"Breaking Rank" by Norm Stamper

Published by Nation Books, New York, 2005

ISBN 1-56025-693-1

Norm Stamper joined the San Diego Police Department as a patrolman (PC) in 1966 and rose to Deputy Chief of Police. Then in 1993 he was selected as Chief of Police in Seattle. He resigned from this post in 2000, shortly after his city suffered violent rioting during the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference (MC 3).

Stamper was notable as a progressive, some would say "politically correct" police chief who had little respect for traditional cop culture, hence the title "Breaking Rank". Sometimes this makes him appear inconsistent, even hypocritical, as when he himself marched in a Gay Pride parade (to demonstrate that the Police respected the gay community) whilst refusing permission to some of his subordinates to wear uniform in a "March for Jesus" (separation of church and state!).

Stamper came from a white, working class family and at the time he joined had the conventional prejudices of his peers - suspicion mixed with fear towards blacks, contempt for homosexuals and a tolerant attitude towards excessive violence and wrongful arrest for those who deserved it, e.g. "pukes and assholes." However, whilst many of his colleagues retained these views throughout their careers, his own experiences led him to question and eventually change his attitude.

On page one of the book he quotes Einstein's definition of insanity as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Stamper considers some of the main problems in contemporary American policing (racism, domestic violence, drug abuse), and proposes a new approach. Whether or not you agree with him, he certainly writes with imagination, courage and humour.

Some of the contents are more relevant to Hong Kong than others but the overall impression is that police officers (and their supervisors) have much the same problems and experiences the world over, e.g. how to get police officers to treat members of the public with respect and dignity, how to handle complaints in a way that is fair to both sides and how to involve the community. A few of the chapter headings, such as "Sexual Predators in Uniform", "The Blue Wall of Silence", "Doughnuts, Tacos and Fat cops", "Demilitarizing the Police", "Treating Cops Like Kids - Police Discipline", and "Cultivating Fearless Leadership", can serve as an indication of the contents of the book.

The chapter dealing with MC 3 ("Snookered in Seattle") has a particular interest for us as MC 6 approaches. Just as the operation was about to kick-off, one of his colleagues remarked: "If things turn to sh** it won't be for lack of planning."

NTK DVC Chris Bilham

• English version only