Police Psychology Book Review:  Rose, Gary. (2013) Towards the integration of police psychology techniques to combat juvenile delinquency in K-12 classrooms

by Paul Cech

Gary Rose revised his doctoral dissertation to create a book that will be of special interest to readers who are peace officers; teachers; police, school, and community psychologists, criminologists, school counselors, and many others.

The author begins with a brief reference to Newtown, Connecticut–December 12, 2012. He does so not to focus on school shootings, but to bring attention to a role of police officers could fulfill in schools. Instead of pushing for an armory in every school, Rose flips the idea around, he “…creates a framework for envisioning how trained police might best work hand in hand with teachers to forge better and more cohesive classroom management practice, and in so doing forge new community linkages, stronger schools and ultimately even more effective police forces (p.17).”

As a public school teacher who spent most of his live observing and studying and studying human behavior and mental processes; and, as an independent scholar and researcher who views law enforcement officials as peace officers rather than warriors, Rose’s perspective offers a calm voice of reason amid the blind, untested clamor for arming teachers, turning schools into citadels, and pushing for defensive programs that have children collecting canned goods, not to feed the hungry, but to use as projectiles to defend against armed attackers. Rose’s approach is not a gut reaction. He lays out his ideas in an easy to understand manner.

Some key points are:

1. Rose compares and contrasts preservice training for law enforcement officers with the preservice training of teachers (Ch. 4).
2. He provides a brief overview of police psychology (Ch. 5).
3. He defines juvenile delinquency and emotional/behavioral disorders (Ch. 6).
4. He highlights the Socio-Ecological Psychology model and describes it usefulness in
5. dealing with juvenile delinquency (Ch. 7).

This 166-page book (eight chapters and references) is an easy and pleasant read. Rose offers an insightful alternative to much of what one hears today about schools, law enforcement, and violence. The book highlights the idea that police officers are guardians rather than warriors, and that a police officer’s training and experience can offer a positive approach to defusing and reducing violence in schools.

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