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Summary:
Curbchek is based on actual police cases handled by Zach Fortier. It is set on the streets of the inner city and covers Zach's career, detailing his transition from a "green" rookie out to help the public and make a difference to a jaded veteran. It is "law and order" uncensored.
My Review:
"The reality is any good street cop, the guy you praise and pin medals on, is damaged, really damaged."
This book is amazing, I mean really amazing. Fortier gives a glimpse inside a world that the average person doesn't really know or understand. Both the mental world of the cops who are out there on the street, and the world itself that they are patrolling. The world where "retaliation is a very real fear..." While this statement was directed towards people living with the day to day drama of gang warfare. It also seemed to apply to the police station as well. Since being a cop "...it's also a job like any other, with
petty, in-house jealousies, grudges, cliques and office politics..."
He also gets his point across without being preachy or condemning to the people that are living in the world he has chosen to help defend. He understands the thinking of the people he interacts with on a daily basis, and this comes through in his retelling of his experiences. He also has a sense of humor. I found myself laughing out loud on more than one occasion.
To be honest I didn't know if I would like this book at first. I'm not usually into crime novels, and before I even opened the book I felt some trepidation about reading it, but I was determined to give it a fair shot. I thought that even if it wasn't my cup of tea, that wouldn't stop it from being someone elses. I was very pleasantly surprised. When I started reading, I was also interested in whether or not Fortier would address the issue of some officer's behavior. All cops make the decision to put their lives on the line for people they don't even know, but some choose to use the power and authority they receive to an unfair advantage. Fortier wasn't afraid to address this subject either. He tells stories of the good cops he worked with as well as the bad.
The picture he paints of the world he lived and worked in is vivid and compelling. Whether you are a huge crime/cop fan that devours every novel even remotely related to the subject, or you are only looking for a decent book to occupy a raining afternoon, you definitely want to pick up a copy of CurbChek. For better or for worse you will never look at that police officer who is patrolling your neighborhood the same way again. As for the rest of the people inhabiting it, to quote the author,
remember: "There are day people, and there are night people, and there is a huge difference."
****In compliance with FTC guidelines, I'm disclosing that I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads Giveaways.****
(I recommend everybody should go check out all the awesome first read giveaways they have!)
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