Reddin, Thomas. Law Enforcement in a Complex Society. General Telephone Company of California, [1968]. Text of an address given by LAPD Chief Thomas Reddin at a Town Hall meeting in Long Beach in July, 1968. Reddin wrestles with the extreme challenges faced by the police in "an age of discord, discontent, and unrest," when "almost every legal and social and governmental philosophy has recently changed, is in the process of change, or is being attacked by some group" and "defiance of the law receives encouragement from many sources." He argues that the police too often take the brunt of public anger over things they cannot control, such as poverty and unemployment. "Never before has there been such critical scrutiny of law enforcement's action. And never before has there been such resistance to authority as we have now in this land and such activity on the part of those who would destroy effective law enforcement....At no other time in our history has [your law enforcement officer] required your understanding and backing as he does today."