Customer Reviews

One Stands Alone

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had the opportunity to sit down and talk to Mr. Smith for a while and that in itself was an educational experiance. If he happens to be coming to a book signing near you, make it a point to meet him and by all means purchase this book. Whether you have some knowledge of law enforcement or not, this is a "can't put it down" book. Go on calls with the author that take you to murder scenes, on 100+ mph car chases. Feel the anger, the sorrow, the frustration. If you ever had the idea that you could be a cop, or you ever wondered "Why is there never a cop around when you need one" this book answers that and many more questions. The next time you see a cop, you'll be a little more sympathetic to his situation. It makes you think.

This book was very well written, I felt like I was part of it. I never really realized Police Officers dealt with such stressing ordeals and the things they have to go thru.As an Rsd suffer myself I can feel Richards pain and all the losses he suffered. Great and Powerful reading, Whens a seqel coming out?

We live in a world where most Americans seem to take for granted their rights as citizens. We expect and demand protection and seldem do we understand or thank those who have taken the oath to protect us. In this book, the author has taken the reader by the hand and led him into the world a law enforcement officer lives in twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. The average citizen never experiences the fear, harrassment and personal loss that a police officer takes on when he puts on that badge. The author has done an excellant job of describing the day to day life of an officer without using the professional jargon that most people would not understand. He allows the reader to feel his fustration, lonliness and anger at the ills of our society and its bureaucracy. This is a must read for anyone wanting to enter that world and for those of us who take for granted the men and women in uniform who have sworn to protect us. You will leave with a better understanding and appreciation for law enforcement officers and their families.

Richard Smith lets us into his many years as a diligent

policeman,protecting the citizen's of Durham-Raleigh,N.C.

The long hours,working different shifts and seeing what

human's can do to one another. Especially, when they are

drunk or taking drugs.

After all the years, missing Holidays,common in police work,

Richard gets felled by serious health problems. Not a man to

complain, he likes his work and does it well. He starts to get

injuries that are work related.He has to take time off, for a

leg and wrist injury he sustained.

His Orthopedic Dr. did surgery on his leg tendons. It failed

to help so another Dr. a physiatritrist, diagnosed RSD.

Which means Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, a disease that can

be treated but not cured.Richard remained on disability and

had ten spinal blocks to help him.

He described his pain like a combination of arthritis, muscular

dystrophy, and cancer. It crippled you like the first two ilnesses and spread through your body with excrutiating pain like the last. This is the sufferers excellent description.

Having to relie on others tested his perserverance. He was sent to a caring psychologist, who worked with him and told him he had Post-traumatic Syndrome Disorder, common among police from their type of work.

After 18 years on the police force and obtaining an Advanced Law Enforcement Certification, the highest level to acheive in this field of police work in North Carolina. Richard could have retired peacefully. But he continues help others in various ways. He has suffered the result of a chronic illness, few of

the cops he worked with stop by, but he is tutoring children and say's "I'm Never Standing Alone".

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My only criticism is that it was too short. It was an exciting journey through a world that most people do not even know exists and proves, once and for all, that most people don't know or care what cops do until they are the victims of a crime. It is a thankless job, in most cases, as shown by what happened to Richard. I loved the book.

For anyone involved with someone in law enforcement, anyone in law enforcement suffering PTSD, for anyone wanting a realistic view of what it takes to be a LEO, then this is the book for you. written in plain english, its easily understood by everyone. It's an eye opener for those not involved in law enforcement as to what really goes on behind the seemingly unemotional mask of every officer.

Anyone going into law enforcement or with a love one in law enforcement should read this book. It carries the readers through the day to day life of an officer. Never in my wildest dreams did I realize the stress level and physical demands placed on someone in this field. I think Richard did a great job and hopes he continues with other books.

If all citizens could read this book I think everyone would have a greater appreciation for all of the men and women in uniform that try to protect us. Very interesting reading - I dare you to try to put this one down!

I gave this book to my son-in-law for his birthday in 2001. He is a policeman locally and love the book so much. He had his wife to read the book because he says that every woman married to a policeman needs to read this book so they will understand what they go thru. Personally, I have the same condition that Richard Smith has which is Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. I think its great that Richard wrote this book because living with pain all the time isn't that easy, but Richard shows us that we can do anything even though we have a disability.

After becoming disabled with PTSD, I went in search for others who might understand and be able to offer me some insight. That's when I found and purchased Richard's book, from the moment it arrived in the mail, I couldn't put it down. One Stands Alone not only met, but it exceeded all of my expectaions. Reading Richard's book helped me to understand that I wasn't the only one in the world who had been over exposed to situations and scenes while doing my job. Richard, describes scenes which bare his sole and must have been very difficult, yet he keeps such a positive attitude. That alone gave me faith and understanding, it doesn't matter who you are, this is a great read written by a very talented writer.