The beginning of American police labor militancy can be traced to the 1966 New York City referendum on civilian review. The Boston Police Patrolmens' Association (BPPA) provides an example of the birth and growth of a police labor union and the rise of Richard MacEachern, a local police labor leader who later achieved national prominence. The misdirected and unsuccessful efforts of the Boston police administrators to suppress the union and its leader is presented. 'Administration by arbitration' is recounted in the case of an arbitration award on behalf of a transferred West Palm Beach, Fla., police sergeant, which severely restricted the department's ability to assign its own officers. Between 1966 and 1978 the attitudes of politicians and the public toward police strikes have evolved from initial tolerance to resentment and, eventually, to hostility and resistance. The 1966 Detroit police strike emboldened officers in other police departments to try extralegal job actions. The 1975 San Francisco police strike illustrates, especially in its aftermath, the growing public impatience with police strikes. The 1978 New Orleans police strike, which was smashed along with the union, and the 40-year rivalry between J. Edgar Hoover and O.W. Wilson are also analyzed. The Atlanta police scandal over the Public Safety Commissioner circulating copies of promotional examinations to selected black officers is also discussed. Finally, two articles on police behavior as it relates to the quantity and quality of arrests and on the problem of fatal police shootings are included. A table of contents is provided.