I Love a Cop, Revised Edition: What Police Families Need to Know (Paperback)

by Ellen Kirschman (Author)
Key Phrases: cop couples, police families, lice work, Critical Incidents, Growing Old, Young Person's Profession (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is as necessary for the overall survival of our law enforcement officers as their vests, weapons, and officer safety tactics. The realities of the job have changed in the post-9/11 world, and the revised edition arrives just in time. Dr. Kirschman provides an in-depth look at the daily challenges facing the law enforcement officer and family, and offers specific strategies for overcoming the pitfalls that potentially take such a heavy toll. This book should be issued to every recruit entering the profession."--Kevin M. Gilmartin, PhD, author of Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement

"When I was Police Chief in Toronto, every graduating police officer received a copy of [i]I Love A Cop[/i]. The revised edition convinces me even more that it is the right thing to do if you wish to promote wellness in your organization. This is a 'must read' for all progressive police leaders who really care about officers and their families."--David Boothby, Chief of Police (Retired), Toronto, Ontario, Canada

"Powerful elements of this book include multiple text boxes of pithy tips ranging from dealing with organizational stress to dealing with cops in crisis....A second decisive element is the liberal use of personal stories gleaned from her two decades of working within the police culture with officers and their families. These stories breathe life into her chapters....I highly recommend [this book] to mental health professionals, faith based helpers, peer supporters, and family members. [It offers] invaluable insights and constructive suggestions..."--International Journal of Emergency Mental Health "Police families can, in fact, thrive, and [Kirschman's] got the success stories to prove it. Preparedness is one of the keys to that state, and this book...shows how to get there."--Library Journal

Product Description

Will police work change the person you love? Are police marriages destined to fail? What are the chances of your loved one being killed in the line of duty? Since its publication nearly a decade ago, I Love a Cop has earned high praise from family members and police departments worldwide for providing answers to these and other critical questions. Now, this trusted resource has been revised to address the realities of post-9/11, post-Katrina police work. New topics include coping with separations and long deployments, building resilience, and finding opportunities for growth in the wake of traumatic experiences. The book also provides up-to-date information on organizational stress, alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and special challenges faced by women and minorities on the force. Whether they read it cover to cover or refer to it when problems arise, families will find no-nonsense advice and resources they can depend on.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 340 pages
• Publisher: The Guilford Press; Revised edition (December 16, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159385353X
• ISBN-13: 978-1593853532
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #12,896 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intended especially for the loved ones of police offers, April 11, 2007

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Written by clinical psychologist Ellen Kirschman, Ph.D., whose specific area of expertise lies in helping police officers and their families, I Love a Cop: What Police Families Need To Know is a straightforward, "tell-the-facts" guide, now in a newly revised edition, written especially for the significant others, spouses, and family members of police officers. Being a cop is a demanding job, and sometimes the very skills required for competence - such as being able to suppress strong emotions like fear, anger, or even compassion - are harmful to officers' private and personal lives if carried over to the home. I Love a Cop gives practical, no-nonsense advice to what to expect from the demands of the job, coping with stress or trauma, and much more. Of especial value are the chapters about dealing with domestic abuse, threats of suicide, or other severe cases and problems - including how to recognize the warning signs and when there is no other option than to just get out. Though I Love a Cop is intended especially for the loved ones of police offers, its solid advice is also highly recommended for the loved ones of anyone in a high-stress, risky or demanding occupation. I Love a Cop is also highly recommended as supplemental reading for anyone considering a policing career, as there is also plenty of sage wisdom about what to expect on the job and how to balance demands of the job with those of family life.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars MUST HAVE BOOK, February 13, 2008

By	A. Davis (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a must have for anyone going into, thinking about going into or already in Law enforcement; especially if you are married or getting married. This book will help prepare you for the social and personal hardships you will face as a police officer. The author uses real stories from police family's to give the reader ways of working out problems in the family unit that are caused directly because of work. This book will not only help you as the cop prepare for whats to come but it will help your loved once understand what you go through on a daily basis and give you the tools you need to have a healthy relationship while serving your community.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars good information to have, May 4, 2008

By	copmomma - See all my reviews

This book is pretty good at explaining what goes on in police families although a lot of families, mine included, are not really included in this book. I guess you could say we have a good family life and my husband does not bring his work home with him. We do talk about everything though so I am not shut out of his work. It gave me a better understanding of the stresses he has to deal with and what to look out for in case hethings change. Again, good book but more from a clinical point of view.