On Thin Ice

"POLICING IS ON THIN ICE. It's up to us to reimagine what happens next." -Jeff Wenninger

On Thin Ice delivers an unflinching look inside the American law enforcement from a voice who's lived it. With over 30 years in the LAPD and direct oversight of more than 700 use-of-force cases, nationally recognized expert Jeff Wenninger exposes the toxic culture, outdated training, and leadership failures that continue to shape modern policing.

Drawing on firsthand experience, expert interviews, academic research, and historical context, Wenninger traces the troubled evolution of policing-from its roots in American slave patrols and Sir Robert Peel's founding principles to today's militarized, crisis-prone reality. He takes readers inside pivotal moments: the Rodney King Riots, the Rampart scandal, the Uvalde school shooting, the Butler, Pennsylvania assassination attempt, the New Orleans New Year's Day terror attack, and the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. Each case reveals deep gaps in coordination, preparedness, and accountability.

INSIDE, JEFF EXPLORES:

• How poor leadership and entrenched mindsets have eroded public trust
• Why policing's complex legacy derives racial disparities and aggressive tactics
• The urgent need for cultural transformation grounded in judgement, integrity, and meaningful collaboration
• What U.S. law enforcement can learn from international models that prioritize restraint, transparency, and trust.

Wenninger doesn't offer easy answers or partisan soundbites. Instead, he invites readers into the hard conversations that are too often avoided-conversations grounded in empathy, mutual respect, and the shared goal of safer communities. On Thin Ice is a powerful call to Reimagine Policing ™-not through slogans or surface-level reforms, but through honest dialogue shaped by the people it affects most.