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 First you must prepare the soil. Any farmer will tell you that no matter what crop you are planting, it is imperative to prepare the soil. Lt. Dan Marcou looked at each crop of new recruits he was assigned to train and realized that very few were prepared mentally to even begin training to be a police officer, much less be one.
All police trainers find recruits challenging, because they come to academies viewing this training as just another college class. They do not possess the proper mind set to learn and retain valuable survival lessons, because they can not perceive the realities of law enforcement.
It is made even more difficult at times at entry level, because recruits are enrolling in police basic training and they have been mentally prepared by movies such as “Training Day,” “The Departed,” “American Gangster,” “Gone Baby Gone,” and televisions shows such as, “The Shield,” and “CSI.” The depictions of law enforcement show police officers as being violent and corrupt. They also depict this excessive violence and corruption as the rule rather than the exception. The other depictions show law enforcement as glamorous, where the CSI’S drive fancy cars wear designer suits and handle one case at a time to its successful conclusion.
Some candidates would probably never pursue the career if they knew they may have to spend years in a patrol car. They might reconsider their career choice if they knew law enforcement would require that they work nights, weekends and holidays in uniform, with no chance or little chance of advancement.
How can you prepare recruits for their careers and or even help them decide if they are making the right career choice? How can you “prepare the soil,” and give them the proper mind-set for training? Lt. Dan Marcou has the answer. He retired from police work after 33 years as a full time police officer and he currently continues his 31 years as a police trainer. He has written a realistic police novel, which he designed to enlighten recruits to the realities of police work. It is designed to, “ prepare the soil,” that is the police recruit’s mind.
The book is a work of realistic police fiction, which takes place in a fictional city of La Claire, Wisconsin. The novel takes the main character Officer Dan McCarthy through his first five years in law enforcement to the moment he knows he is no longer a “rookie.”
It is written by an officer, who has experienced nearly every event depicted in the book.
Readers will also be introduced to Sgt. David Compton, who is the consummate professional Sergeant, Officer Gary Carpenter who is a courageous survivor, Officer Randy Stammos, the veteran cop, who mentors McCarthy and helps him become a success and the incorrigible Stanley Brockman, who has chosen the path of cynicism.
“The Calling. The Making of a Veteran Cop” has been written by Lt. Dan Marcou and published by Thunder Bay Press. The book is selling tremendously across the US and Canada. The book is allowing entry level recruits and potential law enforcement candidates to discover what law enforcement is really like. “The Calling,” is catching on with trainers and academies. It has become required reading in many and recommended in many more. Dog eared copies are circulating amongst veteran officers, who are finding its message a reinvigorating shot in the arm.
Police family members are picking the book up and finding it gives them insight into the experiences of the beloved cop in their family. It is also just a good read.
Many trainers are discovering recruits do not know what they are in for and the book is way to give them proper perspective. The book allows readers to ride along with Officer Dan McCarthy of the La Claire Police Department on his sojourn from rookie to veteran. The reader will experience bar fights a riot, violent domestics, shootings, pursuits and a quiet night or two. It is a new kind of learning tool for recruits and book readers are finding they can’t put it down. It is a stress inoculation for the real world and in turn preparing them to train seriously for the real world.
Chuck Remsberg of Calibre Press and Street Survival fame calls it “ a great book.” Chief Steven C. Bronson book reviewer for Policeone gives it an “A plus,” and recommends the book as required reading for “every rookie, police recruit and police cadet.” The book has a five star rating at Barnes and Noble and is available there as well as Amazon.com. For a free electronic copy of a study guide for this book or to purchase a personally signed copy to a Modern Knight contact Lt. Dan Marcou at marcoudj@charter.net.
About The Author – Dan Marcou retired in 2006 after 33 years as a highly decorated police officer. He has taught police officers nationally and internationally and has become recognized for his innovative approaches to tactical training. These include the La Crosse Method of Crowd Control, The Five Phases of the Active Shooter, Interactive Firearms Training, and the philosophy of Ket Satsu Jitsu (The Police Way of Combat.) If you wish to contact “Lt. Dan” he can be reached at marcoudj@charter.net .
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About
the Author:
Lt. Dan Marcou arrested his last Felon on November 1,
2006. He retired after 32 years 11 months and six days of Law Enforcement
Service. He was highly decorated member of the La Crosse Wisconsin
Police Department. He and Officer Robert Michalski were named SWAT
Officers of the year for their initial response to an Active Shooter,
wearing a vest, armed with a handgun and an Uzi sub-machine gun. The
killer had shot five people and sprayed the top floor of an occupied
hotel. No one died after Marcou and Michalski arrived. The suspect
is in prison serving two life sentences. His last intended victim,
who survived was a veteran of the War in Iraq. “Lt. Dan” is
currently a very active Police Trainer.
A Date with Destiny:
5 Phases of the Active Shooter
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