May 1996




                       Book Review


               Multicultural Law Enforcement: 
      Strategies for Peacekeeping in a Diverse Society 
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by Robert M. Shusta, Deena R. Levine, Philip R. Harris, and
Herbert Z. Wong, published by Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs,
New Jersey, 1995


Unlike many works on the challenges posed by multicultural
issues, this book deals successfully with the specifics of these
issues as they relate to today's law enforcement officers. The
authors of Multicultural Law Enforcement provide a comprehensive
look at the potential difficulties faced by police officers as
they interact with Americans of diverse ethnic and cultural
backgrounds. The authors analyze these different ethnic groups,
with reference to all of the relevant cultural characteristics
that might play a part in defining an encounter with the police.


Such an approach is relevant, not just on a practical level but
also on a more profound one. Clearly, it is important that police
officers learn about other cultures in order to deal more
effectively with the members of those cultures, particularly in
the often tension-filled encounters involving law enforcement.
Perhaps more important, however, is the need for police officers
to change the way they perceive members of other cultures.


This book is designed to help officers do away with those biases
based on fear and prejudice and replace them with more accurate
perceptions based on knowledge and tolerance. The authors argue
that such a change in philosophy and perception will allow police
officers to deal more sensitively with all people. In return, a
sense of mutual trust and respect will develop between members of
minority communities and law enforcement.


The authors make clear that such an awakening must take place if
law enforcement is to adjust successfully  to the demographic
realities facing the United States in the 21st century. Officers
who do not adapt to rising multi-culturalism ultimately will find
their work far less effective and enjoyable.


In addition, changes in the nature of crime itself_most notably
the rising numbers of hate crimes_require police officers to
become educated and enlightened in psychological areas that they
previously might have considered irrelevant. Hate-motivated
attacks have repercussions far beyond the physical damage
inflicted.


As the authors point out, these attacks represent a
"psychological as well as a physical assault" on victims.
Effective police officers will have to become sensitive to the
specific factors that motivate such assaults. Obviously, officers
who harbor biases of their own will find it extremely difficult
to develop a sense of empathy toward the victims. Throughout the
book, the authors cite ways for law enforcement officers to
become more sensitive to the needs of the people with whom they
come into contact.


Police administrators may find the book's appendices particularly
useful. In them, the authors suggest guidelines for implementing
specific cultural awareness programs that reinforce ideas
discussed in the text.


The greatest compliments that a police officer can pay to another
culture is to speak its language and to learn more about what
makes it unique. Multicultural Law Enforcement shows why an
enhanced sense of cultural awareness is becoming increasingly
essential for today's police officers.




Reviewed by
Capt. Alan C. Youngs
Lakewood, Colorado, 
Police Department


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