OFF THE WIRE
Book looks at 'rogue' law enforcement motorcycle clubs.
A unique subculture of the motorcycle world is explored in a new book titled Behind the Patch: Towards an Understanding of Public Safety and Law Enforcement Motorcycle Clubs which looks closer at law enforcement officers that may try to emulate the very outlaw biker gxxgs they are tasked to police.
Different groups of law enforcement have come together to create their own unique motorcycle club. Occasionally their members have made headlines over violent encounters, sometimes with motorcycle clubs considered among the ‘one- percenters’.
From the books press release;
‘In contrast to the outlaw bikers, police officers are law abiding and sworn to uphold the traditional cultural norms and values of mainstream society. Law enforcement officers and outlaw bikers are most often viewed as being two distinct subcultures, whose norms, values, and beliefs are in complete opposition to each other.'
'However, according to law enforcement sources, the distinction between Outlaw Motorcycle Gxxg members and law enforcement officers, which was once a clearly drawn line is now becoming blurred. In fact, some law enforcement officers are creating and joining Public Safety and Law Enforcement Motorcycle Clubs whose members allegedly emulate the outlaw biker lifestyle. Playing cop by-day and biker by-night has placed many of these public safety and police officers in a tenuous position. As a result, numerous law enforcement officials at all levels have turned against their fellow police officers due to their membership in these types of clubs. Not only have the cop-bikers alienated themselves from some of their fellow law enforcement officers, but one-percenter Outlaw Motorcycle Gxxg members are also angered by police officers who imitate the outlaw biker image.’
Reportedly, ‘Behind the Patch ’, published by Dog Ear Publishing, goes behind the scenes of the Renegade Pigs, the Warthogs and the Iron Warriors Motorcycle Clubs.
Written by Karen Katz, the author states she spent several years conducting in-depth fieldwork into the Public Safety and Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club subculture.
Katz has long been interested in understanding both the Public Safety and Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club Subculture and the Outlaw Motorcycle Gxxg subculture. Katz has received a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Criminology and a Master’s of Law, specializing in Criminal Law. Katz is known for her impeccable research skills and she has a reputation as being the “data hound” for her unique abilities to track down even the most obscure primary and secondary data.
‘Public Safety and Law Enforcement Motorcycle Clubs represent a social response to the breakdown of the police subculture, specifically, the erosion of brotherhood, internal solidarity, and camaraderie within police departments,’ the press release reads.
Katz writes in detail of this unique hybrid subculture. She delves into such topics as the law enforcement and outlaw biker controversies over the formation of the clubs; the history of the clubs; the purpose of the clubs; their political structure, and the role of women among other things.
Amazon link: Behind the Patch: Towards an Understanding of Public Safety and Law Enforcement Motorcycle Clubs
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