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Johannes Spreen, B.S., M.P.A., and Ph.D. (ABD) was in law enforcement from 1941through 1985.
He began his career as a New York Police Department police officer, rising to the rank of Inspector. He then served
as a Detroit Police Department Commissioner; and, was the Sheriff of Oakland County Sheriff’s Office (Michigan).
He has also been a newspaper columnist, and a professor at John Jay College and Mercy College. Johannes
Spreen is the author of five books: Who Killed Detroit?: Other Cities Beware; Who Killed New Orleans?: Mother
Nature vs. Human Nature; The Saga of Thundercloud and Dancing Star; American Law Enforcement: Does Not Serve Or Protect!;
and, American Police Dilemma: Protectors or Enforcers?
According to the book description
of American Police Dilemma: Protectors or Enforcers?, “Commissioner Johannes Spreen was a
police officer extraordinary; a man who helped restructure and develop New York City Police Academy training leading to a
college program, a 'West Point' for officers, now John Jay College for Criminal Justice. Johannes Spreen is a man
of enthusiasm, indeed a prophet; always ahead of his time and brought his talent to Detroit as Police Commissioner and later
Sheriff of Oakland County." Rudolph P. Blaum, Retired Captain, New York City Police Department, John Jay College, former
president American Education Association.
This book describes how policing has
gradually emphasized law enforcement over the protection of people. It is a compelling book by an innovative and gifted top
cop who presents a convincing case for community-oriented policing. This story of policing urban America over several decades
covers politics, crime control, leadership, mental and physical conditioning, morals, and rivalries that reduce effectiveness.
Besides being a role model for youth, police officers, administrators and policy analysts, Commissioner Spreen used wit and
literary brilliance to describe his career and these issues through charming letters to his daughter.”
According to the book description of
American Law Enforcement: Does Not Serve or Protect!, “This book describes how policing has
forgotten to serve and protect citizens but emphasizes technology and quick response after a crime has been committed. It
has astonishingly simple new ideas about how policing could prevent crime as well as enforce laws. These radical but economical
changes in policing would not only result in more respect for police by the public but would lower the crime rate by preventing
crime in the first place. This seasoned veteran brings his experience to bear in tantalizing clarity as a master wordsmith.
He produces a compelling case for changing even the kind of vehicles that police use today. Commissioner
Johannes Spreen was a police officer extraordinary; a man who helped restructure and develop New York City Police Academy
training leading to a college program, a 'West Point' for officers, now John Jay College for Criminal Justice. Johannes
Spreen is a man of enthusiasm, indeed a prophet; always ahead of his time and brought his talent to Detroit as Police Commissioner
and later Sheriff of Oakland County.”
According to the book description
of Confessions of an American Sheriff: The Nicest Sheriff in America?, “In this powerful expose
of the harrowing problem of political intervention upon law enforcement, a once prominent county sheriff presents an eloquent
account of what's wrong with law enforcement. Johannes Spreen, sheriff of Oakland County, Michigan, for twelve years,
is upset. Based on the information he presents about the obstacles presented by self-interested politicians and the media,
the rest of us ought to be, also.
The purpose of this book is to
provide to future and present sheriffs and other law enforcement executives information about the pitfalls and pressures of
politicians and the media, which make the elected position of a sheriff increasingly difficult. Filled with colorful characters,
heroic deeds and despicable acts of crime, the book details the fascinating history of the difficult job sheriffs face.
Sheriff Spreen said that his theme
was this: “In our history, when a crime occurred, the sheriff rounded up the able-bodied men of his county and pursued
the evildoer and brought him to justice. Today, we need a posse that can be rounded up and assist the sheriff before the crime
is committed and before the accident occurs. The hope of tomorrow lies in the youth of today.”
According to the book description
of Who Killed New Orleans?: Mother Nature vs. Human Nature, “Hurricanes Katrina and Rita created
the most expensive disaster, the largest evacuation, and the third deadliest flood in American history. Nobody can control
Mother Nature but the world's most advanced nation could have protected its citizens better. This disaster revealed the
faulty psychological reactions of officials who not only failed to protect the public from danger in New Orleans, but lacked
effective responses to the calamity. We elect and hire people who are supposed to protect us from attacks by nature and enemies.
However, they fail us because of their human nature. They are as imperfect as we are, but we expect them to collect and heed
facts that we cannot know, to prepare for predictable disasters, and to focus on long-term solutions rather than short-term
fixes.
Engaged in popularity contests, politicians
and officials at all levels did too little about obvious problems. The ugly picture of poor and mainly black flood victims
jolted us with poverty, racism, and segregation. Leaders must not wait to improve flood protection, racial inequities, a deteriorating
healthcare system, dwindling resources, and climatic changes until crises occur. This costly disaster should awaken us to
re-examine and change our methods of selecting politicians and leaders.”
According to the book description of
Who Killed New Orleans?: Mother Nature vs. Human Nature, “This book deals with Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita and the psychological reactions of those who failed to protect New Orleans as well as victims of the Gulf Coast catastrophe.
Unlike 9/11 when we were all in the same boat, Katrina showed us that poor blacks were left in a different boat than others
in New Orleans. Who Killed New Orleans dispells myths about panic, shows the different reactions of men and women in such
events, examines the roles of police and rescue workers, and describes the causes of criminal behavior which occurred in the
Katrina aftermath. Other books may deal with the hurricanes using the blame game but this book helps us learn about our best
side which often emerges in crises.”
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