Race, riots, and the police

Title:

Author:

Rahtz, Howard, author.

ISBN:

9781626375574

Personal Author:

Rahtz, Howard, author.

Publication Information:

Boulder ; London : Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc., 2016.

v, 209 pages ; 23 cm

Contents:

Race, riots, and the police -- From the red summer to 1943 -- From the 1960s to Baltimore -- Learing from history -- Police use of force -- The war on drugs -- Repairing the relationship -- Building the legitimacy -- Stopping the riots before they start -- Moving from ideas to action -- Transforming fear to trust.

Abstract:

"Reflected almost daily in headlines, the enormous rift between the police and the communities they serve--especially African American communities--remains one of the major challenges facing the United States. And race-related riots continue to be a violent manifestation of that rift. Can this dismal state of affairs be changed? Can the distrust between black citizens and the police ever be transformed into mutual respect? Howard Rahtz addresses this issue, first tracing the history of race riots in the US and then drawing on both the lessons of that history and his own first-hand experience to offer a realistic approach for developing and maintaining a police force that is a true community partner."--Provided by publishser.

Language:

English

Subject Term:

Race riots -- United States.

Police-community relations -- United States.

Police brutality -- United States.

Geographic Term:

United States -- Race relations.

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Summary

Reflected almost daily in headlines, the enormous rift between the police and the communities they serve-especially African American communities-remains one of the major challenges facing the United States. And race-related riots continue to be a violent manifestation of that rift. Can this dismal state of affairs be changed? Can the distrust between black citizens and the police ever be transformed into mutual respect?

Howard Rahtz addresses this issue, first tracing the history of race riots in the US and then drawing on both the lessons of that history and his own first-hand experience to offer a realistic approach for developing and maintaining a police force that is a true community partner.

Reviews (2)

Booklist Review

Rahtz, a seasoned police veteran, current officer trainer, and national speaker on police reform, goes beyond a textbook history and draws on current studies and situations to offer solutions. He covers the history of race, riots, and the police from 1919 through today. The book also looks at previous and current approaches used to lessen the tensions that cause conflict. Although he doesn't discredit existing and previous approaches, Rahtz reviews the strengths and weaknesses of them and highlights the importance of police legitimacy. A clear understanding of the concept of legitimacy and how it evolves in the interaction between police officers and community members is the key to building a strong bond between police and the community. Given the timeliness of this publication, it is wholeheartedly recommended for public library collections. In addition to educating students, police officers, trainees, and government officials, it can also serve as a baseline and valuable tool for citizens interested in learning through his experience, research, and statistics as we see ongoing issues in our communities.--McIntosh, Joyce Copyright 2016 Booklist

Choice Review

The media is inundated with tales of racial discord between communities of color and police. History teaches that the zenith of such conflicts is the outbreak of race riots. Former Cincinnati police commander Rahtz addresses this issue of race riots in a timely, well-organized treatment that nicely fills a gap in the policing literature. The author begins by retracing the history of rioting in the US and then goes on to illuminate the lessons that police need to learn from the past. His central thesis is that the closely intertwined elements of trust and legitimacy are at the core of racial discord, which can ultimately break out in riots. While the book's treatment is focused on riots and riot prevention, the major themes go far beyond that and have profound implications for the future of policing. In addition to addressing riots, Rahtz provides an in-depth treatment of several of the same prescriptions that were identified by the President's Taskforce on 21st Century Policing. The treatment is approachable enough and timely enough to make an excellent reader for a basic policing course, or a more advanced police methods or leadership course. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. --Adam J McKee, University of Arkansas Monticello