAKING PROBLEMS AND ACHIEVEMENTS DURING THOSE YEARS: THE SERPICO CASE, THE TOTAL RESTRUCTURING OF THE NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND NUMEROUS CRISES, FROM SHOOT-OUTS TO THE KNAPP COMMISSION. AN INDEX IS PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).