Spirit of the Badge is an inspirational collection of real-life accounts that discuss the metaphysical, spiritual, and inspirational elements of police work. Stories were compiled from active and retired police officers from across the country, and highlight the human, humorous, intuitive, and miraculous side of law enforcement. This collection of real-life accounts shows the public that a majority of law enforcement officers oftentimes go beyond just the facts and are intuitive by nature, in direct contrast to the tough and gun-wielding officers who are often portrayed on reality television shows. Chapters consider subjects such as angels and apparitions; dreams and intuition; healing with humor, signs, symbols, and synchronicity; lessons of the heart; and unexplainable phenomena.
These sixty short contributions from various types of Michigan law enforcement officials are not just inspirational, which they are. The entries provide a deep look at what goes through the minds of police officers as they risk their lives. The compilation is further divided into a variety of topics to include: angels and apparitions; dreams and intuition; healing with humor, signs, symbols, and synchronicity; lessons of the heart; and unexplainable phenomena. However, that is irrelevant as the audience will appreciate each true life short story as they all are well written and seem to come from the heart and soul of the police officer. This is a strong engaging collection whether it is the sergeant looking back at his late mom's vision of his uniform, the bird pecking at a McDonald's bag that has the bomb squad fearing an explosion, the officer finding the teenage suicide victim before the wild animals run off with the corpse and take away parental closure, herding a drunken bear, or the premonition not to peak through the last window. Aptly titled, an appreciative audience will agree that Ingrid P Dean and her contributors figuratively and literally live up to the SPIRIT OF THE BADGE.
"Spirit of the Badge" is an undistorted kaleidoscope of the police officer's true thoughts, events, and emotions associated with law enforcement. If one is looking for 1-Adam-12, Kojack, Andy Griffin, Hawaii-5-0, Barnaby Jones, or Charlie's Angels, they're looking in the wrong direction. This book is truly a heartfelt piece of literature that portrays the officer's everyday life--the good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful, the tragic, the mundane, and sometimes hilarious experience of the "anything but" normal routine.
"Spirit of the Badge" also touches upon the everyday miracles that most officers do not take for granted. So many have come within a breath of great loss, which gives them a very unique perspective of what a "divine miracle" really is--no matter how big or small.
Ms. Dean, it has been a privilege to have glimpsed the depths of our unsung heroes.
In the spirit of service and protection, hats off to you!
I am reading this book and loving it. I enjoy how the author put it together. Some of the stories give me chills,some make me cry for the policemen/women and for the victims. It is truly an important message Ms. Dean is bringing to the world. One that we do not get from the media. When I heard all the reportage about the Cambridge, MA policeman and the Harvard Prof, I kept wishing that this book could be held side by side with all that was being discussed. There is definitely a need for the whole story to come to consciousness. As humans we are in relationship with each other to learn from the dramas we create together. In writing this book, Ms Dean is opening a new understanding of all the dimensions of police work and the many levels of awareness police officers bring to the sometimes dangerous, sometimes tragic, sometimes artful and scientific and sometimes boring work they must do. This book is an important gift to the world.
