A Cop's Life: True Stories from the Heart Behind the Badge is an autobiography by Randy Sutton, a senior sergeant in the Las Vegas police department. The book entails a collection of incidents experienced by Sutton in the line of duty.
Sutton describes a few traumatizing incidents that have shaped his current life. The book opens up with a description of the grimmer parts of Las Vegas. According to Sutton most tourists do not get to visit these parts, these areas are run by criminals and drug dealers whom the police have to control. Sutton describes his experience in these neighborhoods along with different scenarios that shape a cop’s life.
For instance, Sutton describes the death of his partner who committed suicide after succumbing to the pressures that come with the job. He also relates the first time he was forced to use his gun, he shot a suspect who died at the scene. He also describes the murder of a crucial witness he was supposed to protect.
According to Sutton, these events have destroyed his personal life and relationships. He sometimes falls into depression and drinks too much during these occasions. His true friends are his colleagues who understand the traumas he has to deal with. Sutton explains that most police officers do not have a social life. They are unable to maintain stable relationships while dealing with the pressures of their career. Furthermore, they have to put on an act of stoicism and suppress their emotions in the eye of the public.
However, Sutton has been able to deal with his traumas by talking about them. He lectures different groups of police officers and teaches them how to open up about their experiences at work and how to maintain positive relationships.
