Book Reviews

S. H. Verstappen

December 16, 2014

In the U.S. today more returning veterans die by their own hand than are killed in action. Depression, substance abuse, alienation, marital problems and ultimately suicide is epidemic among our military and law enforcement personnel. Time after time the cause of these problems has been identified as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Jim is emblematic of today’s soldiers and police officers. A gentle giant of a man, Jim entered the police force for the same reasons so many young men and women do, to serve their country, to make a difference, to fight for justice and fairness. Jim quickly became leader of Toronto’s first tactical SWAT team the Emergency Task Force. They trained like Spec Ops teams in the military trained.Then, in the space of a week, Jim’s team was involved in three tragic shooting incidents, a first in Canadian history. A year later, Jim was found, like many veterans are found, in his car on the side of the road, with an empty liquor bottle in one hand and his service weapon in the other.

Only Jim didn’t pull the trigger.

This was the breaking point that set Jim on the road to recover from PTSD and rebuild his shattered life.

This book is for military personnel, veterans, police officers, and their families. The stress of the job can be a killer and because of the macho attitude among soldiers and police, they are left with no address to the emotional damage they have incurred. Typically they are told to “Walk it off soldier” or “Man up and get over it.” But as the tragic statistics show, these men and women cannot just get over it. They need help and they do not need to be stigmatized for getting it.

Jim’s book will help those suffering from PTSD to understand they are not alone, that they need a plan to get better, and that they are not weak for seeking counseling.

Excellent and relative book for today’s police officer

Catherine McDonald

April 23, 2016

Well written and I felt like I was reading my own story through the the book. Filled with honesty & humility that p voided insight into the struggles LEOs deal with from day to day that begin to pile up on shoulders like a giant rock weighing us down. It gives me hope that I can through hard work and determination conqueror my demons and win my life back after 10+ years of service as a police officer.

Really liked it

Shelves, Feb, 2016
Annie Kookie
The book was interesting and relevant, using multiple perspectives to paint a more full depiction of the effects of PTSD and cumulative trauma. The book did seems intended for someone who might be personally affected by OSI and therefore was not overindulgent in emotional drivel but rather had a good amount of informative and assistive information for one who might require it.
A relevant read.