Deputy While Immigrant - Book Review

Tom Peine is the author of Deputy while Immigrant - the Story of a German who Became a Deputy Sheriff in Arizona. His memoir includes many personal recollections of his life experiences as a law enforcement officer. He states that his purpose in writing was not to entertain but to describe the "perpetually changing kaleidoscope of events” he experienced during his life. Readers will be swept into the events, emotions, and thinking patterns of this outsider who was thrust into other people's lives while serving as a deputy sheriff.

Tom Peine was raised in Germany. He met his wife, Annie, while she was stationed in Germany with the U.S. Department of Defense. Peine was a global account manager of a software company when they moved to the United States in 2001. Peine relates his personal, chilling account of approaching the Twin Towers for a meeting on September 11, 2001. History students should read his visceral account of the turmoil and tragedy of that fateful day. Older readers will reminisce about their own reactions to that infamous day in history.

The author continues with stories about how he eventually moved to Arizona and went through deputy sheriff training at the age of 40. He learned the sobering effects of pepper spray and arduous physical training. He says, "Cops are the referees of society." After 20 weeks of training and 12 weeks of fieldwork, he is on his own to work his first death, tragic traffic stops, and conflict with undocumented aliens.

Peine’s writing style is personal and relatable. He reveals how taught experiences tangle with reality in his head as he must make snap decisions in the field. With several years of duty under his belt, Peine is reassigned to the detective unit with more training and a different kind of casework. Later, he became the spokesperson for the Sheriff's Department with new challenges. In full circle, he returns to visit his high school in Germany and relates his experiences in the United States.

This book should be highly recommended for young people interested in becoming part of the police force and for the edification of citizens who either praise or condemn what they hear about the police from the media. The raw material of the stories Peine shares, enables the reader to better understand the training and stresses officers endure—a must-read for non-fiction lovers.

The appendix includes references for the radio codes mentioned in the text.