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A Cop's Life: True Stories from the Heart Behind the Badge
After September 11, 2001 Las Vegas Police Sergeant Randy Sutton began soliciting writing from law enforcement officers-his goal being to bridge the gap between the police and those they serve, with a book that offers a broad and thoughtful look at the many facets of police life. Hundreds of active and former officers responded from all over the United men and women from big cities and small towns, some who had written professionally, but most for the first time. Sutton culled the selections into five The Beat, Line of Duty, War Stories, Officer Down, and Ground Zero.
The result is True Blue , a collection of funny, charming, exciting, haunting stories about murder investigations, missing children, bungling burglars, car chases, lonely and desperate shut-ins, routine traffic stops, officers killed in the line of duty, and the life-changing events of September 11. Here, officers reveal their emotions-fear and pride, joy and disgust, shame and love-as they recount the defining moments of their careers. In these stories, the heart and soul behind the badge shines through in unexpected ways. True Blue will change the way we think about the deeply human realm of police service.
The result is True Blue , a collection of funny, charming, exciting, haunting stories about murder investigations, missing children, bungling burglars, car chases, lonely and desperate shut-ins, routine traffic stops, officers killed in the line of duty, and the life-changing events of September 11. Here, officers reveal their emotions-fear and pride, joy and disgust, shame and love-as they recount the defining moments of their careers. In these stories, the heart and soul behind the badge shines through in unexpected ways. True Blue will change the way we think about the deeply human realm of police service.
- GenresTrue CrimeNonfiction
204 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2005
11 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 20, 2010
A good collection of stories from a veteran cop's career. I felt he covered a wide variety of the kinds of calls he's responded to over the years, some happy, some sad, some that make you want to be the one to fire the gun at the bad guy.
A good book to read here and there if you need one to be able to pick up and put down. The chapters are pretty much independent stories, so you can allow time in between reading and not lose track.
My favorite story was definitely the last one, where Santa brings 2 individuals exactly what they needed.
A good book to read here and there if you need one to be able to pick up and put down. The chapters are pretty much independent stories, so you can allow time in between reading and not lose track.
My favorite story was definitely the last one, where Santa brings 2 individuals exactly what they needed.
July 7, 2008
Great short stories by a Vegas Cop. While reading I laughed a little, I got really mad reading what some gangsters did to a Grandma and her grandson and the last story in her brought tears to my eyes. Excellent book.
September 4, 2008
this book surprised me. started out very dark and ended on a positive note. the author doesn't really seem to hold back truths and also doesn't seem to exaggerate. simple writing style made it possible to read in an afternoon.
June 22, 2018
Excellent Reading Great Book But I must admit that I am A Randy Sutton fan from back in the days of his "COPS" series, Looking for more Books from him. Don't know , is he still with Las Vegas PD ?
November 8, 2007
I thought this book was fantastic, and enjoyed every second of it. I recommend this book to anyone that likes a good action story.
March 1, 2010
Excellent author, police officer and person. Love, love, love these books.
May 24, 2018
A cops LIfe
is about an officer named randy he is a cop he protectes his city he has to go street to street on calls. this book is non fiction for a reason so show the world wat cops have to go through and what they have to deal with.
is about an officer named randy he is a cop he protectes his city he has to go street to street on calls. this book is non fiction for a reason so show the world wat cops have to go through and what they have to deal with.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2022
Brutal. Honest. Spectacular. I read this book for research purposes, and was truly affected by every one of these stories. Some I will never forget.
Well done, Sgt. Sutton and thank you for your service.
Well done, Sgt. Sutton and thank you for your service.
April 12, 2019
I have been in emergency services for 12 years. It is nice to finally find and read a book that explains the other side of Law Enforcement.
September 9, 2025
a little hard to read given the sadness of the job. made it almost to the end and had to take a break. may complete it later.
Read
December 9, 2014A cops life- Randy Sutton. This book was a great book. The author put great detail into every cops story. He made sure that the person who was reading this knew how much the job meant to them.
Randy tells his stories and others. The one he remembers the best and worst was when he got a call one day when he was on the job, and he got a call about a drowning kid in his area. He raced to the scene with his lights on. When he arrived there was a man on his knees outside the pool with his child in his hand. The mother was standing by the back porch crying and screaming. The child was raced to the hospital and a couple hours later the cop was informed the child lived. Randy was relieved, but the child has serious damage to its brain and system. That brought Randy back down even though the child was saved. Randy really loved his job and every cop in the system around him. His first day on the job Randy was called names by the a dispatch officer. And eventually the cop gave him a pat on the back and told him "Ya did alright kid". Randy was no kid though. All in all, its stories kike these that make me want to go into the line of duty. Police men out saving lives and putting the guilty in there place.
Randy tells his stories and others. The one he remembers the best and worst was when he got a call one day when he was on the job, and he got a call about a drowning kid in his area. He raced to the scene with his lights on. When he arrived there was a man on his knees outside the pool with his child in his hand. The mother was standing by the back porch crying and screaming. The child was raced to the hospital and a couple hours later the cop was informed the child lived. Randy was relieved, but the child has serious damage to its brain and system. That brought Randy back down even though the child was saved. Randy really loved his job and every cop in the system around him. His first day on the job Randy was called names by the a dispatch officer. And eventually the cop gave him a pat on the back and told him "Ya did alright kid". Randy was no kid though. All in all, its stories kike these that make me want to go into the line of duty. Police men out saving lives and putting the guilty in there place.
March 14, 2019
Damn. This book is everything: masterfully written, intensely suspenseful, deeply profound, and every story in the book is true.
A brutally honest look at the harsh realities real police officers deal with on the job, and the psychological struggles that inevitably follows.
A Cop's Life contains stories ranging from brutal murders and dying infants, to tackling the devastating aftermath of PTSD, depression and suicides among cops, with a heartwarming story at the end.
Dark and heartbreaking, yet fiercely compassionate, written from the poetic, haunted mind of a man who knows what he's talking about.
You'll never look at a cop the same way again.
A true masterpiece.
Highly recommended.
A brutally honest look at the harsh realities real police officers deal with on the job, and the psychological struggles that inevitably follows.
A Cop's Life contains stories ranging from brutal murders and dying infants, to tackling the devastating aftermath of PTSD, depression and suicides among cops, with a heartwarming story at the end.
Dark and heartbreaking, yet fiercely compassionate, written from the poetic, haunted mind of a man who knows what he's talking about.
You'll never look at a cop the same way again.
A true masterpiece.
Highly recommended.
March 23, 2021
he author served at the beginning of his career in a small New Jersey town and then moved on to Las Vegas where most of this book occurred. There are twenty short stories included. Some of them are quite moving. Responding to a family dispute in a low income neighborhood the officers encounter a large male beating a small female. They first figured it to be husband wife or boyfriend girlfriend. Turns out to have been son mother. The son jumps out the window to get away and is dead. The threatening crowd assembles. The mother screams out that the cops pushed her son out the window.
A young family is in their vehicle stopped at a traffic light. Drugged up gangmembers are in the car next to them. The gangboys shoot and the little daughter in her car seat is fatally shot.
A grandmother is trying to put her charges to bed. Gangmembers outside are making noise. She asks them to quiet down. The retaliate by breaking into her home and stabbing her to death. They leave laughing.
A police officer sees a young girl patiently waiting to cross a busy street. He stops traffic with his flashing lights. Takes the childs hand and walks her across. Stopped motorists applaud him.
A young family is in their vehicle stopped at a traffic light. Drugged up gangmembers are in the car next to them. The gangboys shoot and the little daughter in her car seat is fatally shot.
A grandmother is trying to put her charges to bed. Gangmembers outside are making noise. She asks them to quiet down. The retaliate by breaking into her home and stabbing her to death. They leave laughing.
A police officer sees a young girl patiently waiting to cross a busy street. He stops traffic with his flashing lights. Takes the childs hand and walks her across. Stopped motorists applaud him.
January 21, 2011
I love Randy Sutton. I hope he continues writing these stories. Another review said this and it's my thoughts exactly - he makes you want to be there and have his back in certain situations. In others he makes you thank God you don't have to see what he sees day to day.
I love how reflective he is. The stories do cover a fairly broad range and you'll go from smiling to crying in minutes if you read straight through.
That brings me to another great thing about his books - you can read it right through in one or two sittings OR you can pick it up and put it down as you please and never feel lost. That's a great thing with a book IMO.
Sutton is a master at what he does and if I ever do get out of DE. and move to NV. I'll have to look him up just to shake his hand.
I love how reflective he is. The stories do cover a fairly broad range and you'll go from smiling to crying in minutes if you read straight through.
That brings me to another great thing about his books - you can read it right through in one or two sittings OR you can pick it up and put it down as you please and never feel lost. That's a great thing with a book IMO.
Sutton is a master at what he does and if I ever do get out of DE. and move to NV. I'll have to look him up just to shake his hand.
June 1, 2012
An honest look at the way cops look back and remember the hard things they've gone through and the effects these daily struggles have on them emotionally. I read this book to get a better understanding of the psychology of being a cop, and I think it was well worth the read.
On a side note, the last chapter/story in the book is ambiguous. It doesn't explain if it is something that happened to the author, a friend, or if it is a work of fiction about a cop from a cop's mind. That being said, it was a heart-wrenching yet somewhat uplifting story of a cop moving past personal loss. If this is a work of fiction, I would love to see Randy Sutton move on to novels and would be eager to read them. If it was a work of non-fiction or memoir, my heart is with the people involved.
On a side note, the last chapter/story in the book is ambiguous. It doesn't explain if it is something that happened to the author, a friend, or if it is a work of fiction about a cop from a cop's mind. That being said, it was a heart-wrenching yet somewhat uplifting story of a cop moving past personal loss. If this is a work of fiction, I would love to see Randy Sutton move on to novels and would be eager to read them. If it was a work of non-fiction or memoir, my heart is with the people involved.
April 4, 2015
I don't know. The whole time I kept thinking: god, I hope you got all of the therapy you so obviously deserve. Writing can of course be therapeutic in and of itself, but reading it is the job of a professional. I really, really wanted Randy to stop feeling the guilt and the pain. I kept hoping to see not only an occasional acknowledgement of the problems he's facing, but a resolution. Or at least an in depth examination. Or even better an account of how he spoke to another human being and got help. I have only the deepest respect for those who don a uniform and protect us, which is why reading about his suffering was so difficult.
July 21, 2013
This book is so well written, that I can't even explain how well; it's one that you'll just have to read to see what I mean.
Sadly my copy got lost before I finished it all, but I managed to read almost all of it.
It's broken down into short chapters, each chapter being a different experience/case while on the police force, and the personal feelings that were felt not only at the time, but as time went by as well.
This author really has a way with words, and I'm glad he put it to use to have this book written.
Sadly my copy got lost before I finished it all, but I managed to read almost all of it.
It's broken down into short chapters, each chapter being a different experience/case while on the police force, and the personal feelings that were felt not only at the time, but as time went by as well.
This author really has a way with words, and I'm glad he put it to use to have this book written.
May 10, 2016
I will not be able to say enough about this book. If there had been ten stars that's what I would have given it. His subtitle says it best: from the Heart Behind the Badge. May God Bless Randy Sutton and all our Policemen and women, especially those who serve with honor.
May 2016-Traded this book on PaperBackSwap in order to share, so reread it very fast before I let it go. Still as powerful as the first time. Maybe more. Will also eventually reread, True Blue.
May 2016-Traded this book on PaperBackSwap in order to share, so reread it very fast before I let it go. Still as powerful as the first time. Maybe more. Will also eventually reread, True Blue.
August 5, 2013
True stories about what this officer had went through during his career in Las Vegas. It was fascinating to see through his eyes and other officers about what they go through to protect us. A great true crime book!
June 3, 2014
Very good true crime stories. Should be read by anyone thinking of becoming a cop or anyone who knows one and wonders what they go through on a daily basis. Short chapters, well written, good combination of excitement and routine.
June 30, 2014
This book written by Sutton is easy to read and it flows. I found the stories quite interesting - some not happy, of course but others were. A good cop book by a cop who has been there and done that.
Arliss Crowe
Arliss Crowe
September 21, 2014
Read the book it's really good
This book was great, it was insightful, sad, gruesome, inspiring, and heartwarming all at the same time. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to become a cop or if you just want to read something different and so real. It's truly a great book.
This book was great, it was insightful, sad, gruesome, inspiring, and heartwarming all at the same time. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to become a cop or if you just want to read something different and so real. It's truly a great book.
August 4, 2008
The stories were interesting, but not always well written. The book was also very negative.
The last story, "The Messenger: A Cop's Christmas Tale" was wonderfully touching.
The last story, "The Messenger: A Cop's Christmas Tale" was wonderfully touching.
August 25, 2014
The last story with Kringle the puppy cinched it.
June 2, 2015
I read this book for my book club. It is an excellent read. It is a first hand account of the day to day life of a cop, the good and the bad.
June 3, 2015
This was for Book Group--it was an easy read--written as for TV.
November 15, 2015
This was a great book. The stories are told with honesty and transparency. If you like so called "cop books," then you should put this one on your list.
July 8, 2016
Easy read. The stories and writer's courage carry this book, rather than stellar writing.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews