Policing the Streets of Los Angeles - (Policing Perspectives and Challenges in the Twenty-First Century) by Craig D Uchida (Paperback)

About the Book

This book explores how LAPD has sought to regulate officer conduct in the face of repeated controversies over 60 years. It provides important insights into LAPD's successes and failures, and makes recommendations for ways in which improvement in policing transparency and accountability can be made permanent.

Book Synopsis

This book takes an in-depth look at the LAPD over a 60-year period, exploring the ways in which the use of force, particularly deadly force, has been controlled (or not) by internal and external forces.
The Department has been at the center of numerous controversies, including the killing of Eula Love (1977), the beating of Rodney King (1991), the riots that followed the acquittal of officers in the King beating (1992), the Rampart scandal (1999), questionable officer-involved shootings (OISs), and the complaints of over-policing during the George Floyd protests (2020). At the same time, however, the Department has been at the forefront of change and innovation. It continuously revises its policies regarding use of force, implements new training curricula, and has developed an extensive accountability process. Some of these changes have occurred voluntarily, others have been imposed or mandated upon them. Yet, despite these changes, the LAPD and its officers continue to be embroiled in issues regarding controversial shootings, charges of racial bias, and questionable tactics during social justice protests. The book is grounded in data, analysis, historical documents, and personal observations by the author. It provides details about each of the controversies and solutions that occurred, and, most significantly, it includes recommendations about how to make these positive changes permanent.

Review Quotes

"Few researchers have been embedded longer in a police organization than Craig D. Uchida has in the LAPD. . . . This is a must-read for those interested in the complex history of big-city policing and the ongoing push for meaningful change." --Charles M. Katz, Arizona State University

"I have known and worked with Craig Uchida for over 25 years and respect his integrity, insight, and the sound recommendations he has made to improve policing. . . . This book adds to that collection of helping us understand our history and providing valuable lessons learned for those at the helm of police departments today." --R. Gil Kerlikowske, Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (2014-2017)

"Dr. Uchida's work presents an accessible and comprehensive history of the evolution of US policing through the lens of six decades of police reforms in LAPD. . . . His observations of patterns of continuity, change, and controversy offer a striking framework for understanding past reforms, judging their effectiveness in achieving desired changes, and possibilities for future police reform." --John McCluskey, Rochester Institute of Technology

"Dr. Craig Uchida offers his unique insights into the history and complexity of the Los Angeles Police Department. . . . Uchida also reminds us we must never forget one additional important lesson: history matters. Transparency, accountability and maybe even a little humility should be hardcoded into the DNA of police organizations." --Sean P. Varano, Roger Williams University

"Craig D. Uchida provides insight into incidents that have helped define the LAPD-and through that insight, the opportunity for police leaders to learn from their successes and failures. There is also a lot to learn about police leadership for the public as Craig opens the doors to better understanding the difficulty of advocating change and reform." --Darrel Stephens, former Executive Director of the Major Cities Chiefs Association

"Dr. Uchida draws attention to the great progress made by the LAPD, but also places where more work is still needed. This book offers not only a compelling history but also useful lessons for police leaders and policy makers seeking meaningful police reform." --P. Jeffrey Brantingham, University of California Los Angeles

About the Author

Craig D. Uchida is the president and founder of Justice & Security Strategies, Inc.