The American Cop is a three volume series of books... Vols #1 & #2 are short stories from road patrol and the latest one - Vol #3... is stories from the detective desk..

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During my lifetime I have seen good, and I have seen evil. I have seen life, and I have seen death. I have fed the poor, and given shelter to the homeless. I have bent to help those in need, and I have drawn down destruction upon those that create havoc within our society. I have been judged, and I have judged as actions dictated such, and through it all I was blessed, because I had been given the opportunity to proudly wear the badge of The American Cop.

INTRODUCTION TO THE AMERICAN COP

The word "Cop" was an old English abbreviation of "Constable on Patrol" and the name "Copper" came from the street gangs during the Capone era and was a phrase that displayed their anger when describing or discussing a Police officer. Police officers, down through time, have had reputations of being greedy and corrupt and a lot of this reputation was earned in the early part of the century when the immigrants were hired at a near nothing salary to patrol the market streets as well as the business sections.

These patrols were done on foot and the Officer walked his beat throughout the neighborhood. Most of the time they remained on the same beat, starting as a young man and retiring years later. Being on their feet all this time caused a lot of them severe feet problems and thus the name of "Flatfoot" was given to such men.

In the larger Eastern cities, there were two types of immigrants that were making America their home, which were the Italians and the Irish people. Most usually, the Italians went into their own business and the Irishmen accepted the badge and uniforms, became the "Constable on Patrol", and were hired at a near nothing wage to patrol and maintain order and peace in the business districts and the market places.

As a way to supplement their earnings. the business men would offer donations in appreciation for their service, which would usually include clothing for the Officer and his family, fresh produce and baked goods.

Today, the Policemen would be accused of extortion if they were to take these donations. This tradition has been handed down through the generations with the donations getting larger and larger through the years. A large part of yesterday's Police officers were sometimes referred to as "Moochers" because they accepted free meals and discount prices on purchased merchandise and some were even allowed to break the very laws which they had sworn to uphold.

The role of a Cop is no longer a simple task because, they must take upon themselves a great responsibility of being able to help those who need their help as well as enforcing the law and maintaining the peace while doing so. In doing this they must also maintain the friendship of the public that they serve. To acquire such an image they must also practice a good program of public relations. To be efficient and effective the Cop must be neat and a picture of perfection because, just seeing a well dressed Cop is a great start in giving the public the confidence they need in them.

Cops are taught that they are the entire department to everyone they make contact with on or off duty. If they are rude or sarcastic, then in the publics opinion, all Cop's are rude and sarcastic and the opposite is also true. If the Cop is polite and courteous then this image is projected to all Cop's because, "Today they may give you a speeding ticket and tomorrow they may give their life for you, and they know that it is their job to protect you from others and others from you and sometimes there is no way out."

They may spend a lot of lonely hours by themselves trying to sort out the problems of your neighborhood, and there are nights that they can't sleep because they do not have all the answers. Sometimes they build barriers around themselves so big that their own family and friends cannot penetrate. Sometimes they become moody and depressed and becomes a loner and very unpleasant to be around.

Raymond D. Null