Cop Out: How a Former Police Officer became a Fugitive for over 20 years Living in the Woods and Other Locations While Evading Law Enforcement and Eventually Surrendered to God and Authorities (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: pimp lady, Robert Davis, New Orleans, Father Clements (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Cop Out is a true account of how a former police officer survived as a fugitive while evading authorities and eventually surrendered to God. This narrative approach of survival and skill encompasses a diversity of stories and experiences, including life in wooded terrain and survival as a fugitive for over twenty years.

This account serves as a means for the readers to envision challenges as a true survivor leading to surrender regardless of the outcome. Reflections are provided to aid readers’ understanding of this lengthy journey from periods of atheism to acceptance of God.

This book is divided into time components from 1977 to 2002 sharing details of the journey as an escaped criminal from New Orleans to Canada and other notable locations in Illinois, Tennessee, North Carolina, California, and Florida. This story includes encounters with notable politicians and other persons of interest.

Dynamics and difficulties in relationships are discussed in great depth. Critical and integrative perspectives abound in this transformation from ghetto product to law enforcement officer to fugitive to freedom. This account would be of great interest to Christians as well as the general community.

About the Author

Robert Davis is a native New Orleanian and former police officer with the New Orleans Police Department. He studied at Loyola University and is an avid reader. Mr. Davis enjoys physical fitness and served as a personal trainer

Product Details

• Paperback: 178 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (January 24, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595425437
• ISBN-13: 978-0595425433
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,313,952 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incerdible story, February 16, 2007

By	Reader Views "www.readerviews.com" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (2/07)

"Cop Out" is the story of Robert L. Davis. Abandoned by his father, Robert lived with his maternal grandmother and eight siblings in Hollygrove, a ghetto area of New Orleans. By the time of his high school graduation Robert had become proficient in stealing and stripping cars and was becoming entrenched in a life of crime. Two young neighbors, New Orleans police officers, influenced Robert to become a recruit for the police academy.

Corruption within the police department and the example of "bad" cops on the force gave Robert a false sense of his core values and an incident arose that caused him to be examined by the department of internal affairs. He was later arrested. While out on bail, unable to face the possibility of a 30-year sentence to Angola Prison, Robert fled.

His story of evading authorities, as a fugitive, is one of survival. He lived for months at a time in wooded areas and in National Forests. This first-person, fast-paced narrative takes Robert from New Orleans to Canada, from coast to coast.

His reflections and stories tell of significant influences of some of the people he met in bus stations, railroad yards, homeless shelters, church missions, and day job centers.

I appreciated Robert's open, frank, approach in relating his feelings. He has made himself vulnerable. His story is one that will create questions and cause you to seek answers. His journals are filled with a pattern of family, friends, acquaintances, and girlfriends challenging his atheism as he challenged their Christian message. The book is thought provoking for Christian and non-Christian alike.

The central truth of the book is this: the miracle of the redemptive reality of God is that the worst and the most despicable offender can never exhaust the depths of His love. As Robert experienced the miracle of God's redemptive love, after over twenty years of flight, he surrendered, first to God and then to the authorities.

This is a remarkable story of transformation. An angry atheistic criminal was recreated to become a man with "a compassion for the poor, love to those in need, patience to the foolish, and laughter with the innocent."

"Cop Out" is a must read book for anyone considering or involved in the area of criminal justice, faith based ministries, parole officers, gang members, and juvenile offenders. Challenging, life-changing, inspirational.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational and Thought Provoking, March 29, 2007

By	Thomas J. Packer (London, England) - See all my reviews

COP OUT is a marvelous and revealing story. That a man would be willing to divulge all of his life is amazing. I sensed no hold back or hesitation as he tells his remarkable story.

In the beginning, I was very uncomfortable reading this story. I experienced moments of sadness, then a slight moment of disgust, a little happiness, coupled with anger, then some other feelings I can't quite explain. That he revealed 'all' caused my discomfort. Most people hold back a little bit. It's like he was glad to expose his entire life. A very courageous person.

I challenge any living human being to reveal of his life the way Robert has reveal his rugged and lonely life. Honesty is a word we all use too much, but this epic memoir is just that: pure honesty, frankness, and truthfulness.

I wouldn't be surprise in the future to see this story transformed into a major movie. I would certainly love to meet this man, not just because the book was well written, but because this man has got to have God's divine wisdom and blessings.

Read COP OUT, after reading you'll never be the same.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful and Dynamic, September 27, 2007

By	Mrs. Janice Eisen (Lyons, France) - See all my reviews

When I first heard of this book and it's contents I must admit I had a deep problem with it. The first problem was I hate any bad police officers. Members of my family have suffer at the hands of 'rogue' cops more than once. My second problem was his treatment of women through his many years while on the run. Of course I as a female would have serious issues with this subject, but I promised 'other' women who had read the book that I would at least attempt to read the book. Many of my friends say the book is an excellent read and that I was sure to enjoy it.

Well I finally read the book. I glad I did. This book has cause me to question my morals and values. This book is extremely deep and revealing. It's about more than a misguided and easily influence police officer. It's shares with the reader more than various flings with women from all walks. This book is about what could happen to you, me, or anyone. I realized the weakness of all humans.
But the most shocking and most awesome parts of the book is the author's struggle to actually live a large part of his life without family, friends, and other human company for many years. That is a feat that many of us cannot perform. Many couldn't live in the woods and forests for 22 days, as opposed to his 22 years.

Sure we all can point out his weaknesses as a police officer, but we need to also be mindful of his incredible resolve and deligence to do the one thing that many couldn't do....survive under harsh circumstances and apologize for his past behavior.
As far as his treatment of females, I still don't like it. But I can now understand that survival causes one to do things that are 'out of the norm', and surely his life was out of the norm. The author is not arrogant, harsh, or belligerent in the end. He apologize for his past life and I for one certainly accept his apology. I just hope that I'm able to have the courage to apologize so easily when I make my mistakes.