Cop in the Classroom: Lessons I've Learned, Tales I've Told

Cop in the Classroom is a memoir about a deputy sheriff's career. The 33 personal stories are organized by chapters in which students ask the officer questions about his job. "Is your gun loaded?" "Have you ever arrested a drunk driver?" "Have you ever shot anyone?" "Did you ever have to watch anyone die?"

You will discover: What character traits are important for being a police officer; what it's like to make arrests and work fatality wrecks; how safe our schools are; the role of a school resource officer (SRO); what SROs do if they suspect child abuse; why sharing lunch and recess builds relationships; and the importance of support systems for youth.

"Jim Potter has accomplished something I didn't think anyone in law enforcement would do during my lifetime . . . write a 'first class' book about police officers from a totally new and extraordinarily insightful perspective. The stories take you through a rollercoaster of emotions, as they are hilarious, heart-breaking and inspiring."--Neal Trautman, Ph.D., Director, National Institute of Ethics

"This book is a unique insight into the special rapport that can develop between a school resource officer and students who seek adult help on a multitude of levels."--Dr. Wynona Winn, Superintendent of Schools, Hutchinson, Kansas

Jim Potter, a former school resource officer for 20 years, holds an M.A. degree in Education. A former teacher, he has been a facilitator in youth development, strengthening families, and economic justice. He is an award-winning writer for his play Under the Radar: Race at School. His debut novel, Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, will be published very soon.