The Police Composite Sketch

This is a really excellent book. I don’t do this kind of work, myself, but I read the book as research for a novel. The writing is high quality, so is the physical book. The drawings are wonderful. The information is clearly conveyed. The book includes valuable information like how to graphically interpret vague terminology employed by ordinary witnesses (the attacker looked angry, mean, gaunt, etc.). What would be the real-world graphical interpretations for these terms? Stephen gives precise descriptions and tips for what physical characteristics and facial contortions express such common descriptors. The text is a wealth of information presented in a way that is pleasing and accessible. If you are interested in learning about this topic, this text is a good place to start.

Steve Mancusi's book, The Police Composite Sketch, is both a testament to his skill as a forensic artist, and his encyclopedic knowledge of the subject of composite drawings. It belongs in the basic library of written/illustrated guides to the world of forensic art necessary to any aspiring artist. The excellent renderings and clear explanations give everything needed to start the journey in this demanding field. I whole-heartedly recommend this book to both the future forensic artist and to the general lay reader as well.

I haven't finished reading the book, but so far it's well written, organized and provides meaningful information. I've worked with the police department for many years in the past, but not as an artist. I have a background in college art and a PhD in psychology. So I'm picky about books. It's worth the money.

Excellent book. Breaks down every detail very nicely.

I would certainly recommend Stephen Mancusi's text, The Police Composite Sketch, to anyone interested in the process of artistically retrieving a face from memory for investigative purposes. Though not the first book solely devoted to composite sketching, it is the best one. As the title indicates, this is a work expressly about drawings from eyewitness descriptions, told from a position of "street smart" savvy by a veteran police officer. Other aspects of forensic art are mentioned only briefly.This volume serves as a tangible representation of a highly successful career's worth of crime-fighting police composite art. Stephen's solid personal experience and proven results are visually demonstrated with extensive skillful facial drawing examples. The information shared, particularly drawing tips, should be useful to both novice and seasoned police artists. Much of the material is presented anecdotally through the re-telling of case studies, which are peppered with a wealth of insightful tips and suggestions.In a time when research in cognitive psychology provides more and more valuable insight into eyewitness memory retrieval and face recognition issues, the personal accounts related here also underscore a fundamental truth. The basic tenets of art skill, anatomical knowledge and intuitive, sensitive interviewing techniques should not be underestimated in this complex process. Stephen's work clearly establishes that these remain root components of the facial composite-generating function that no software can ever fully replicate or replace. Users of composite software systems would be well-advised to learn the foundations put forth in this book.Mancusi is to be commended for the compilation and painstaking documentation of this worthwhile body of work and particularly for sharing his understanding and acumen with future practitioners.'

Stephen Mancusi has written an outstanding book! I would recommend "The Police Composite Sketch" book to anyone who is interested in forensic art or is a forensic artist. He is also one of the best forensic art teachers out there. Stephen has Integrity, Knowledge, Excellent Art skills and is also a retired First Grade Detective from NYPD, all of this makes him one of a kind. I can honestly say it is one of the Best Forensic Art books out there. You will only benefit from this book. Congratulations on this book! Looking forward to the next one!

I loved this book. Actually bought it as a gift but read it myself. Couldn't put it down. Stephen Mancusi, author & police sketch artist, did a great job presenting this subject. This is a wonderfully interesting book, not only informative but also at times amusing.

The author explains the process in detail, covering everything from basic supplies, studio setup, witness/victim interview processes, required skillsets, etc. Woven throughout are true crime stories and how they were solved with the employment of the author's composite sketches. He packs a lot of information into this comprehensive textbook, but it's also an interesting and compelling read. I'd call it a must-have if you're interested in the field of forensic arts.