Behind the Badge: Crimefighters Thorough History

by Ed Butts, Gareth Williams (Illustrations)

Buckle up for true stories of the chiefs, strongmen, and outlaws who kept the peace. Where did the concept of policing originate? Who fought crime in ancient civilizations like those of Greece and Rome? How did the monarchs of the Middle Ages keep the countryside free of bandits? Why were the frontier towns of the American West policed by gunfighters? The truth will surprise you! In parts of the prehistoric world, young warriors took turns enforcing community laws. During the Ottoman Empire, the sultan’s police acted as spies, bodyguards, executioners, and even gardeners. In China, officials called prefects kept order with the aid of retired soldiers. In Amsterdam during the 1600s, citizens worked the night watch to keep the streets virtually crime-free. Deplorable conditions in the slums surrounding Rio de Janeiro in the 1980s and 90s gave rise to gangs of vigilante death squads, which included some police officers. With text that moves at the speed of a Hollywood car chase, and full- color artwork that provides a you-were-there picture of events from ancient times to the modern era, Behind the Badge vividly captures the varied and unexpected roles police have played over time.

168 pages, Hardcover

First published August 19, 2014

About the author

Tundra author Ed Butts is a writer and editor with a special interest in Canadian history. He lived for several years in the Dominican Republic, where he taught English and social studies and wrote regularly for local magazines. He has published several books of fiction and non-fiction and has written for numerous publications in Canada and the United States. Ed Butts lives in Guelph, Ontario.

Reviews

[Heather Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Behind the Badge discusses the different types of police spanning history. The fascinating stories from each area and time period were great! Except for the cover, which would have benefited from a museum photo or photo of police-related items, I thought the illustrations were perfect. I think breaking it up more would have been better, though. The red ribbon banners were just not enough.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

From what I was able to read, it is well written with beautiful pictures. Unfortunately, the full book would not download despite my attempts.
I have encountered this issue before w/ ACSM formats on my Kindle.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed for professional publication.