The Police Current Practices and Future Possibilities

The Police: Current Practices and Future Possibilities introduces readers to the history, structure, and methodologies of policing in the United States. It explores the evolution of the U.S. police force from its genesis to current paradigms shaped by modern-day challenges such as homeland security and international policing imperatives.

The book offers insight into the organizational and structural framework of police systems, key functions, community policing innovations, police management, collaborative policing, issues in police operations, and strategies for law enforcement management. Discussions pivot around proactive and reactive policing approaches, the interplay between the police and community, and the broad objectives pursued through evolving policing models and tactics.

The Police is ideal for courses and programs in criminal justice, law enforcement, policing, and public administration. The book equips readers with a deeper appreciation of the complex nature of policing and enables a critical examination of current practices against a backdrop of historical progression and potential future directions for the police force.

Melchor C. de Guzman is a professor of criminal justice and criminology at Georgia Gwinnett College. He has extensive experience working in the criminal justice field in the U.S. and the Philippines. Dr. de Guzman's research explores citizen participation in the control of the police and other law enforcement issues. He holds a Ph.D. in criminal justice from the University of Cincinnati.

Jeff Smith has extensive experience as a police professional having served in all aspects of law enforcement, including uniform patrol and investigations, specialized units, supervision, management, and administration. Smith served as a law enforcement officer for 35 years before becoming the director of operations for a prosecutor's office in a large metropolitan county. He holds a D.Sc. in emergency management from Jacksonville State University.