RESCHEDULED FROM OUR SPRING CATALOG: The “cop on the beat” and a city’s police force have changed roles and techniques over the years, due in part to a reflection of modern technology and an expanding cultural diversity. Americans’ responses to their police officers are conscious and unconscious reactions to authority figures sworn to protect their citizenry. Both sides experience the same or similar attitudinal conflicts. With that in mind, we will discuss Blue Blood, the 2004 best-selling memoir by Edward Conlon, a fourth generation, Harvard-educated New York City police officer. The class will examine the ways his experiences reflect current policing and how they differ, in the hopes of gaining a clearer perspective on problems and possible solutions. Due to the book’s length, 559 pages, there will be two sessions, two weeks apart. UC Davis Police Chief Emeritus Calvin Handy will join the class to provide current insights based on his career experiences.
Suggested Reading: Blue Blood, Edward Conlon, Riverhead Books (Penguin Group)