Leonard Freed: Police Work

Police Work gathers Leonard Freed’s celebrated photographs of the New York Police Department during the 1970s, a decade marked by rising crime, economic uncertainty, and significant social change. Over several years, Freed worked closely with officers across the city, gaining exceptional access to the daily realities of police work.

His photographs move through patrols, investigations, public demonstrations, emergency calls, and community programs, offering an intimate view of the people who made up the department and the neighborhoods in which they worked. Freed approached his subjects with curiosity, empathy, and attention to everyday moments, creating a rich and multifaceted portrait of New York at a pivotal moment in its history.

This expanded edition brings together photographs from one of Freed’s most important projects, including images that were not included in the original publication. The result is a compelling record of the city, its residents, and the officers who navigated its streets during a transformative era.