Feel free to steal this idea:
For centuries, the Netherlands has tried to “normalize” their society. While it may have worked in the past, today “normalization” is killing Amsterdam. What makes Amsterdam great and unique, is that it isn’t a “normal” city.
In Holland, they have a different idea of democracy. The mayor of Amsterdam isn’t even an elected position. He’s appointed. Imagine if George Bush appointed the mayor of New York City.
This conversation starts a few posts down. Here’s the latest:
I have read excerpts from your “book” and frankly sir, “YOU HAVE NOT PAID ENOUGH DUES TO BE CONVERSANT IN POLICE WORK”. I think that your PHD impresses only you. It certainly does not impress me. As a Sgt, I had College grads working for me ( I am not one myself) and had to correct their misspelled, mispunctuated, sloppy, reports. It was laughable. One such ” Grad” lost a $100 bet to me because he was so convinced that construction ‘Site’ was spelled “sight”.
You sound like the usual liberal Academia, which has been the problem, not the solution to the type of recruits the Dept is getting.
I do not know which years you were on the dept, but I started in 62′ when there were no walkie talkies, mace, issued handcuffs, and you had to WALK an arrestee blocks to get to a call box. Not to mention 60 year old .38 cal revolvers with ammo that you could actually see the bullet fly when you fired them.
P.S. I worked in the Eastern District for 4 years as a Sgt and it was a busy district, but not the combat zone you describe. Of course I had Officers working for me that were tough, street smart cops who did not have to resort to sociology to get the job done.
Before one “talks the talk”, they should have “walked the walk”
I don’t think you should be expecting “Pulitzer” to be calling soon.
[name removed] Sgt ( ret) BCPD..
My response:
Sgt [******],
First of all, I appreciate you writing me with the dignity of a full name and an email. I will talk to any man, man-to-man. I respect that.But again, you seem to be reading too much into me without knowing me.
I never say police should be college grads (which seems to be your sore point). Just please don’t hold it against me for having a PhD. It doesn’t make me a worse person. Really. And it does allow me to get a great job teaching in college.
My book stands on my analysis and description of policing, not my degree.
You were real po-lice. Actually, if anything, my point is that we need more police like you. Police should be able to police like you did: no radio, no mace, and walking prisoners back to the District. I’m not making fun of you. I’m totally serious. You knew how to make a good arrest and walk that prisoner back without getting your ass kicked. It’s not [that you] coddled bad guys. I’m sure you didn’t. But you were able to gain the respect of people you policed because you knew who the bad guys were. That’s what policing is all about. That’s what may be lacking today. That’s my point! But of course you don’t know my point. You just think I’m a prick with a college degree. If you still think that after reading my book, that’s your business.
You might actually find that we have a lot in common. I don’t know what else to say. If you don’t read my book, I have nothing else to say. I don’t want to waste my time writing what is in my book. I mean, I’ve already written it. That’s my book.
I’m politically liberal and I’m sure you’re politically conservative. But we’re probably less far off in our beliefs than you want to think.
One other question. I’m not telling, I’m asking… but I don’t think the E.D. wasa combat zone when you were patrolling it. Probably because you were doing a good job. I think the worst years were in the late 1980s and late 1990s.
Yours,
Professor Peter Moskos
Dept. of Law and Police Science
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
899 10th Ave, Room 422
New York, NY 10019
www.copinthehood.com
A good man I know only from the comments section of blogs (I really need to get a life… but I likewriting about this things), send me this link. He’s right, I don’t like Tasers.
He notes: “Firstly, we don’t call it non-lethal but less lethal. Second, the cops asked him to stop and he had bouncer help too.”
I agree. This man should not be dead. He should be in handcuffs. And I could have done it myself.
A friend and former student of mine (and mid-to-high-ranking officer in the NYPD) wrote me this:
I picked up your book at Barnes and Noble on W. 18th Street last Wednesday. Congratulations! Just started reading and it is enjoyable already. You’re the best author I know (and only author I know, we cops are not known to hang in literary circles).
I know you put a lot of hard work and sacrifice into this book. Thanks again for being my professor (Received MA degree in Feb.), friend and now distinguished author. Wish you continued success.Talk to you soon,
[signed]
Here’s one of the least intimidating police stations you may ever see. In Osdorp, Amsterdam.
In Amsterdam, it can take a somewhat trained eye to even know you’re in the “bad” part of town.
First, there’s the immigrant issue. Actually the issue is more with the children (the male children) of immigrants. Immigrants, and not just illegal immigrants, are considered a problem here and in most of Western Europe. Citizens of Moroccan decent take most of the blame here. Some–but not all–of it deserved.
Here, for instance, are three youths blocking the bike path. Just because they can. 
Dudes, you’re so cool. So tough. So I had to bike around them on the grass.
Then there’s this picture:
To an American, it probably looks innocuous. But to many Dutch people, this gives reason to not want to live in the neighborhood.
It’s not the blah architecture. Or the largely failed suburban vision in an urban area. It’s the satellite dishes. In Holland, many people consider satellite dishes a blight and a figurative “Broken Window.” They’re aimed at Turkish and Moroccan TV stations. It means the residents aren’t really “Dutch.” It means there are more mosques than churches. It means the crime rate is higher. It means there are troublesome Moroccan youths hanging out. At least that’s how it’s seen.
It should be noted that even in the “bad” part of town, there’s a pretty canal to stroll down.
(that’s my brother posing)
And more desirable middle-class–even upscale–housing being built across the street.
In the Netherlands, you can walk into any “coffee shop” and legally buy or smoke marijuana or hashish. It’s a sight so common, you barely notice it. So here, in a “bad” part of town, are the drug dealers. They don’t shoot each other. They pay taxes–albeit not on the sale, which is technically only “decriminalized,” but they do pay income taxes based on the sales. It’s hard to understand how people can think that regulated drug selling is worse than unregulated drug sellers. 
It’s my Spring Break and I’m in Amsterdam doing police research (and visiting friends).
Biking with my brother today, I passed this sign.
This is what you can do if you regulate drugs. This sign was put up because it’s an “area deserving special attention” (or something like that). In Amsterdam, this is considered a “bad” part of town. It’s not that bad. Compared to “bad” parts of town in America, it’s heaven.
And oh yeah, the fine is €50. That’s about $80, with the weak dollar.
Here’s another. Once again, I can’t take criticism too seriously from people who haven’t read my book. I haven’t yet heard anything bad from anybody who has actually read my book. But I’m sure that will come, too. In the meantime:
While I have not read your book, and don’t intend to I have a question for you. How do you become such an expert on Police work and functions. Keeping in mind that you had to work one full year on each shift in your vast 3 year tenure. You only had one years experience on 4X12 shift where most of the action occurs. Day shift is boring and 12X8 shift is usually quiet after 3 AM.
You sure crammed alot in that one year of 4X12 combat.
I spent 25 yrs plus on the BCPD and keep company with police who have experiences in the 30-35 year range, some of them command staff.
They as well as I, do not “consider” ourselves experts, just experienced.
Good luck with the “book” rookie. Keep telling those war stories, someone might buy that bull.
[*** *******] Sgt (ret) BCPD
My reply:
Sgt. [*******],
Why so bitter? Because I only worked 20 months? Or because I wrote a book? I make no apologies for either.
A lot of your questions are answered in the book (I worked midnights, by the way). You really shouldn’t be so critical of somebody for writing something you haven’t read. It’s not a long book.
I never called myself an expert. I don’t consider myself an expert in the sense that I know more than anybody else who’s worn the uniform. Given my 20-and-out (months, that is), I know less than any retired Baltimore City police officer. I have less experience that 80% of active police officers. I just call ’em like I see ’em.
People are and should be interested in policing. If more experienced police officers could and would write books about the job, there wouldn’t be a need for my book. Why don’t youwrite a book? Maybe then police officers would be treated with more respect. What are your ideas about how to improve policing? Now that you’re retired, what have you done to make policing better? I’ve spent the past 7 years writing and working toward this book. I hope my book will improve the working conditions for all police officers, but especially police in the Eastern District.
If you want to judge me, first read my book. Or talk to somebody who has. Or at least talk to somebody who worked with me. They’re not hard to track down. Get Cop in the Hoodfrom the library to save that gigantic $1.50 royalty from paying off my meager advance.
Yours,
Professor Peter Moskos
Dept. of Law and Police Science
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
899 10th Ave, Room 422
New York, NY 10019
www.copinthehood.com
I’m amazed that the mere thought of my book would get people so riled up that they would write me. It’s hard to take criticism of my book seriously from people who haven’t read my book. But here’s the first email:
Mr. Moskos, three years. Count them (3) years!! Wow! How in the world did you stand being on that job so long? It is very dangerous. Have you ever gone to court, or shot at, or been shot at by anyone? Have you ever walked in a neighborhood without a walkie talkie, or handcuffs? Have you ever walked at all? It must have been really hard on you trying to study to get a degree and working all those nasty shifts that police officers work, and be very busy answering calls and writing tickets, and all the other stuff cops do. Did you ever get beat up, or get into a fight with anyone? Did you drop your study material during a fight? I’ll bet your side partners really miss you, since you were there for so long. I’ll bet you were a police “agent” that everybody thinks so highly of? Have you ever met Joseph Wambaugh? He wrote a book also. You should read it. Maybe you could put some of his thoughts into your own words.
My reply:
Dear ******,
Actually, it was less than two years.
But in answer to your questions:
Yes, I’ve been to court.
Yes, I’ve been shot at.
Yes, I’ve walked in many neighborhoods without handcuffs or radio. But no, I would never walk the Eastern Distict where I policed without the tool of my trade.
I wasn’t studying when I was a cop. I just took notes when I got home.
I never got beat up.
I was in fights.
My partners say they do miss me, at least many of them do.
I wasn’t an “agent.” I was a police officer. But yes, I had the academic degree needed to be an agent.
I haven’t met Joseph Wambaugh, but I do like his books.
I hope you read my book before passing more judgements.Yours,
Professor Peter Moskos
Dept. of Law and Police Science
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
899 10th Ave, Room 422
New York, NY 10019
www.copinthehood.com