End Of Watch [Hardcover]

Robert Kirby (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 309 pages
• Publisher: University of Utah Press (February 23, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874807832
• ISBN-13: 978-0874807837
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,464,570 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars End of Watch, April 14, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: End Of Watch (Hardcover)

This is an excellent book. It is well written and researched. From the first story to the last it will hold your interest and leave you wanting to read "just one more" story.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An often unsung group has their story told, June 20, 2007

By 

Lisa Wangsgard "bibliophile" (Sunset,UT,USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: End Of Watch (Hardcover)

Robert Kirby is a former police officer turned writer who has written a book about the Utah police officers who have been murdered in the line of duty. Kirby's style is easy to read; he explains police procedure for the lay person very well. The title comes from the term for when a police officer ends his shift. One of the most surprising things in End of Watch is how little training early police officers received. Even in 1978, when Kirby started patrolling the streets of a small Utah town, it wasn't required that police officers attend the Police Academy before hitting the streets. As you can see from reading End of Watch, Utah is not exempt from danger, and many of the police deaths were earlier in the 20th century-- during what some people might think of as the good old days.
Another thought provoking thing about reading End of Watch is how stupid some of these crimes were. In 1974 a Utah Highway Patrol Officer pulled over a man for speeding. The driver shot the patrolman-- because he was going to be late for work! Stupid! This was the first officer killed by gunshots in the history of the Utah Highway Patrol. Previous Highway Patrol deaths involved traffic accidents-- sad, of course, but somewhat expected in that line of work.Sadly it hasn't been the last.
In Utah, Kirby is known for writing usually humorous columns for The Salt Lake Tribune. Read End of Watch, which is not humorous but an admirable piece of reporting. You will find yourself a lot more conscientious the next time you get pulled over.