Issues and Controversies in Policing Today by Johnny Nhan is a thought-provoking exploration of today's policing challenges. It delves into contemporary topics ranging from police misconduct and racial profiling to LGBTQ officers and policing technologies. These topics are grounded in theory, research, and practice. This second edition features two new chapters covering (1) the critical shortage of police officers and (2) the conflict and tensions between street cops and management cops. Since the first edition, the author has undergone the police academy and became a reserve police officer. This new and unique perspective going from academic to practitioner adds depth, bringing firsthand experience to the discussion and throughout this text. Whether you are a student, practitioner, or curious reader, the second edition of Issues and Controversies in Policing Today offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of law enforcement.
Johnny Nhan is professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice and associate dean of Graduate Studies at Texas Christian University. He has researched and published in various topics in policing, focusing primarily on technology. He is winner of TCU's Michael R. Ferrari Award for Distinguished University Service and Leadership for his work in establishing TCU's online master's program in Criminology & Criminal Justice and co-founding Operation Progress Fort Worth, a police mentorship program for kids in underserved areas.
Issues and Controversies in Policing Today by Professor Johnny Nhan tells the story of why it is a book that meets the criteria of explaining to the reader what it takes to become a police officer in this 21st Century America. Taking a socio-historical approach, Nhan provides critical information on the origins of policing, the way ethnic minority and gay police officers must navigate both those they serve and protect and fellow officers. He takes us on a discussion of the controversial strategy of "community policing" that is quite illuminating. Issues and Controversies in Policing Today is a must read as it is a well crafted, insightful and easy to read book. --Earl Smith, PhD, Rubin Professor of American Ethnic Studies and Sociology Wake Forest University, author of Policing Black Bodies: How Black Lives Are Surveilled and How to Work for Change. Nhan's book, Issues and Controversies in Policing Today is a must read for anyone interested in learning more about the ins and outs of being a police officer. Nhan takes the reader on a journey through the origins of police forces, media portrayals of the police, and the often invisible stresses of the job, including working swing shifts. Unexpected insights with every page turned. --Angela J. Hattery, PHD, Professor, Women and Gender Studies, University of Delaware, Author: Policing Black Bodies: How Black Lives Are Surveilled and How to Work for Change Nhan's Issues and Controversies in Policing Today addresses many issues, including the politics of policing and LGBTQ police officers, that are not often discussed about the field of law enforcement. It is a welcomed addition to any Foundations of Policing course and could be utilized as the primary text to support any Special Issues in Policing course. --Kimberly A. McCabe, PhD, professor of criminology, University of Lynchburg Perhaps, at no point in the history and evolution of modern policing has the profession faced so many challenges in such a short span of time as has been evident in the early part of the twenty-first century. Johnny Nhan's work in Issues and Controversies in Policing Today is a bold and refreshing approach to the myriad challenges that face the police and society today, and allows the reader to see what works in policing, and more importantly, what does not. The material is presented in a conversational tone that promotes learning over memorization, and is an excellent choice for criminal justice related courses that attract a multidisciplinary audience. --James J. Drylie, PhD, Fulbright Police Scholar, Kean University Policing in our times has certainly become controversial and due to the nature of policing in America, it is plagued by many issues, both societal and organizational. Fortunately, for the student of policing, Johnny Nhan has come along with a book that not only catalogues all of these issues and controversies, but presents them in a readable format, providing the multi-faceted perspective of each issue and controversy. Johnny Nhan's Issues and Controversies in Policing Today is the book that will inform, educate, and start the much needed discussion on American policing today. --Willard M. Oliver, Sam Houston State University
