THE FOCUS OF THIS TEXT IS ON IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE POLICE, WHO ARE DEPICTED AS STANDING AT THE VORTEX OF CONFLICTING DEMANDS WITHIN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATION. BECAUSE THE POLICE HAVE SUCH A VISIBLE IMAGE AND, THUS, A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE REDUCTION OF CRIME; IT IS IMPORTANT THAT IMPROVEMENT IN DAY-TO-DAY POLICE WORK BE GIVEN SOME ATTENTION. INCLUDED IN THESE WRITINGS ARE DISCUSSIONS OF TOPICS RANGING FROM THE HISTORY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES TO NEW ALTERNATIVES AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY IN THE FIELD. CONTEMPORARY PROBLEMS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT SUCH AS ORGANIZED CRIME, POLICE SURVEILLANCE, AND POLICE CORRUPTION ARE TREATED. THE POLICEMAN'S LIFE IS DESCRIBED, VIEWING HIS OWN PERCEPTIONS AND AIRING HIS COMPLANTS. THE CONCLUDING SECTION COVERS THE MANAGEMENT OF CRIME AND OFFERS SUGGESTIONS FOR RESOLVING CRIME PROBLEMS FROM POLICE TRAINING TO TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.