From the Dust Jacket

Walk The Blue Line

Written by James Patterson and Matt Eversmann (Little Brown Company )

Real-life stories about one of the most challenging jobs in the world. Police work is grindingly difficult, an ongoing struggle to find the right course through a maze of harmful alternatives. Patterson has done extensive research about police for his many successful novels. Eversmann is a former Army Ranger who worked with the author on two previous collections, E.R. Nurses and Walk in My Combat Boots. As in those books, the authors allow their protagonists to recount their experiences for themselves. The stories cover many types of police work, from SWAT teams to cold case investigators. There are 20-year veterans and recruits fresh out of training. A recurring theme is that they joined the police force to make a positive difference in their communities. Several accounts deal with small victories, recounting lives that could have turned bad but were set on a better path by making a personal connection. In a few cases, officers feel overwhelmed by a rising tide of gangs, guns, and drugs. Other stories deal with violent issues that defy explanation and are heart-rending in their pointlessness. Unsurprisingly, many officers experience post-trauma stress, although most police forces have recognized the problem and provide specialist help. The rhetoric of antipolice activists has added a sour note, and accusations of racism are especially painful for officers from a minority. Nevertheless, the desire to protect, serve, and defend remains strong. "Like many in law enforcement, I've gone through traumatic events that, at times, turned me hard," says one officer. "Made me rough around the edges and, at times, unapproachable. Behind every badge is a human being who has flaws and problems and suffers and is trying to do the best job they can."

A notable collection of heartfelt stories from the front line told with honesty and compassion. Kirkus

This book is available for circulation in the WSCC Library.