On Being a Cop

Ever Wonder What It’s Like to Be a Cop? Father and son, Jim and Jay Padar, know well what it’s like. Both have served as Chicago police officers with over fifty years of combined experience between them. On Being a Cop describe the adrenaline-pumping, heart-pounding moments of their life-and-death experiences fighting crime, the emotional toll that the job takes upon them and their families, the value of a support system that includes chaplains, partners, and the public, and the moments that make doing the job all worthwhile. Fifty-three stories capture every aspect of a police career from being a rookie to working the graveyard shift, chasing criminals, playing fireman, visiting the morgue, and investigating heinous crimes. Whether it’s Jim dealing with riots in Chicago’s streets following Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination or Jay coping with the loss of officer’s close to him to suicide, readers will experience the tears, tragedies, and triumphs of being a police officer. In these pages, wrongs will be righted, lives saved, hearts broken, and friends, family, fatherhood, and faith will give these men the strength to go out and do it all over again the next day. So climb into the blue and white squad car, buckle your seatbelt, and see life on the streets of Chicago from a cop’s eyes.

Ever Wonder What It’s Like to Be a Cop? Father and son, Jim and Jay Padar, know well what it’s like. Both have served as Chicago police officers with over fifty years of combined experience between them. On Being a Cop describe the adrenaline-pumping, heart-pounding moments of their life-and-death experiences fighting crime, the emotional toll that the job takes upon them and their families, the value of a support system that includes chaplains, partners, and the public, and the moments that make doing the job all worthwhile. Fifty-three stories capture every aspect of a police career from being a rookie to working the graveyard shift, chasing criminals, playing fireman, visiting the morgue, and investigating heinous crimes. Whether it’s Jim dealing with riots in Chicago’s streets following Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination or Jay coping with the loss of officer’s close to him to suicide, readers will experience the tears, tragedies, and triumphs of being a police officer. In these pages, wrongs will be righted, lives saved, hearts broken, and friends, family, fatherhood, and faith will give these men the strength to go out and do it all over again the next day. So climb into the blue and white squad car, buckle your seatbelt, and see life on the streets of Chicago from a cop’s eyes.

Jim Padar is a married father of four and a grandfather of six. He holds a degree in Electronic Design and Technology from what is now DeVry University and a degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Illinois-Chicago. He is also a graduate of the 139th Session of the FBI National Academy. He joined the Chicago Police Department in 1966 where he worked as a patrol officer, tactical officer, homicide detective, sergeant, and lieutenant. In 1995, he accepted a position as Operations Manager for the City of Chicago's 911 system. He retired in the year 2000. In retirement, he spends his time writing and participating in Live Lit events in the Chicago area. Jay Padar is a married father of two. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Law Enforcement Administration from Western Illinois University and a Master's degree in Criminal Justice from Lewis University. He joined the Chicago Police Department in 1998 and has worked as a patrol officer, tactical officer, and currently holds the rank of sergeant. Jay is also a member of the Public Safety Writer's Association.