Moskos, a harvard trained sociologist describes what is was like to work as a police officer in Baltimore’s Eastern district. As a young new police officer, Moskos was placed in the Eastern district, which is a very high crime area, one of the most dangerous areas in the United States. Moskos contends that when officers are fresh out of the academy, they are usually placed in high crime districts. Since these areas are considered to be the least desired to work. So in a sense the ghetto becomes a real life training area.
As an ivy league graduate student, Moskos decided to embark on an in-depth participant-observation project. As luck would have it, a new police commissioner within the Baltimore’s department permitted Moskos to become a fully paid police officer. The commissioner was aware of Mosko’s status as a researcher nevertheless Moskos was put through an expedited background check where he would later be sent to the academy, and ultimately become a police officer.
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He reflects upon his experiences in the police academy. He contends that the academy environment is less a learning process and more of a ritualizing hazing environment. He also argues that the primary purpose of the academy was to protect the department from the legal liability that could result from negligent training claims. In order to meet the 502 Maryland mandated training objectives, classes were taught to the tests. Moskos writes that neither he nor his colleagues were challenged by any of the class material, with perhaps the exception of a few legal classes. Also been taught the basics of report writing, even without resorting to perjury, officers have tremendous leeway and discretion in their