On Sunday July 15th, around four dozen people sat at tables covered with white cloths and the remnants of their prime rib lunch. All eyes watched the front of the room. Quiet enough I could hear the pinging of the slot machines downstairs, I finished my preparations. Microphone on. Check. Certificates in order. Check. Excited heart. Check. This moment was the culmination of the four day Public Safety Writers Association (PSWA) Writing Conference. Although its completion was right here at The Orleans in Las Vegas, it had started in January when our annual writing competition opened. A unique part to our contest is that every entry must have a public safety element.
Surrounded by the eager faces, I announced the winners including the first place published non-fiction book. I was particularly excited about this book because it was joining the proud club of works written for public safety families. In fact 5 books exposing what it’s like to love an officer had placed in the contest since 2011. If memory serves me right as the former Contest Coordinator and current PSWA President, there hasn’t been one in this category that hasn’t won a prize. Much of this is each was exceptionally well written. But the main reason, I think is because books that help us understand and love our officers better are essential. Along with those of us with LEO partners, people who appreciate public safety professionals recognize the sacrifices they make and long for glimpses behind the curtain. These books give them just that. For me, they’ve been an important part of my journey with a man who wears a badge. That’s why I want to share them here.
I Love a Cop: What Police Families Need to Know by Ellen Kirschman, PhD. First Place, Published, Non-Fiction Book and Grand Prize, 2011. This book is the bible for police families. It is given out at police academies around the country and the back mater says all you need to know, “Police families are brave, resilient, and proud—and they face remarkable challenges, sometimes on a daily basis. Now thoroughly updated for today’s turbulent times, this is the resource that cops and their loved ones have relied on for decades.” Ellen, who has been a member of PSWA for many years and continues to inspire my own writing, has just published the third edition of this “no-nonsense guide to help your family thrive.” It’s now on my shelf beside my copies of the second and first editions.
Hearts Beneath the Badge: True Stories of What is Happening in the Hearts and Minds of Law Enforcement by Karen Solomon, Third Place, Published, Non-Fiction Book, 2015. Karen married to a police officer and the moderator of Policewives.org felt compelled to help people see officers “as what they are—human” and that shows throughout this book. Again, the back mater explains it all, “It’s not about the crimes they witness or the judgment they face; it’s about them…Their thoughts, their fears, their proud moments and their heart break. It’s about Jeremy and his family, a man of honor taken from the world much too soon. It’s about the people we often don’t see because we are blinded by the uniform.”
The Price They Pay by Karen Solomon, Third Place, Published, Non-Fiction Book, 2016. Just a year after publishing Hearts Beneath the Badge, Karen delves even deeper into “the damage that often results from a career in law enforcement.” With her co-author Jeffrey M. McGill, they describe what disturbs officers’ sleep and why it’s important “to push for a national change in training and policy because the cost to be an officer has become too high.” Like her first book, royalties are donated to law enforcement charities.
A Marriage in Progress: Tactical Support for Law Enforcement Relationships by Victoria M. Newman, First Place, Published, Non-Fiction Book, 2016. The back explains, “You were trained for law enforcement. Have you trained for a lifelong commitment to another? You sacrifice a lot for this career. Don’t sacrifice your family, too.” Although her book is directed to law enforcement officers themselves, reading it as a LEO partner is invaluable. Married to a “Chippy” for almost three decades, Victoria gives practical advice on how to bulletproof your LEO marriage.
AND THE WINNER FOR 2018!!
A CHiP on My Shoulder: How to Love and Support Your Cop by Victoria M. Newman, First Place, Published, Non-Fiction Book, 2018. The first edition of this book sold out in early 2017 showing how thirsty LEO families are for camaraderie and shared advice on how to love their officer. Meeting the need, Victoria published the second edition in September 2017. Along with her website How 2 Love Your Cop, Victoria continues to share stories and encouragement with other women who relax at the sound of Velcro.
More and more books are being written for families of LEOs and for that I’m extremely grateful. For me, the books not only help me in my relationship but also allow me to feel closer to other women who also love a man who smells like gunpowder. Our partners have written a blank check to the community including agreeing to die to serve and protect. As partners, we’ve agreed to back this decision and to support and hold our officer when the toll is too heavy for them to bear alone. That’s why these books are so important. I’m proud of being part of the PSWA and the recognition we give to these authors because supporting these books and each other is so important. We have to hold each other up so we can hold our LEOs up.
