The Boston Police Strike of 1919: Politics, Riots, and the Fight for Unionization

At 5:45 p.m. on September 9, 1919, Boston was effectively without a police force, leaving the city victim to four days of crime, looting, and violence. Ordered to disband their newly organized police union, the officers voted to walk off their posts in protest, leading to the greatest tragedy in American policing: the Boston Police Strike of 1919.

This is a compelling account of the historical antecedents that led to the strike and its complex political and societal ramifications. Through meticulous research, Oliver explores the perspectives and motivations of all involved, from the police officers attempting to unionize to the city's leaders trying to retain command and control of its patrolmen.

Author: Willard Oliver
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Published: 09/15/2023
Pages: 332
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.54lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.94d
ISBN: 9781538144114

About the Author
Willard M. Oliver is a professor of criminal justice at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. He has authored two dozen books, including The Birth of the FBI: Teddy Roosevelt, the Secret Service, and the Fight Over America's Premier Law Enforcement Agency (Rowman & Littlefield 2019). Oliver is a retired major in the U.S. Army Reserves and a former police officer. He resides in Huntsville, Texas with his family.