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A Spirituality For Police Officers

by John Moreno

160 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #02-1018; ISBN 1-55395-303-7; US$17.50, C$19.95, EUR14.50, £10.00

Spiritual help for those in law enforcement and their families.

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About the Book      About the Author      Sample Excerpts      Catalogue Info

About the Book Under the police shield is a real live person. The experiences of police work has an effect upon that person. This book is an attempt to have the reader weigh how their experiences are affecting them as persons. Is what they are dealing with on a daily basis having an effect upon their relationships with family, friends, neighbors and most important their God? The author shares real life police experiences, drawn from 30 years of service to the New York City Police Department. He shares how the work made him feel. There is that ongoing struggle in trying to be both a tough enforcer of the law and a loving, caring, popular human being and a person of faith. As a rookie officer, working with an old timer, he is warned of the three Bs, booze, broads and bucks and how they are the downfall of many officers. He is admonished by a superior officer for not beating a prisoner who had assaulted him on the street. He fights back tears at the sight of his first DOA, an infant. In all of this the author seeks holiness. He wrestles with the question, can I be a tough, no nonsense, effective police officer and still lead a holy life, Police work offers the officer many opportunities to get into trouble, or to grow in holiness. Frequently it is the same incident and depends on how the officer handles it, whether it brings him or her down or lifts him or her up. The book is written from the perspective of a Roman Catholic, however, anyone holding a belief in God should find helpful material in its pages. It would also be interesting for anyone who has relatives or friends in law enforcement, helping them to understand what the officer struggles with.

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About the Author Mr. Moreno was born and raised in New York City. In 1951 he married Eileen McTiernan, his childhood sweetheart. They have three daughters and five grandchildren. In 1955 he joined the New York City Police department and retired at the rank of lieutenant in 1984. While on the job he earned an Associate Degree in Police Science and later a Bachelor Degree in Theology. Upon retiring he accepted a position on the staff of the Bishop Molloy Retreat House, working with the Passionist Community of priests and brothers. While working there he went on to earn a Masters Degree in Catholic Doctrine. After leaving that position he became associated with the Marianist Community organizing, promoting and offering spiritual programs at their Emmanuel Marianist Retreat House. He is founder of Catholic Lay Preachers, a small group of experienced lay speakers offering their talents to religious organizations.

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Sample Excerpts

The Police Academy can teach law, procedures, tactics, the required paper work and how to fire a weapon. It cannot teach the rookie officer how to deal with his/her very personal emotions and feelings as they encounter the endless variety of police assignments.

Police officers live in two different worlds. They have roles to play in each and struggle with balancing their commitment to the demands each world places on them.

All of this provides a real challenge for those officers whose faith is important to them. What is their obligation when they witness a fellow officer being abusive, dishonest or drinking on duty. How do they respond when questioned by a supervisor, or the Internal Affairs Division, about an incident that may put another officer in jeopardy.

As officers we are witness to so much pain in the lives of so many people. It is, however, other peoples pain. What happens when it comes home? How does the officer cope when he/she is victim, when it is their family dealing with tragedy?

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Catalogue Information

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