In all English-speaking countries, working-class people express hostility toward the police and their families. This hostility, together with reserve toward police families in social situations, and police officers' differentiated status contribute to isolation of the officers and their families. Structures associated with the work setting; e.g., the need to work weekends, changing shifts, unpredictable recreation leave, postings, and long hours, disrupt their family routines and inhibit formation of nonpolice friendships. To a great degree, police officers' work habits (e.g., suspicion toward others) affect their personalities. While relatively few officers and families suffer mental or physical illness as a result of social isolation, the life satisfaction of many is reduced, and police performance, retention, and recruitment are affected. Remedies for reduction of isolation depend on adequate knowledge of the phenomenon. For that reason, research projects must explore such matters as the extent to which job satisfaction offsets consequences of isolation, identification of favorable and unfavorable elements of social bonds, the mechanics of social rejection, and the police methods least likely to encounter public resistance. Actions to remedy isolation include selection of officers, officer training in harmonious interaction with the public, creation of realistic career expectations, improved work scheduling and posting practices, and sensitivity of police administrators to the feelings of their subordinates. All large departments should have a standing health or coordinating committee to review policy initiatives, and the needs of officers and their families should be high priority in personnel branches. References (28 items) are supplied.