From Boy To Blue

Becoming One Of America's Finest

Non-Fiction - Memoir
229 Pages
Reviewed on 07/07/2017
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Author Biography

Steve honorably retired after over 15 years with the Denver Police Department. During that time, he was a patrol officer, neighborhood police officer, field training officer, financial crimes detective, sergeant, certified hostage negotiator, internal affairs investigator, and a supervisor in the media relations department. Steve was also twice awarded the department's Distinguished Service Cross & several Official Commendations. Steve has won two Emmy Awards and four Edward R Murrow Awards for his outstanding work with the Denver Police Department's media relations team. He was also Denver's first openly gay radio talk show host on the city's biggest AM station.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

If you want to know what it feels like to be a cop, to understand police procedures and their commitment, coupled with their fine sense of accountability, then reading Steve Warneke’s memoir will be best for you. From Boy To Blue: Becoming One Of America's Finest is a book about police work, written by one who has been in the service for a long time and who has seen civilians shot at, not just once, but many times. Over the most recent years, the relationship between officers and the public has deteriorated to one of mistrust and sheer lack of interest from the public. It’s not surprising that many people see officers as enemies of the people, as those who would hurt them upon the slightest provocation. But this book offers new insights and redefines the mission of police officers.

It is impossible not to feel some sympathy for the men and women in blue after reading this thrilling memoir. Perhaps the media would talk differently about these brave officers if they could understand the stress, the unpredictability of the job, and the uncomfortable surprises that come along with it. The author cautions that: “As you read, you will discover it is usually not a single traumatic event that changes a man into an officer; rather, it's night after night of seeing the most unbelievable things. After all, there is no telling what any night has in store for us.” From Boy To Blue: Becoming One Of America's Finest is a page-turner that offers readers the inside scope of an officer’s night, unveiling the dangers and risks, and focusing on what these men and women are called to do. Steve Warneke writes with great simplicity and the prose is as delightful as it is entertaining. This memoir is an eye-opener, a book that will change the way most of us see police officers.

Dr. Jaime Brower, Psy.D., ABPP

If you’re already familiar with what it’s like for cops, you’ll be praising Steve for finally throwing the spotlight on what really happens behind the scenes of an officer’s day to day. If you aren’t familiar with this perspective, Steve’s passion for the job, emotional honesty, and resilient sense of humor offer a provocative new look that will change the way you view modern day policing in America.

Dr. Marla Reis

What Steve Warneke achieves in his book is the humanization of the people in blue. His authentic writing style allows the reader to glimpse police officers as those absolutely committed to the greater good, yet imperfect at the same time. The book is funny and engaging - and shows the human struggles of these dedicated individuals in their communities and world at large.

John

Easy read. Very good book. Would recommend it to police and non-police. Interesting stories that entertain and give a unique perspective of being in a cop's shoes.

Colorado Native

I bought this Kindle book yesterday and it was excellent. I usually don't finish reading a 200 page book in a day but this was a rare exception. It was very enlightening and enjoyable reading and I highly recommend it.

From Boy to Blue is written so that people of all ages can understand and enjoy it, and it could be helpful in showing a young person upset by an event involving officers that the police are not their enemies and need not be feared. There are a lot of misconceptions about law enforcement which sadly often lead to negative perceptions about the police and their work. I am hoping books such as this one will help to break that cycle and help to repair the relationship between the community and police.

When one seeks to gain a deeper understanding regarding a given subject, it is important to not rely on hearsay or conjecture but to try to go to as many primary sources as possible, and on this topic it means to get information directly from law enforcement regarding how and why they are trained to react to situations as they are before an informed decision can be made about police.

This book is very helpful in understanding what officers must do to keep themselves and others safe, the need for them to be eternally vigilant against possible threats and to observe and act upon dangers that those of us lacking training would probably not notice.

I would also suggest as a sort of companion to this book that if possible, attend a Citizen's Police Academy. Police officers and District Attorneys will be there to explain the law, what police can and cannot do, when they can and cannot pull someone over, what types of weapons they use under what circumstances, why people are sometimes detained without arrest, and so forth. You can ask any questions you want and they will be happy to explain. It helped me understand the logic behind some things that I would see in a situation that would at first sight leave me confused. Since these important things are not being researched or covered by the mainstream media, it is ultimately up to us to seek that information and come to an understanding.

Andrew

An amazing first hand account. Stories that make you think and will challenge any perception. I highly recommend this read to anyone.

George P.

From Boy to Blue is a very easy and compelling read. The book is an intriguing and thought provoking collection of stories of a distinguished police officer serving in Colorado. Mr. Warneke’s stories offer incredible insight into the relationship between the police and the public, from the often forgotten perspective of police training and experience. Understanding this perspective will help the reader in any of their dealings with the police, and help the reader understand why the police behave in certain ways.

Mr. Warneke also effectively humanizes the police, reminding the reader that they make both personal and financial sacrifices to protect and serve the general public. This is particularly conveyed well when Mr. Warneke discusses his memories of fallen comrades.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in better understanding the relationship between the police and the public from the police’s perspective.