Read what others have said about this book: http://www.abuseofpower.info/Article_CrossingReview.htm (Publisher's site) Chapter Overviews Introduction: It is always a volatile situation when a police officer is the perpetrator of domestic violence; it is an explosive situation when both the abuser and victim are officers. Fully comprehending the dynamics requires understanding how men have used the institution to preserve and protect male dominance both within policing and within society. Historical, Social and Cultural Context: The history of policing in any country reflects the social values of those in power. How do we resolve our ambivalence about acting as agents of social control over others, and enforcing the laws of the white male-dominated criminal justice system? The Police Culture: Though male and female recruits go through the same training and indoctrination into police culture, the effects and impact are quite different. Survival in the profession depends on an individual officer's ability to internalize occupational norms and values. Police Domestic Violence on the Radar: A female officer who lives with domestic violence fears people will question how she can protect others if she can't protect herself. She has to choose between jeopardizing her safety by reporting, or possibly violating department policy by remaining silent. He's the "Victim": An on-duty officer who perceives a threat doesn't wait until he is under attack to protect himself; an officer who batters doesn't wait until his victim reports him to take action. Network of Power: Making a complaint against a police officer is a dangerous act, especially when the complainant is herself an officer. Her abuser can call on his personal and professional network for support and defense against any allegations. Advocates in the Network: Cooperation between advocates and police can be beneficial to both parties and to many civilian victims, but it presents complex problems when the alleged perpetrator or victim is a police officer. Crossing the Threshold: Can police agencies or the public rely on an officer who batters to hold civilian batterers accountable or to protect victims of intimate partner violence? We should be paying attention to the way male police officers treat female officers both on the job and in their intimate relationships.

Chapter Overviews Introduction: It is always a volatile situation when a police officer is the perpetrator of domestic violence; it is an explosive situation when both the abuser and victim are officers. Fully comprehending the dynamics requires understa

Crossing the threshold focuses on female police officers in the USA and their experiences of domestic violence perpetrated by male police officers. Wetendorf tells their stories within an understanding of violence against women as a strategy used by some men to maintain power and control within their personal relationships and, by extension, within society. The book examines how male police officers' institutional power within society and within police ranks filters down into intimate relationships of police officers, and why the institution has historically ignored or denied police-perpetrated violence against women. It highlights the insular nature of the police culture, its masculine-identified values and the power that the institution wields. These factors result in victims who have little or no protection from their abusers. The book explains there remains a powerful taboo against victims sharing their stories and few, if any, can safely speak the truth of their lives publicly for fear of potential consequences. The book looks at three main areas: 1) The history of policing and the treatment of black and female officers; 2) The institution of policing and its culture; and 3) Domestic Violence in the ranks, exploring how players in the criminal justice system not only ignore domestic violence, but collude with those who perpetrate it.

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