The Police in America An Introduction Author:Samuel Walker, Charles M Katz The Police in America provides a comprehensive introduction to the foundations of policing in the United States today. Descriptive and analytical, the text is designed to offer undergraduate students a balanced and up-to-date overview of who the police are and what they do, the problems they face, and the many reforms and innovatio... more »ns that have taken place in policing. The text begins with a compelling analysis of the foundation of law enforcement and the history of American police. It goes on to cover the critical role of the beat cop, the fundamental problems in policing, the career path of police officers, and a level-by-level overview of police organizations. Using timely articles and excerpts, the authors take readers beyond the headlines and statistics, to present a comprehensive and contemporary overview of what it means to be a police officer.« less