Following the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and other unfortunate events related to excessive force and police brutality, law enforcement officials in America are facing many renewed threats to their legitimacy. Police in American Society: Selected Readings for the Student Practitionerprovides students with information on the specific challenges and issues that individuals in police management must confront to rebuild public trust. 

The book begins with readings that present the historical perspective of policing, as well as new approaches to the profession. Later readings speak to legitimacy, professionalism, and accountability. The book concludes with selections on recruiting, ethics, and use of force. Specific topics addressed include the functions of police in modern society, the militarization of the police force, police legitimacy, and police shootings and citizen behavior. 

Police in American Society is well-suited for undergraduate courses in sociology, criminal justice, and criminology, especially those that address police and citizen behavior.

Howard E. Williams earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in criminal justice from Texas State University. He is a lecturer in criminal justice at Texas State University. His research focuses on topics related to police management and police use of force. Williams has been published by Criminal Justice Policy Review and Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences on topics relating to auto theft crimes, racial profiling, and fatal officer-involved shootings in the United States.