Preface
This reference book represents the culmination of centuries of events that have
occurred in early Amer­ i ­ ca from the 17th ­ century to the pres­ent. Since then, many
critical incidents have occurred, leading to the need to address the police and the
community. This encyclopedia was prepared to provide readers with an easy-­to-­
use, accurate, up-­to-­date guide to the controversial past and current controversies
facing our society in regard to relationships between the police and the public. It is
presented as a quick reference to the chain of events, technological advances, changes
in the law, and precedent-­setting cases, confrontations, mandates, and debates that
have affected perceptions of the police ­today.
The encyclopedia provides a unique approach to presenting the historical mile-
stones that have affected police-­community relationships. It allows the reader to
develop a sense of the “climate” over time, in a clear, concise, and neutral manner—­
allowing them to increase their knowledge of previous and current events that
have affected the way law enforcement carries out its public safety mandates. In
addition, the focus on impor­tant and newsworthy situations allows undergradu-
ates, gradu­ate students, educators, and laypersons to better grasp the effects ­ these
incidents have had on the United States. By focusing on Blacks in conflict with the
police, readers are able to evaluate the interactions between the police and the pub-
lic, and the resulting influences that court cases, laws, encounters (often recorded),
and the media have had on ­those perceptions. They are also able to more clearly
identify why certain members of a community might have expectations that encoun-
ters with the police are ­going to end negatively. ­Those expectations might also
affect their attitudes and reactions.
Each entry highlights the effects of historical events and social ­factors, as well
as the influence of the media, in swaying public opinion and law-­enforcement
response. The value of the encyclopedia as a reference tool lies in the short essays
that form the basis of more intensive investigations—­ a starting point for further
research. The se­lection of topics was based on the most impor­tant and pressing
issues that faced society in the past and that have ­ shaped our views ­ today. The ­
people, cases, incidents, and events included in the encyclopedia are only a part of
the many impor­tant ­ factors that are worth examining in an effort to truly under-
stand police-­citizen relationships. The topics chosen for inclusion represent a
diverse set of perspectives that affect the sentiment of minorities and non-­
minorities, law enforcement and citizens, as well as liberals and conservatives.
The task of researching ­ these historical milestones is complicated by the con-
flicting opinions of members of law enforcement in comparison to the opinions of
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