Walking With the Devil: The Police Code of Silence

By Michael W. Quinn

Book Overview

Wallking With the Devil is required ethics reading in law enforcement academies and college programs across the United States. It is the foundational resource for the Peer Intervention training... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 097591250X
• ISBN13: 9780975912508
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Ingram
• Length: 181 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

right on

This book is right on. The code of silence is an evil thing that subverts the truth. The ends do not justify the means. I can't recommend this book highly enough because the code of silence exists and not just in the police force. It is a very important issue.

An essential reference for civilian review board members and concerned members of the general commun

Michael W. Quinn is a retired Minneapolis police officer who is determined to bring to the attention of the public an informed and informative expose of what he calls the "police code of silence" in his book Walking With The Devil: What Bad Cops Don't Want You To Know And Good Cops Won't Tell You. Deftly edited by Margot Willett, Walking With The Devil reveals why this police version of "omerta" comes about and is enforced by the dangers of the job and the (sometimes misplaced) loyalties that arise from them. From training in a police academy, to the investigations of Internal Affairs, to scandal driven precinct shake ups, Willett lays out everything in language and example that is accessible to the non-specialist general reader. Of special note is the section devoted to ten myths about policing which range from "street justice teaching people a lesson" to once being a part of a police "Code of Silence" you can't extricate yourself, to the necessity to be macho if you want to be effective in law enforcement. Willett does more than just outline and document the problems, he also offers advice for police administrators and line officers as to what can be done to weed out lawlessness from law enforcement. With the inclusion of a Glossary, References, and an Index, Walking With The Devil should be considered required reading for all police academia curriculums, and is highly recommended for anyone who is "on the job", as well as an essential reference for civilian review board members and concerned members of the general community.