By Police1 Staff
Whether you’re seeking inspiration, looking to sharpen your leadership skills or aiming to expand your tactical expertise, reading is a powerful tool for professional growth in law enforcement.
We’ve gathered book recommendations from law enforcement leaders and Police1 contributors, along with excerpts from must-read titles for officers, aspiring officers and law enforcement leaders. These selections cover leadership, personal development and even children’s books to inspire the next generation of officers.
Pick up one of these highly-rated reads as a gift for an officer in your life, and let these titles motivate you to learn, grow and lead in the ever-evolving world of policing.
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Top book picks from law enforcement leaders
A leader who is open to ideas from peers and subordinates will always be a more effective leader than the person who believes they already know enough and can make decisions on their own
These selections offer unique perspectives that make them valuable for police officers and engaging for anyone interested in law enforcement
Our picks for public safety readers for inspiration, health, healing, leadership and escape
Dive into these captivating stories and real-life experiences shared by law enforcement officers
Dive into a curated collection of must-read public safety books, from thrilling accounts and leadership lessons from the front lines, to read-aloud children’s favorites
Host Jim Dudley and Police1 columnist Chris Littrell share some recommendations
Childrens books about the roles and responsibilities of police officers can be invaluable tools to help kiddos develop an understanding of the importance of policing
Law Enforcement Book Excerpts
Join a veteran police officer, who not only shares his own stories but weaves in the captivating stories of his father, a former K9 handler
Author and police veteran David Berez shares resiliency techniques officers can use to raise their baseline of mental and emotional strength
Read about retired Deputy Sheriff Teresa Fitzgerald’s successful transition from law enforcement to the private sector, as told by author and police veteran Colin Whittington
Former head of the FBI’s active shooter program, Katherine Schweit, shares an insider look at how to prevent shootings and the role threat assessment teams play
Written for officers at all levels, this book discusses proper note-taking at the scene of a crime, different elements of police reports and compliance writing
Neuroscience research can help guide police training for better decision-making and performance under life-threatening stress
Access practical, no-frills advice about what to do to counter the day-to-day challenges and outright calamities that make up the first-line law enforcement leader’s work life
How to be successful from your first day at the police academy through graduation day
The most relevant and important human factors that every investigator, administrator and trainer should understand when conducting use-of-force investigations and reviews
Fighting back against poor police leadership
In this excerpt from “Leading the Small Police Department,” author Chief Gerald Garner breaks down how to battle the enemies of good communication
A journal for police leaders providing daily advice, tips and space for personal leadership reflections
Shop the police book recommendations
Police leadership/career development picks:
- Rising Through The Ranks: Leadership Tools and Techniques for Law Enforcement
- Leadership and Training for the Fight: Using Special Operations Principles to Succeed in Law Enforcement, Business, and War
- Leadership in Law Enforcement: 10 Key Traits and What Law Enforcement Agencies Can Do To Develop These in Future Leaders
- Leading Cops in Turbulent Times: The Practical Roadmap to Highly-Effective Police Leadership
- Police Leadership & Supervision
- The Art Of Strategic Communication: A Police Chief’s Guide To Mastering Soundbites, Storytelling, And Community Engagement
- Police Leadership Redefined - The EQ Advantage: Transforming Law Enforcement with Emotional Intelligence
- Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value
- Leadership Is an Art
- The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn’t
- The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You
- Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t
- The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy)
- Emotional Intelligence 2.0
- The Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership
Police memoirs and autobiographies:
- Armed and Dangerous: Memoirs of a Chicago Policewoman
- In My DNA: My Career Investigating Your Worst Nightmares
- Passing the Badge: Stories from Law Enforcement
- Behind the Badge: A Policeman’s Legacy
- A Life on the Line: My Unexpected Career with the Canada Border Services Agency
- Unwavering Honor
- Selfless Service
- A Darker Shade of Blue: A Police Officer’s Memoir
- The Job: True Tales from the Life of a New York City Cop
- Good Cop, Bad Daughter: Memoirs of an Unlikely Police Officer
- The Blue Journey: Memoirs of a Cop’s Cop
- A Police Chief’s Journey: Diaries of an Extraordinary Career and Stories from Virginia’s Small Towns
- 406: OFFICER NEEDS ASSISTANCE - Memoirs of a San Francisco Police Officer
- Ram One: True Crime Stories of Working Undercover and Breaking Down Doors on the SWAT Team
- Badge on Campus: The Memoir of a School Resource Officer
Children’s books:
- Police Officers on Patrol
- Richard Scarry’s A Day at the Police Station
- My Dream: I Want to Be A Police Officer
- I Want to Be a Police Officer (I Can Read Level 1)
- On Patrol with Police Car - Touch and Feel Board Book
- K9 Mattis on the Job: A Day in the Life of a Police Dog
- Officer Buckle & Gloria
- We Met a Police Officer Today
- My Mommy is a Police Officer
- Police in Our School: An Introduction to School Resource Officers and What They Do
- Here Come the Helpers
- My Daddy is a Police Officer
- The Police 123’s
- Police Officers (In My Neighborhood)
- A Hero Lives in My Family: A Story for Kids of First Responders
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From hostage situations to mass casualty events, each book presents an opportunity to learn, question and grow
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Police1 is using generative AI to create some content that is edited and fact-checked by our editors.