For those that think they have a pretty good grasp of what it's like to work in law enforcement, you have no idea. It's a life of danger and chaos that few can imagine, and yet, regular men and women do this type of work every single day. I recently read about one such policeman.
In a great new book by former police officer Steve Osborne, The Job: True Tales from the Life of a New York City Cop, the author blends a street-wise toughness with heart and humor to craft a variety of vignettes detailing parts of his twenty-year career in the NYPD. Osborne describes his passion for facing evil and how he did his best to keep New Yorkers safe each night. He places the reader in the middle of the action, as he chases down drug dealers and armed robbers, offering the human side of cops not often seen through their tough exterior. He describes his fears and his sympathies, but he ultimately knows there is nothing to stop people from making terrible decisions and living irresponsibly. And those people must be dealt with so they don't harm law-abiding and innocent citizens.
Osborne is explicit in telling the audience that the primary goal for a police officer is to do the job as safely and as quietly as possible. Everyone wants to go home after their shift to see their awaiting family, so violent encounters are avoided at all costs. When a weapon is drawn or a fight ensues, someone is going to the hospital or the cemetery. And cops always know how close they are to ending up in either location. Osborne addresses the question of race quite humorously, as he simply states, "Trust me, cops aren't racist. We hate all bad guys equally." He describes how he gets just as much satisfaction catching a white millionaire rapist in a Manhattan penthouse as he does a black crack dealer on the street (both accounts he includes in the book). And he also reminds the audience that cops have to make life and death decisions in a fraction of a second. They make these decisions several times every single day. And they make these decisions thousands of times in a career. The fact that we as the public expect them to be correct in their judgment every time is the most challenging part of the job.
Osborne is not a professional writer, yet his anecdotes, like those from a your favorite uncle or the familiar old guy at the end of the bar, are just good storytelling. Osborne's voice, thick with East Coast bravado, echoes off the page. If you wonder if there is more to the portrayal of crime and law enforcement than what your cable news telecast shows you and want to know what life is really like for police officers, check out The Job.
I've also included below a clip of Osborne telling one of his stories to a live audience so you can get a flavor of the man himself. Beware of adult language. Enjoy.
In a great new book by former police officer Steve Osborne, The Job: True Tales from the Life of a New York City Cop, the author blends a street-wise toughness with heart and humor to craft a variety of vignettes detailing parts of his twenty-year career in the NYPD. Osborne describes his passion for facing evil and how he did his best to keep New Yorkers safe each night. He places the reader in the middle of the action, as he chases down drug dealers and armed robbers, offering the human side of cops not often seen through their tough exterior. He describes his fears and his sympathies, but he ultimately knows there is nothing to stop people from making terrible decisions and living irresponsibly. And those people must be dealt with so they don't harm law-abiding and innocent citizens.
Osborne is explicit in telling the audience that the primary goal for a police officer is to do the job as safely and as quietly as possible. Everyone wants to go home after their shift to see their awaiting family, so violent encounters are avoided at all costs. When a weapon is drawn or a fight ensues, someone is going to the hospital or the cemetery. And cops always know how close they are to ending up in either location. Osborne addresses the question of race quite humorously, as he simply states, "Trust me, cops aren't racist. We hate all bad guys equally." He describes how he gets just as much satisfaction catching a white millionaire rapist in a Manhattan penthouse as he does a black crack dealer on the street (both accounts he includes in the book). And he also reminds the audience that cops have to make life and death decisions in a fraction of a second. They make these decisions several times every single day. And they make these decisions thousands of times in a career. The fact that we as the public expect them to be correct in their judgment every time is the most challenging part of the job.
Osborne is not a professional writer, yet his anecdotes, like those from a your favorite uncle or the familiar old guy at the end of the bar, are just good storytelling. Osborne's voice, thick with East Coast bravado, echoes off the page. If you wonder if there is more to the portrayal of crime and law enforcement than what your cable news telecast shows you and want to know what life is really like for police officers, check out The Job.
I've also included below a clip of Osborne telling one of his stories to a live audience so you can get a flavor of the man himself. Beware of adult language. Enjoy.