You in Blue – A Guide for the New Cop
Authors Gregory Saville and Gerard Cleveland
148 pages, ISBN 978-0-578-16420-5
Submitted by Robert Lunney, Chief of Police (Ret.)
Authors Greg Saville and Gerard Cleveland, long time collaborators in the development and presentation of leading-edge police training, released this publication in June 2015. A handbook for prospective recruits, police trainers, coach officers and front line supervisors, it fills a long-standing gap in police educational materials at the entry level.
The book includes chapters on academy life, street realities and intelligent tactical response. It also provides advice on the essential qualities for becoming an ethical police officer and the fallacies of the controversial “Warrior agenda.”
The authors have a reputation for delivering highly-regarded in-service training in both Canada and the United States. Do not be put off by some “cop” jargon not commonly used in this country. The principles and key messages are valid on both sides of the border and necessarily responsive to the market. Saville and Cleveland speak from personal experience of street policing, adding credibility to their message.
There is a chapter on surviving and thriving at the police academy plus frank criticism of the problem of outdated and improper police training. There is a helpful prescription for balancing safety, danger, authority and legal powers with ethical, emotional and social competencies.
A section on talking to people on the street will be instructive to entrants from the Millennial Generation, who tend to excel in social networking but may lack skills associated with reading non-verbal clues, projecting an effective personal presence and establishing empathy through verbal facility.
There is a notable section on having the courage to tell the truth in testing situations, as well as other advice critical to establishing a reputation for integrity in the early months of service. Beyond academy training, there is a chapter with helpful tips for patrol techniques and methods for self-assessment and continuous improvement.
The authors do not neglect survival skills, discussing self-management in responding to emergencies and giving advice on dealing with job-related stress balanced with healthy personal relationships and family life.
This handbook is a welcome addition to police literature, recommended for those seriously considering a police career, students enrolled in police foundations studies and those entering or undergoing academy training. It will also be a useful primer for officers already in their first year in service, police training officers, first line supervisors and managers of training academies.
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Visit http://www.youinblue.net for more information.
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