Book Review: Common Sense Police Supervision: Practical Tips for the First-Line Leader, 7th Edition
Common Sense Police Supervision: Practical Tips for the First-Line Leader, 7th Edition. By Gerald W. Garner. Charles C. Thomas Publisher, LTD; 374 pages; $54.95.
Gerald Garner’s book, Common Sense Police Supervision: Practical Tips for the First-Line Leader, 7th Edition, is a well-written and well-organized book that emphasizes the importance of common sense and leadership qualities within any law enforcement agency. Garner has updated and expanded this book by incorporating specific common-sense criteria and guidelines for police supervisors to follow in various situations.
Garner does an excellent job of focusing specifically on police supervision in a multifaceted society, which is much different than corporate America. Garner writes, “This edition will not enable the reader to speak glibly in the latest, pop management catchphrases and buzzwords. What this edition does offer is solid, practical leadership advice developed from the experiences and observations of real police supervisors.”
This 374-page edition contains a preface, introduction, 20 chapters, and an index. Each chapter incorporates ideas and strategies for the reader to follow and expertly interlaces the previous chapter into the next chapter. Chapters then conclude with a summary and points to remember.
Garner presents his ideas and strategies effectively throughout the book. For example, in Chapter 2, readers will appreciate his concepts around psychological preparation and test-taking skills. He discusses current case law, supervisory principles and boards, and assessment centers, which are important for promotion and advancement.
Chapter 14, “The Police Leader’s Role in Community Policing,” can apply to police officers and supervisors. The chapter deals with the importance of diversity and law enforcement in the community.
This is an excellent book that law enforcement, police science, and criminal justice students would benefit from.
Reviewer: Kevin Cassidy lectures at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City and at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania. He is also a member of ASIS International.
