A Cop's Life: True Stories from Behind the Badge

I bought the book on the recommendation of a friend, and didn't expect it to be much different from other cop memoirs, which are generally amusing, but formulaic. Randy's book was none of that. Having been a cop for fifteen years, I knew that Randy was writing what I felt, but he said it like no one else I've read. I finished the book on an airplane, while returning from a business trip. I was self-conscious, looking around me to see if anyone had noticed the tears running down my face. I can't remember any other book having that effect on me. If you want to know what being a cop feels like, you need to read this.

Randy Sutton takes the reader for a wild ride through the world of a street cop. I laughed and cried through this entire book! As a street cop in Las Vegas Randy Sutton has been there and done that and lets the reader see what goes on behind that badge. The heartbreaks and elation, the ups and the downs and the pride he himself carries on every call. If you like cops, read this book! If you don't like cops, read this book! Randy reminds us that the street cop has a heart just like we do and while they often are able to hide their true feelings, they have those feelings just as we do. Randy has shown us the REAL feelings street cops have and have to deal with.

This is the second book that i have read by this author. A Cop's life brings you into the world of how cops do their job on a daily basis.

I served as a Las Vegas cop for thirty years, and I can tell you, Sgt. Sutton got it right. This is a gritty book that episodically depicts the author's experiences as a rookie city cop in New Jersey and as a veteran officer in Las Vegas--one of America's toughest cities to police. He doesn't just take us on patrol with him, he takes us into the dark corners of his mind and tells us how his street experiences affect him. This is not a summer book for escapist reading at the beach; it is a dark look at a good cop's life on the street. If you have ever worn a badge, you'll recognize a lot of yourself in these stories. If you are a "civilian," you will get an in-depth look at the grim reality of police work and the emotional toll it can take on the men and women behind the badge.

This book is many things - amazing, shocking, overwhelming and so much more. It was written with unflinching honesty and emotion and will give you an intimate view of the life of a police officer. We see them almost everyday of our lives and are often oblivious to the pain, emotional scars and demons they face on our behalf. This will open your eyes to their world and, hopefully, will help all who reads it appreciate them for all they do for us. They pay a very high price in their efforts to keep us safe.