Most people assume that being a cop is like what they see on TV. They think it's a high drama fast-paced career with car chases and gunfights. The reality isn't quite so intense. Law enforcement is a dangerous profession, but the majority of police work is pretty dull. Police work is mostly a compilation of speaking with people who don't want to speak with you or who are distraught over why they need to speak to you in the first place. There are gunfights, SWAT calls, car chases, robberies in progress, and several other calls that raise the blood pressure. But by-in-large, the majority of police work is responding to late reports and recording what happened in an objective, chronological, and accurate way. Just like with the work, people often have a misconception about the types of people who become cops. They think that only people with extreme personalities can be police officers when really the exact opposite is true. Most cops are normal blue-collar workers who share a common set of core principles. They're all honest, hard-working, brave, and logical people who have good intentions, but who sometimes enter into a law enforcement career without understanding what law enforcement is all about.I wrote this book because I've seen too many people get into police work without understanding what it is. They start their careers with noble intentions only to be torn down and destroyed from the stress of the job or their own failed ambitions. Police work isn't necessarily difficult, but it carries a large amount of responsibility. The weight of that responsibility is too much for some people, and it's misunderstood by others. This book is a complete guide to understanding what the job is as a police officer. It will tell you what it means to be a cop as well as how to be successful at modern policing. It breaks down your responsibilities in ways that remove any confusion and it'll prepare you for what you should do in any given situation. I wrote this book using basic, direct language so it's impossible to misinterpret; It's a book written by a cop for cops. This book is specifically aimed at educating new cops, or anyone who's considering a career in law enforcement. But, with that being said, it's also extremely beneficial for veteran police officers as a means of strengthening their skills and helping them transition from being an average cop, into being a consummate professional. The skills and insights I share throughout this book are pieces of information that can create a foundation for new officers or sharpen pre-existing but as-of-yet unrealized potential in veterans. The subjects covered in this book were specifically chosen for inclusion because they're the most germane to success in law enforcement. Examples of the topics covered in this book include officer safety, departmental perception, gaining voluntary compliance, criminal interdiction, interview and interrogation, and critical incidents. I've also added in a few chapters about how to get hired as a cop and how to promote once you've started working so you can increase your likelihood of rising to the position that you want within your department. I've learned throughout my career that police work is less about protecting and serving and more about doing your job reliably without making waves or opening your department up to liability. That's the kind of information I'll teach you throughout this book. It's the kind your agency won't come out and say, but it's the most important information you could know to be successful in law enforcement. Reading this book will give you a safeguard against poor training. It'll keep you from becoming a departmental scapegoat if you're unlucky enough to have substandard training officers. To be a cop is to be the vanguard of your community. Thank you for considering a career in law enforcement. I look forward to the honor of teaching you how to do the job.