City Police

By Jonathan Rubinstein

Book Overview

This landmark 1973 study of city policemen portrays in detail work "on the street,"the way police regard their work, the way they deal day-by-day with suspects and criminals, with colleague and superiors, and with the general public. Jonathan Rubinstein spent over a year with the Philadelphia police force, riding second man in patrol cars on all shifts, and from this experience he describes every aspects of a policeman's working life: his conception of the place he polices; his sense of territory; the extent of his knowledge of the people he polices; his technique for surveillance of his area; his use of the tools of the trade to control people; his complicated relationships with his coworkers and his sergeant, who dominates his working life. And, of course, he deals extensively with the eternal problems of corruption and brutality.

Written with great insight and without pro- or anti-police bias, City Police is rich in illustrative incidents and serves as an excellent model for future studies of police work.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0374515557
• ISBN13: 9780374515553
• Release Date: September 1980
• Publisher: Hill & Wang
• Length: 498 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 5.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Readable, Realistic View of Policing

I read this book for a college seminar and found it realistic and honest. The author describes the daily life of police officers in the city of Philadelphia in the 1970's. We get a feel for what it is like to be an everyday patrolman; you have power and responsibility, you are feared by some, respected by many, hated by others. We see how cops alter their law enforcement style to fit the neighborhood standards, and how some officers are jerks while others have big hearts. We also see what risks cops look for (and those they basically ignore), how they gather information, etc. This book is a bit dated, and the author never mentions Frank Rizzo, then the city's controversial police commissioner (and later its Mayor). Still, this is a realistic book, drawn from the author having spent countless hours talking and riding with Philadelphia patrolmen. This is good reading for anybody interested in learning more about law enforcement.

An in-depth look at policing

Despite the fact that this book was published 20 years ago, the insights Rubinstein provides from this in-depth examination of policing are still relevant. Rubinstein begins with the origins of policing and moves through a variety of elements pertaining to police work including territorial knowledge, how the police gather information, and even police corruption. Highly recommended for those interested in a career in policing or for police enthusiasts.