Blue Bias: An Ex-Cop Turned Philosopher Examines the Learning and Resolve Necessary to End Hidden Prejudice in Policing

Step into a future where police officers are revered and trusted by all communities, their commitment to protect and serve unwavering. In this world, the presence of law enforcement brings a sense of safety and reassurance to the people they serve.

Award-winning author Charles D. Hayes, a staunch advocate of self-education, presents an illuminating and meticulously researched book, Blue Bias, that delves into the crucial keys to transforming law enforcement. By seamlessly blending the groundbreaking field of neuroscience with the intricate workings of policing, Hayes uncovers groundbreaking strategies to curb excessive use of force and combat hidden biases.

Prepare to embark on a journey of discovery as Blue Bias addresses thought-provoking questions such as: What is the true nature of unconscious bias? How do biases manifest within our minds? And why do these biases shape our lives in profound ways? By unraveling the consequences of disregarding implicit biases, Hayes sheds light on the presence of biases and racism within the American police force, urging for a paradigm shift in policing practices.

Through the lens of scientific research, Hayes illuminates the invaluable role of education in transforming law enforcement. Discover the dire repercussions of ignoring officer stress, and gain insights into the long-term effects that stress can have on dedicated officers. Blue Bias passionately advocates for a transformative education that fosters mindfulness and self-awareness, empowering officers to approach high-pressure situations with discretion and thoughtful action.

Blue Bias is a hard-hitting exposé that may challenge your perceptions, but its pages overflow with indispensable knowledge critical to comprehending the complex challenges faced by police officers today. Acknowledging the omnipresent issue of systemic racism, Hayes fearlessly examines the historical roots and contemporary manifestations of bias in America, offering practical tools to detect and dismantle personal biases.

Charles D. Hayes, drawing from his own experience as a Dallas police officer and half a century of introspection, masterfully intertwines his expertise in behavioral science with his lifelong pursuit of learning. Blue Bias presents a compelling call to arms, urging police officers to transcend their mandatory training and delve deeper into the behavioral sciences to safeguard their mental and physical well-being while upholding their sacred oath.

In this era of heightened scrutiny, Blue Bias emerges as an indispensable work, essential reading for every police officer aspiring to leadership. Its profound message resonates with police chiefs nationwide, urging officers to embrace lifelong learning and embark on a transformative journey to eradicate hidden prejudices and safeguard the principles of justice.

"Charles D. Hayes has written an authoritative, and blessedly non-authoritarian, book on policing in America. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a clear, well written, definitive analysis of why this critical institution continues to struggle for credibility and public confidence. His prescriptions are imaginative yet practical and down to earth, reflecting both his considerable research and his time on the streets as a big-city cop. Paraphrasing quoted material from the book, 'Get ready to remember what you are about to read.' " --NORM STAMPER, Seattle Chief of Police (Ret.), author of Breaking Rank and To Protect and Serve


"While we think of ourselves as rational agents with free will, our behavior is shaped by implicit, subterranean forces that we cannot imagine or control. Hugely important are the implicit biases we carry, determining who counts as an Us or a Them, and few such biases are as consequential as those carried by police officers. In Blue Bias, Charles Hayes' goal as an ex-cop is to teach the science underlying implicit bias, and how it impacts the extraordinary capacity for police to help or harm society's vulnerable. He succeeds admirably at this, with clear, insightful, scientifically accurate and often elegant writing. Unexpectedly, the book also is emotionally powerful--one can practically hear this septuagenarian trying to impart wisdom to the young, flawed police officer he once was, half a century ago. This is an important book."--ROBERT M. SAPOLSKY, author of Behave and Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers


"Entrusted to make life-or-death decisions in a split second, peace officers must understand how the brain's rapid threat response system operates. In Blue Bias, Charles Hayes assembles the latest research from brain science and psychology to help protect lives--those of police officers and the public citizens they serve and protect."--R. DOUGLAS FIELDS, PhD, author of Why We Snap: Understanding the Rage Circuit in Your Brain


"An eye-opening glimpse into what (good) police work entails; a basically reassuring message to all of us who depend on the men and women in blue to live safe lives."--MIHALY CSIKSZENTMIHALYI, author of Flow and The Evolving Self


"The author has done a stand-up job from his police experience years ago to being committed to continuous learning throughout his life. While I stayed in policing, Charles left after a number of years. What is most interesting to me is that while we are similar in age, we both came to the same kinds of conclusions about the nature and work of policing a free society. If somehow, I could distill his findings and serve it to every police recruit in America, we would find and field the kind of police we deserve. Policing a democracy is a most difficult task and demands those with high emotional intelligence serve our towns, cities and counties. What Hayes writes here contributes highly to the most lofty (and necessary) goal of American policing."--DAVID COUPER, Madison Chief of Police (Ret.), author of Arrested Development and Telling It Like It Is


"Charles D. Hayes continues to demonstrate his extraordinary versatility as a visionary thinker and integrative writer in this brilliantly conceived and ingeniously conceptualized--and uncannily timely--book about the systemic shortcomings of existing police training, practice, and management that can foster the conditions for bias. Weaving together theory and research from a diversity of disciplines, Hayes constructs a new and invaluable model for understanding and combating the forces, including the biochemical and psycho-physiological ones, which can compromise the moral character, integrity, philosophical sophistication, and civic responsibility that should form the cornerstone of police consciousness and law enforcement practice. While Blue Bias offers a ground-breaking and revolutionary formula for curtailing bias, prejudice, excessive force, and so forth within the arena of law enforcement, it also shows how society generally can elevate and re-moralize itself in order to enhance the quality of human relations and encourage mutual understanding and respect, while reversing the breakdowns of basic humanity that are emanating in all spheres from the growing pathologies of modern culture. Essential reading."--JOHN F. SCHUMAKER, author of Wings of Illusion and The Age of Insanity