WHAT IT TAKES
Things a Canadian Police Officer Wants You to Know About His Job
A police officer pulls back the proverbial curtain on his profession to reveal its inner workings. After more than a decade in the police force, the author shares on-the-job insights and details of his training on how to deal with drug addiction, mental illness, and violent encounters, and delves into why policing spans gratification to anguish. Ride alongside as he divulges behind-the-scene stories of everyday situations faced by police officers across Canada - from traffic-infraction stops to domestic abuse calls and dealing with hallucinating drug users and dealers - and get a candid peek inside “a day in the life” of a patrol officer.
Police are not perfect but are asked to do their job with perfection. Movements like "defund the police” are addressed from the perspective of first responders who face intense pressure, media scrutiny, and public backlash in the fallout of several high profile incidents. By showing the inner workings of police training, teamwork, the criminal justice system, as well as socio-economic realities, the author raises awareness of what it takes to be a police officer and why policing is integral to public safety, while also questioning the current stigma against law enforcement.
Police are not perfect but are asked to do their job with perfection. Movements like "defund the police” are addressed from the perspective of first responders who face intense pressure, media scrutiny, and public backlash in the fallout of several high profile incidents. By showing the inner workings of police training, teamwork, the criminal justice system, as well as socio-economic realities, the author raises awareness of what it takes to be a police officer and why policing is integral to public safety, while also questioning the current stigma against law enforcement.
Read the book?
Don't forget to leave a review on Amazon or in the Contact section below.
Thank you!
Thank you!
REVIEWS
"Having been a Canadian police officer myself for close to 15 years, and being on the front row of the social, economical and
mental health challenges modern policing has been facing recently, I am glad someone has put pen to paper to show the
world that en masse, we are just decent people trying our best to make our cities a little safer.
Owen Roberts uses his life experiences and knowledge to allow the reader to peek behind the curtain slightly
in an attempt to change their perspective about the men and women in blue serving their communities."
-Paul, Toronto Police Service
"Reading What It Takes was like seeing my thoughts on paper. A balanced account from a police perspective, it provides insight for anyone
genuinely interested in knowing what officers experience while attempting to preserve the peace in our Canadian communities."
-Claire, Vancouver Police Department
"Having been a Canadian police officer myself for close to 15 years, and being on the front row of the social, economical and
mental health challenges modern policing has been facing recently, I am glad someone has put pen to paper to show the
world that en masse, we are just decent people trying our best to make our cities a little safer.
Owen Roberts uses his life experiences and knowledge to allow the reader to peek behind the curtain slightly
in an attempt to change their perspective about the men and women in blue serving their communities."
-Paul, Toronto Police Service
"Reading What It Takes was like seeing my thoughts on paper. A balanced account from a police perspective, it provides insight for anyone
genuinely interested in knowing what officers experience while attempting to preserve the peace in our Canadian communities."
-Claire, Vancouver Police Department
WHAT IT TAKES is Available Now! |
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Owen R.B. Roberts
After more than a decade working as a police officer in a Canadian city that regularly rates high on the Violent Crime Severity Index, the author was compelled to share his experiences with the general public. He’s spent nearly eight years in a patrol capacity, responding to calls on everything from impaired drivers to domestic violence to mental illness. He’s also spent time as a mental health liaison, partnering with an addictions counsellor.
This is his first book, a deeply personal foray into writing that gives a counterpoint to much of the current criticism of police work. He hopes to redress the balance of public opinion—even just a little. He lives in Canada with his wife and their three elementary aged children.
This is his first book, a deeply personal foray into writing that gives a counterpoint to much of the current criticism of police work. He hopes to redress the balance of public opinion—even just a little. He lives in Canada with his wife and their three elementary aged children.