Police/Community Relations

Police/Community Relations Review

Police/Community Relationsis a "Think Peace" Piece that combines a unique perspective on the history of police/community relations in the United States, the author's personal experiences that balance a deeply spiritual upbringing with the realities of the "street" and the halls of power, and lessons learned from his 25 years as a Community Relations Officer at the U.S. Department of Justice's Community Relations Service (CRS). The book represents Mr. McClure's thinking and work as a cultural analyst, negotiator and bridge builder. It can stimulate thinking and discussion in a variety of settings, including educational and training programs for law enforcement, municipal officials, lawyers; university classes; community forums; book clubs; and amongst families and neighbors or anyone interested in talking openly and honestly about race and civil rights in the U.S. and abroad.

Mr. McClure's nature-centric philosophy that "diversity is normal"- i.e. the rainbow of humanity, people of all colors, is inherent in Nature's design - undergirds his commitment to equal protection under the law, as guaranteed and legitimized by the 14th Amendment and subsequent civil rights laws. Police/Community Relationsis also contains an Appendix with examples of municipal and law enforcement policies and supporting documentation.

Coining the phrase "University of the Streets and Academia" (U-S-A) during his years with CRS, he consistently brought the "streets" and the "halls of power" together to address police/community relations conflict as well as issues arising from court-ordered school desegregation, Indian land claims, Ku Klux Klan rallies and immigration - all in order to avoid premature law enforcement solutions.