The text emphasizes what police responsibilities are, constitutional and statutory restraints under which police officers function, and how police tasks can be performed responsibly and humanely within these constraints. Relevant U.S. Supreme Court cases affecting police operations are cited throughout the text, giving students an understanding of case law and police procedures under varied circumstances. Students are challenged to apply the information contained in each chapter to application exercises, critical thinking problems, and discussion questions. Chapters of the text focus on police operations and structure, police communications, interview and interrogation, police reports and records, police ethics, physical and mental fitness and police officer safety, police patrols, traffic law enforcement, emergency situations, crime and violence prevention, domestic violence, and specialized police operations (criminal investigations, juveniles, gangs, and drugs). The final part of the text examines police-community relations and partnerships with other agencies and groups. Appendixes contain sample police forms and present information on how to handle a dead body law and on model State drug laws. References, tables, figures, and photographs