Signal Zero

In my 20-years as a law enforcement officer, and 18 years of (simultaneous) college studies, I found Dr. George L. Kirkham's story to be one of the most intriguing, interesting, and accurate police stories. It is now a classic in police and criminal justice literature. This is a true story in which Dr. Kirkham, a college professor, becomes a street cop in a tough South Florida city (on a sabbatical from teaching). The reader will learn firsthand the changes - the metamorphosis - that Dr. Kirkham goes through. Would this happen to most any person who becomes a police officer? He describes a tough job, that sees American society often at it's worst. Kirkham learns that police theory and actual police practices are often far apart. (A short vignette of the story appeared as an article entitled "Street Lessons" by George L. Kirkham PhD, in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, March 1974, pp. 14-22). This story is required reading in all my Introduction to Criminal Justice classes.Professor John Hill - Criminal Justice (retired street cop)

I am a Police Officer from the same department that the author worked for. Though this book was written some time ago, it still holds true today. If you ever wonder why police officers are how they are, read this book.

I read this book in 1977 and have never forgotten how I could not put it down. It is a look at police work from both sides of the table. It makes you think and re-think your ideas about police officers. My question when I finished reading this work was ... Do people develop a certain mind set and personality because of the occupation or are they drawn into this job because they are of that mind set and personality. This book provokes much thought.

Signal Zero contains a rare look into the mind of an academic, the author, who had spent his life studying the police profession from the outside. As with most academics, he thought the profession was made up of semi-literate individuals who became police officers to violate the cvil rights of others. The author then received a challenge from a student who was a police officer in one of his classes. Following this the author joined a police department through a police reserve program. Within a short time the author never looked at police work the same again. This book is a must read for anyone in the police profession, anyone thinking about becoming a police officer, or anyone interested in the men and women who serve as police officers. It is a shame this book is no longer in print. I hope the positive comments on this site make the book easier to obtain in the future. Good luck finding a copy!!!

A great story of how a Berkeley Criminology professor gets his come-uppance when he agrees to walk a mile in the shoes of the police officers he so unflatteringly portrays in his lectures. A poignant indictment of liberal academia. Still applicable as we enter the 21st century.