Thanks for checking in. I’m not quite sure where we’re heading with this blog - or this website, for that matter. I’m a pencil-and-paper guy struggling to find my way in webland so we’ll see how it all plays out.
Much like my two books, and any other meaningful writing I’ve undertaken over the years, I view this website as an opportunity to provide and exchange information and, hey, if we are entertained along the way, that’s pretty cool too.
If you stopped by to check out my views on hot cop topics, local politics or religion, I’m not much for stepping into those muddy puddles. I’m more into the emotions of being a cop and the insight and descriptiveness involved in being a writer. A great website, however, for checking out views on the latest law enforcement stories is www.copinthehood.com . It is maintained by Professor Peter Moskos, who was kind enough to critique and endorse my latest book, Beyond Hope? Mr. Moskos is not only a professor, he is a former cop with the Baltimore Police Department and he is the author of Cop in the Hood. At one time (because of his place in the academic world) I would have dismissed Mr. Moskos’s book as something not worth reading; a liberal professor’s view of the lying and brutal cops who prowl big city streets and prey upon poor urbanites. However, Moskos wrote his book the right way - he became a cop in one of the grittiest citys in the country, wore the uniform, strapped on the sidearm, shared beers with disgruntled co-workers and got down in the trenches and lived the life (albiet for what could considered a brieft period of about 13 months). But his mixture of academic insight and real-world experience make for a great read, both in his book and on his blog. Check him out.
As long as I’m talking about police writers, I cannot help but mention Lt. Randy Sutton of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Randy also critiqued and, subsequently, provided and endorsement for Beyond Hope? I must admit much of my drive for writing my latest book came after reading A Cop’s Life (www.amazon.com), which was Randy’s first book. The emotion and detail he packed into A Cop’s Life stirred me to the point that I decided to format Beyond Hope? in a similar manner, gutting my feelings and spilling them onto the pavement for all to see, like so much emotional roadkill lying on the side of life’s verbal highway (too descriptive?). Sutton has a way with intertwining personal loss, emotional challenges and unwavering professional insights to create a near virtual experience for his reader’s . . . at least that’s the effect his writing had on me. Sutton also put together two fund-raising books - True Blue and True Blue II (also available through Amazon), which are compilations of stories from police officers around the United States (I have a chapter published in True Blue II titled “Walking Among the Dead”). These books are used to raise money, respectively, for the families of officers who perished during 9-11 and also for a police officers’ museum being planned at the NLEOM. Both are great causes and they demonstrate Sutton’s strong committment to his profession.
The name of this website - hockeycop.com - is also a little ironic as it is a combination of two things - but not the only two things - which bring me both enjoyment and frustration in life. The irony is, I don’t consider myself to be anything more than average at either, and being called an average hockey player is even a stretch for me (just ask my teammates). However, both law enforcement and hockey provide the adreneline, and that sense of commeraderie and loyalty that seem to drive me more and more as I get older.
Again, this website is a work in progress as I am still tinkering with the direction it will take. Shortly, I will include some photos, some of which relate to my books and police work, and some of which are just fun. I will also add some links to websites and causes I think are worthwhile. I’ll post here as often as the mood strikes and will try to make each post at least somewhat meaningful.
If you’re interested in my latest book, Beyond Hope? , you can check out a review by Justin Engle of The Saginaw News, who met me for an interview last night after he finished reading the book. It may appear as soon as a week from tomorrow (I think that’s the 25th). I’ll post when it comes out . . . unless, of course, he tanks the book in his review 
Thanks for stopping by.