Frequently Asked Questions

---

 Sample Interview Questions

Question: Why did you write this book?

Answer: At first I just wanted to publish a book for the general public. I was a columnist for a couple of law enforcement magazines for about 20 years and also wrote a self-published book based upon my column. In both the column and the book, I analyzed actual police shootings for learning points related to officer safety. But I still wanted to publish a book for those outside of police work. More recently, like my fellow officers (I still see myself as a cop), I am deeply troubled by the image of police officers portrayed by the media, activists, and many others as racist brutes that shoot first and ask questions later. This led me to decide to re-do many of the articles I had written about police officers who have performed valiantly, often with selfless disregard for their own safety, when under lethal attack. I wanted the public to know that our cops are actually individuals who care deeply about the citizens they serve, and have proven it by their courageous actions. I also wanted to make sure that, like the officers who read my column and book, the general public could benefit from the lessons learned in these dramatic encounters. Originally, I intended to use the incidents recounted in the book to highlight and discuss the mental tools the officers used to win in the face of danger, tools that the readers could use in dealing with their many challenges in life. But the more I pointed out the lessons about winning I learned these heroic cops, the more I came to realize that there is a lot more to learn from them. I realized that I could inform the readers about the enormous dynamics, challenges, and harsh realities associated with of violent encounters between police officers and their attackers. I also noticed that there are many things cops know about situational awareness, self-defense, crime prevention, the responsible carrying of use of concealed firearms, and much more, that can be of great value to their fellow citizens. The result was an unusual but entertaining book filled with amazing stories about hero cops and what we can learn from them.

Question: What can you tell me about the book’s cover?

Answer: I had a lot of great feedback about the cover on my first book, which had as its center piece an image that recreated a key moment in one of the shootings recounted in the book. It was so well received that I did the same with Cops Under Fire! The police cruiser and officer shown were “borrowed” from the department from which I retired, the officer’s assailant is me, and the photographer was one of my close friends. It took quite a bit of time to set up the lighting, proper angle and other elements of the shot, and the muzzle flash and officer’s gun had to be photoshopped in, but I like how it turned out. I hope you feel the same way.

Question: How did you choose which incidents to include in the book?

Answer: In order to grab and hold the reader’s attention, I choose tense, action-packed stories, but I also wanted a book that did more than tell engrossing “war stories.” I also wanted to show the courage and tenacity common among police officers, and therefore wrote about incidents involving officers who were courageous, able to keep fighting despite severe injuries, and/or otherwise able to win despite great odds against them. Moreover, since I wanted to offer valuable lessons for the readers, I picked incidents that provided clear examples of key points I wanted to offer. Meanwhile, as I analyzed each incident, other learning points came to mind, which led me to add a collage of other helpful tidbits for the readers.