The best sociology has real, if modest, scientific virtues and should be credited accordingly. Sociologists are prone to read more into their data than the facts warrant, to look for conspiracies, and to be excessively interested in exposing perceived deceptions and injustices. Despite these limitations, sociologists have a potentially useful contribution to make to the development of a more rounded view of human life. Police generally view sociological accounts of their work as ill-informed in detail and false in perspective, while sociologists view police perspectives as unscientific and defensive. Deeply committed participant observation maximizes the researcher's opportunity to achieve insight into the subject but may result in over-identification and loss of objectivity. On the other hand, concern for the principles of scientific method may result in failure to appreciate the significance of what is observed. The bulk of sociological research appears to err in the latter direction. There is much more truth in police accounts of their work than most sociologists have acknowledged. Sociologists who hope to maintain effective access to an autonomous organization such as the police must demonstrate the potential improvements to be obtained by the organization through the increased information to be acquired as well as the benefits to individual officers. For example, sociological inquiry might lead to improved public understanding of and confidence in the police based upon independent study. The police themselves can learn about alternative ideas and techniques from comparative research. Researchers can bring a greater precision to the measurement of factors which bear upon police work. The most effective research will be a cooperative venture between the police and sociologists, with each providing input of value to the other. Forty-two notes are listed.