Policing Ferguson, Policing America

Following the fatal shooting in broad daylight of unarmed African American Michael Brown by a white cop in August 2014, Ferguson, Missouri became the scene of protests that pitted law enforcement against locals and Black Lives matter activists. The media firestorm has not waned, and, in fact, has grown stronger in light of all the recent violence by and against police officers nationwide. According to Ferguson’s former police chief Tom Jackson, the uninformed media actually fans the flames of unrest and exploits the situation: infotainment optics have become more important than truth, while social media spreads the news without providing context. Policing Ferguson, Policing America is the book that finally tells the inside story of what happened in Ferguson, and how good guys became the bad guys through media and political distortion.

Pressure is at a boiling point. In 2016, America has been rocked by heart-wrenching fatal shootings of African Americans by police officers in Louisiana and in Minnesota, and by the shootings of police offers in Dallas, Baton Rouge, and Kansas City that left eleven officers dead and a dozen more wounded. To many Americans, the central theme of this continuing bloody story is one of racial injustice and out-of-control policing. Policing Ferguson, Policing America brings common sense and a keen insider's understanding to a complex story.

Black Lives Matter, and so do the lives of cops. Citizens and law-enforcement professionals alike feel the urgent need for our systems and procedures to change for the better. Few people are in a better position to explore the issues than Chief Jackson. In Policing Ferguson, Policing America, Jackson tells for the first time the real Ferguson story while sharing his thoughts about the steps we can take together to improve all Americans' lives, and restore the vital trust between the police and the communities they serve. His well-informed recommendations just may improve this dire situation.

Thomas Jackson is the former Police Chief of Ferguson, Missouri, who oversaw many years of progress in his community until Michael Brown's tragic shooting death. He stepped down in March 2015 but continues to be sought by the media to discuss not only Ferguson, but also officers' and victims' rights, police procedures, and the rash of violence by and against police. Jackson lives in Ferguson, MO.

“What amazing insight Policing Ferguson, Policing America brings to a situation that escalated out of control. Tom Jackson provides an inside glimpse to the real story of Ferguson, so the reader gets a better understanding of how situations can spin out of control, when politicians get involved. Policing Ferguson showcases how an incident that likely wouldn't have made it past local news, suddenly becomes a political inferno. To understand what happened in Ferguson for real, Policing Ferguson is a must read!”
—Kevin Jackson, bestselling author, FOX News contributor

“Make this the next book you read. Chief Jackson's insight and brutal honesty are a refreshing change from the disgraceful fiction manufactured by reporters, politicians, and protesters in the wake of the Ferguson riots. If you seek the truth, you'll find it in these pages.”
—Jeff Roorda, former Missouri state representative, retired police officer, and author of The War on Police

“Policing Ferguson, Policing America will, and should, become a primary source of information for anyone wanting to learn what really happened in Ferguson. Chief Jackson’s thoughtfully contrasts what he knew from the inside with the uncontrolled vitriol directed at him and other Ferguson leaders. His candor is remarkable, showing a sensitive understanding of increasingly complicated race relations in his home community and in the nation.”
—Ed Wojcicki, executive director, Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police

“For those who feel a responsibility to seek the truth in understanding the complexities of ‘right-and-wrong,’ Policing Ferguson, Policing America offers deep and compassionate insights into the national shame of racism and failed public policy, the challenges faced by every community and its respectful law enforcement, and what we as a collective society can do in building a better future for all.”
—Mark Laycock, internationally acclaimed conductor and composer, and product of the Ferguson-Florissant Public School District.