Chief Joe Pelkington

Shades of Blue Chief Joe Pelkington

The early 1960's were the years that segregation started to wane and civil disobedience tested police leadership. The police had broad discretion on the use of force including deadly force. Society demanded and pressured police to exhibit restraint and improve professional conduct. Police violence, tragedy, courage, dedication, compassion and misconduct are all revealed in this book. There are stories of police responding to dangerous encounters, humorous cases involving humans, animals and about police officers themselves. There are stories of high stress situations such as high speed chases, officers killed in shoot-outs, heroics in high-risk rescue operations, handling riots and labor strikes. The final chapters bring to light the challenges for a chief, in a small community, surviving a political mind field and with the loyalty and help of a few members in the department, a police organization was rebuilt which resulted in an extraordinary police team of men and women.