Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book free of charge,from Waldorf Publishing, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about them.
Synopsis:
Grant Whitus joined the Colorado S.W.A.T in 1992. His seventeen year career was one of constant headlines. Among leading countless drug raids and hostage situations, he was on the front lines of the Columbine Massacre, The Platte County Tragedy, the Albert Petrosky shooting, and the Granby tank rampage. Speaking for the first time, Whitus gives the unvarnished truth of those, and many other, major S.W.A.T operations. Now retired, he opens up about his time behind the shield. Bullet Riddled is the full unabridged disclosure of what happened during his storied career; including the brutal morning of the Columbine Massacre.
More than just a retelling, Bullet-Riddled is an in-depth look at the day-to-day of S.W.A.T and focuses on the men and women who inherit so much pain to keep us safe. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the aftermath of the Columbine tragedy. The following days saw major changes within S.W.A.T. Men cracked, leaders folded and the entire country demanded changes. But these changes, like all reforms, met with stiff resistance from the old guard. Friendships turned into rivals and the infrastructure of S.W.A.T began to unravel. As resignations piled up, Grant rebuilt the entire team from hand-selected recruits. He finally had his elite team, one that would face new demons and disorders.
Review:
This new book comes out on the first, and it may seem like the wrong time, but in reality it is the right time. Columbine was 17 years ago, but in reality it seems like just yesterday. Look at your kids' schools. How many 'safety' features have been put into place since Columbine? How hard is it to just walk on campus now? Tragedies like Columbine have far far reaching affects.
This book helps to take the uninitiated civilian into the lives of officers and how at a moment's notice they are called to make life and death decisions. They are NOT robots. While they may have sworn to protect, no one wants to take a bullet really, nor do they want to take a life, no matter what the MEDIA tries to tell you. The men and women of law enforcement are HUMAN. Much like their military counterparts, PTSD is one of the dominoes they have to face. Every law enforcement officer has a 'story' an event or situation that stays with them. Grant had many unfortunately, due to the different incidents. But having a SWAT team he knew he could count on made the difference.
This book has many tragedies, but it is an example of how law enforcement has become a stand between good and evil. And like any warfare, there are those who are affected in a negative way, and those who soldier on in the fight for good. I think the public forgets the horrors that law enforcement have to deal with and focus on the negatives. Grant shows in this book how negatives can be turned positive, and how good can win the day.
If you have anyone who is thinking about going into law enforcement (bless them), they may want to read this book for an honest look at the other side, of life behind the badge. For others it might be am intriguing look at a profession that is too often denigrated without knowledge.
About the Author:
Sergeant Grant Whitus is a 26 year veteran of the Jefferson County Sheriff's office in the Denver, Colorado area and retired as a Sergeant. He served 17 years on SWAT, the last seven years as the SWAT Team Leader and is an expert in Mass Shootings and is also certified as an expert in Close Quarter Battle, which is classified as a firearms shoot-out within a close distance such as a school room. Grant was the Lead Shield SWAT Member during the Columbine High School shooting. He gave aid to the teacher who was shot and then was the first to enter the library and locate the shooters. Grant has the true and accurate account of what occurred at Columbine as he was the first officer on the scene. He also was the SWAT Team Leader who devised and executed the explosive tactical plan for the Hostage Rescue at Platte Canyon High School in September 2006, the only one of its kind. Grant served as the SWAT Team Leader during an Officer Rescue where over thirty rounds were fired. The officer was rescued without injury while the suspect was shot by SWAT. Additionally, he was the SWAT Team Leader during the Bulldozer Incident in Granby, Colorado. Grant has received 16 Medals including five Medals for Valor and is the most decorated at the Jefferson County Sheriff s office. In 2002, Grant and his SWAT Team were honored as Police Officers of the Year . Grant has been featured on: FOX NEWS, ABC, CNN, CBS, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Law Enforcement Today, NBC, MSNBC, FOX & Friends... to list a few.
Synopsis:
Grant Whitus joined the Colorado S.W.A.T in 1992. His seventeen year career was one of constant headlines. Among leading countless drug raids and hostage situations, he was on the front lines of the Columbine Massacre, The Platte County Tragedy, the Albert Petrosky shooting, and the Granby tank rampage. Speaking for the first time, Whitus gives the unvarnished truth of those, and many other, major S.W.A.T operations. Now retired, he opens up about his time behind the shield. Bullet Riddled is the full unabridged disclosure of what happened during his storied career; including the brutal morning of the Columbine Massacre.
More than just a retelling, Bullet-Riddled is an in-depth look at the day-to-day of S.W.A.T and focuses on the men and women who inherit so much pain to keep us safe. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the aftermath of the Columbine tragedy. The following days saw major changes within S.W.A.T. Men cracked, leaders folded and the entire country demanded changes. But these changes, like all reforms, met with stiff resistance from the old guard. Friendships turned into rivals and the infrastructure of S.W.A.T began to unravel. As resignations piled up, Grant rebuilt the entire team from hand-selected recruits. He finally had his elite team, one that would face new demons and disorders.
Review:
This new book comes out on the first, and it may seem like the wrong time, but in reality it is the right time. Columbine was 17 years ago, but in reality it seems like just yesterday. Look at your kids' schools. How many 'safety' features have been put into place since Columbine? How hard is it to just walk on campus now? Tragedies like Columbine have far far reaching affects.
This book helps to take the uninitiated civilian into the lives of officers and how at a moment's notice they are called to make life and death decisions. They are NOT robots. While they may have sworn to protect, no one wants to take a bullet really, nor do they want to take a life, no matter what the MEDIA tries to tell you. The men and women of law enforcement are HUMAN. Much like their military counterparts, PTSD is one of the dominoes they have to face. Every law enforcement officer has a 'story' an event or situation that stays with them. Grant had many unfortunately, due to the different incidents. But having a SWAT team he knew he could count on made the difference.
This book has many tragedies, but it is an example of how law enforcement has become a stand between good and evil. And like any warfare, there are those who are affected in a negative way, and those who soldier on in the fight for good. I think the public forgets the horrors that law enforcement have to deal with and focus on the negatives. Grant shows in this book how negatives can be turned positive, and how good can win the day.
If you have anyone who is thinking about going into law enforcement (bless them), they may want to read this book for an honest look at the other side, of life behind the badge. For others it might be am intriguing look at a profession that is too often denigrated without knowledge.
About the Author:
Sergeant Grant Whitus is a 26 year veteran of the Jefferson County Sheriff's office in the Denver, Colorado area and retired as a Sergeant. He served 17 years on SWAT, the last seven years as the SWAT Team Leader and is an expert in Mass Shootings and is also certified as an expert in Close Quarter Battle, which is classified as a firearms shoot-out within a close distance such as a school room. Grant was the Lead Shield SWAT Member during the Columbine High School shooting. He gave aid to the teacher who was shot and then was the first to enter the library and locate the shooters. Grant has the true and accurate account of what occurred at Columbine as he was the first officer on the scene. He also was the SWAT Team Leader who devised and executed the explosive tactical plan for the Hostage Rescue at Platte Canyon High School in September 2006, the only one of its kind. Grant served as the SWAT Team Leader during an Officer Rescue where over thirty rounds were fired. The officer was rescued without injury while the suspect was shot by SWAT. Additionally, he was the SWAT Team Leader during the Bulldozer Incident in Granby, Colorado. Grant has received 16 Medals including five Medals for Valor and is the most decorated at the Jefferson County Sheriff s office. In 2002, Grant and his SWAT Team were honored as Police Officers of the Year . Grant has been featured on: FOX NEWS, ABC, CNN, CBS, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Law Enforcement Today, NBC, MSNBC, FOX & Friends... to list a few.
I remember when Columbine happened. It seems weird to think that high school now weren't even born then.
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