Second Chance

About the Book

Upon retiring from the New York City Transit Police Department after 22 years, I was given a second chance to start over, in a new police department and to be able to continue doing what I loved, being a police officer. What I didn't know at the time, the town of Palm Beach P.D. wasn't all that I thought it would be instead, the department revolved on favoritism; and if you questioned their decisions, they retaliated against you. This was obvious from the time I took my first promotion test for the rank of sergeant. I was passed over for the next three promotions, even though I was higher up on the list. They employed the” Peter Principle”, promote the man to his next level of incompetence. I had the moral courage to speak up, and the rank and file stood idly by. Then the retaliation started, lower yearly evaluations, refusal to sign off on off duty police courses, to further my law enforcement career, avoid rewarding me Officer of the Month for outstanding arrests; it went to officers with mediocre arrests, eleven {11} years to fully reach top out pay whereby other officers reached the top after four to five years, assigned to least desirable patrol zones for long periods of time. After working for the two past chiefs, the department turned around. I never gave up, and I maintained my moral courage to stand up for what was right. Finally, after eleven {11} years, I was recognized for who I was and what I stood for. The next nine years were most rewarding. 10% of all sales of this book will go to the fallen law enforcement officers memorial funds, Washington, DC, so that they won’t be forgotten.

About the Author

The author, Joe Hawk is a dedicated law enforcement officer. He gave forty-two {42} years to his law enforcement career; first starting in New York City, patrolling the streets and subways. From time to time, he was tasked to train recruits, and fellow police officers in firearms. He was tasked with writing a police officer test whereby, he was sworn in as a New York City, Police Personnel Examiner. In addition, he was tasked to write a job analysis, what a police officer does on a routine basis; this was the prerequisite for the police physical agility test. He was promoted to sergeant whereby, he trained new recruits in stakeout and surveillance techniques. He supervised newly appointed recruit officers on a nightly basis during 8 p.m. to 4:00 A.M tour of duty. Joe Hawk made numerous outstanding arrests, which are featured in his first book,” It's What We Do”. He supervised a twelve {12} man team for four {4} years while he was a sergeant, with the Task Force accounting for over 7,000 arrests and the issuance of over 43,000 summonses. He acquired numerous medals over the years and was Officer of the Month twice. He only missed about ten {10} days’ work, sick time, throughout his career. Second Chance gave him the opportunity to continue doing what he loved to do, being a police officer. He had a most rewarding career with the Palm Beach P.D., despite the pitfalls that he encountered during his first eleven years. He was a model officer for other officers, displaying moral courage and leadership abilities, while fighting an uphill battle of favoritism and retaliation. Officers came to him for answers instead of going to their immediate supervisors. Most of the officers called him “Doctor.”