NCJ Number
138595
Date Published
1991
Length
315 pages
Annotation
This book recounts a journalist's observations of recruit training at the New York City Police Academy and reflects his perspectives on how the Police Academy changes the lives of young people and prepares them for police work on the streets of New York City.
Abstract
After determining that the police profession uniquely represents the totality of society, the author followed four recruits through the Police Academy to their street assignments. He observed police recruits interact with deranged killers, violent drug dealers, desperate drug addicts, hysterical accident victims, family members in conflict, women about to give birth, teenage runaways, irate drivers who received traffic tickets, and hostile crowds. His goal was to understand emotional and psychological changes during police training. With the help of Police Academy officials, the author was able to accompany four recruits through the training cycle. This cycle included orientation, law, police and social sciences, physical training, weapons training, stress management, role playing, dealing with death, tactics training, driver training, integrity, vehicle stop procedures, and field training.