Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

In "The Danger Imperative," Michael Sierra-Arévalo embarks on a profound exploration of the American policing system, dissecting its intricate relationship with violence and the consequential impact on society. The book is not just a mere academic treatise but a compelling narrative that delves deep into the soul of policing.

Sierra-Arévalo's work is grounded in extensive research, including over 100 interviews and 1,000 hours of patrol observation across three police departments. This immersive approach provides a panoramic view of the police culture that is often shrouded in mystery and controversy.

The author challenges the reader to confront the stark reality that policing is inherently violent and that this violence is disproportionately meted out, with stark racial disparities that persist despite decades of reform efforts. Sierra-Arévalo argues that the preoccupation with officer safety and survival, reinforced through training, departmental routines, and powerful symbols, inadvertently perpetuates a culture where violence becomes the logical response to perceived threats.

What is particularly striking about "The Danger Imperative" is its ability to articulate the nuances of police culture without resorting to the simplistic dichotomy of heroes versus villains. Instead, it presents a nuanced picture of how systemic structures and cultural norms can lead to outcomes that are at odds with the ideals of public safety and justice.

Sierra-Arévalo's prose is both beautiful and rigorous, making the book accessible to a wide audience. His analysis is clear-eyed and devoid of sensationalism, offering a sobering yet necessary perspective on the complexities of modern policing.

"The Danger Imperative" is a trailblazing account that should be essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the dynamics of police violence and its broader implications for society. It is a book that does not just inform but also challenges us to rethink our perceptions and expectations of law enforcement.

In conclusion, Michael Sierra-Arévalo's "The Danger Imperative" is a masterful contribution to the discourse on policing. It is a book that is as enlightening as it is unsettling, urging us to confront uncomfortable truths and sparking a conversation that is crucial for the evolution of policing practices.

✨ Review ✨ The Danger Imperative: Violence, Death, and the Soul of Policing by Michael Sierra-Arévalo

In this book, Michael Sierra-Arévalo explores how a culture of violence lies at the core of policing in the U.S. where the policing institution has insisted police use of violence is a necessary tool to ensure officers are able to return home safely each day. Through his ethnographic research in three police departments located in different regions, he argues that this idea of the "danger imperative," doing what it takes to survive despite the feeling of a constantly looming threat, stretches throughout the entire policing system.

Each of his four chapters delves deeply into places where this emphasis on survival and the constantly looming threat of violence are reinforced among officers -- training at the police academy, commemorative artifacts in police stations and surrounding officers, the day-to-day operations of the police force (daily meetings, hot sheets, etc.), and in the minds and actions of police officers (deciding where to park, practicing scenarios where violence may occur, "tactical color-blindness," etc.). He argues this idea of a looming threat isn't just "downloaded" into recruits' brains during training, but is continually reinforced and reified throughout day-to-day work in the force throughout an officer's lifetime.

Each of these chapters breaks down the many places where this threat of violence is communicated and reinforced -- for example, in the chapter on the police academy, he considers the breakdown to topics recruits are trained in, the types of training materials used, videos displayed, training exercises in different styles of combat and weapons, etc. He uses these examples to show how this mindset is constructed among new officers.

Key to understanding his points in this book is acknowledging that officers do face more physical threats than the average occupation, but that the constant looming threat of violence is often exaggerated or hyped up to keep officers on the alert. The number of police killed or injured on duty due to violence is much lower than is portrayed through media depictions of a "war on police." Because this alertness can trigger unnecessarily violent reactions, Sierra-Arévalo asks us to consider at what cost this constant alertness may bring to bystanders or victims of police brutality.

I appreciated that without diminishing the agency and accountability of individual officers, this book provides us with a way to understand racially-charged brutality as a product of a larger system that balances day-to-day police work in terms of violent threats and survival. Instead of calling out individuals as bad actors, he asks us to consider the system that produces and reinforces these ways of thinking and acting.

I really appreciated he used an easy-to-understand organization and lots of examples to illustrate his argument, and I think because of these choices, the book will be really accessible to general readers. I found there to be a bit of repetition in the argument, and wanted to push a bit further in exploring the implications of the danger imperative throughout the book and possible solutions. On the flip side, saving this "pushing further" to the end of the book felt like it made the book feel written from a more neutral POV. Finally, I appreciate that he included reflection on his methods, positionality, etc. at the end of the book.

Genre: sociology
Pub Date: Feb 13, 2024

Read this if you're interested in:
⭕️ police brutality
⭕️ police-community relations
⭕️ systemic issues in policing

Thanks to Coriolis for the gifted advanced copy of this book!

We currently live in a world that has made reading this book difficult. In the beginning of the book, I felt a bit angered and frustrated that this would be pro and leaning towards one way. It took a while to realize this is a pretty non biased and third party POV on the world of policing in the United States. Our world is tumultuous and changing, as has the thought process of those originally meant to protect are the ones now feeling the need to protect themselves against the people. At the end, the author speaks about the future and one is only hopeful for positive change for all.

I would recommend this to those looking for insight of those working in the police force and how they may adapt to the world around them.

Thank you NetGalley for this read.