The Backpack

A Wounded Police Officer's Struggle with the Burden All Cops Share

By: BRANDON S. HULTINK

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Paperback | 7 April 2020

At a Glance

Paperback
186 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
22.1 x 15.0

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Wounded in the line of duty and paralysed, police officer Brandon Hultink made an amazing journey from despair to hope.

"I can still remember the taste of metal in my mouth from the barrel of the gun ..." After the shoot-out that put him in a wheelchair, police officer Brandon Hultink was ready to put an end to it all. In his frank and compelling memoir The Backpack, Hultink tells how he came to the worst moment of his life, and how faith in God and the humility to accept help brought him out of depression, addiction, and the wheelchair and back into successful life.

But Hultink's story isn't his alone - it is also the story of the thousands of police officers who struggle with depression and post-traumatic stress. Cops don't do touchy-feely; they stuff every trauma into a metaphorical "backpack" until the burden overwhelms them. Hultink writes unflinchingly of the mental health crisis affecting police officers and offers proposals for improving mental health services for police.

An intensely personal story of anguish and survival, The Backpack offers hope to everyone - police and civilian alike - who struggles with depression and pain.

About the Author

A graduate of Western Michigan University and the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Brandon S. Hultink served for fifteen years as an officer with the Battle Creek, Michigan, Police Department and for ten years as an assistant prosecutor with the Calhoun Country Prosecutor's Office. Hultink currently works as a parole agent for the Michigan Department of Corrections. He lives in Battle Creek with his wife and three sons. The Backpack is his first book.

Industry Reviews

"The Backpack is about the experiences, sacrifice and growth of one police officer but also about everyone in law enforcement who every day does what none of us want to do. It is a human story of why we say 'thank you for your service.'"-- "Trace Christenson, crime reporter, Battle Creek Enquirer"
"A required read for every cop, spouse or anyone who has an interest in law enforcement. This book is a 'punch in the mouth' reality check and could literally change your life. Read this book."-- "Retired Niagara Regional Police Service Sergeant Richard Brouwer"
"An impressive and candidly insightful read from cover to cover, The Backpack is extraordinary and unreservedly recommended."-- "John Taylor, MBR Bookwatch"
"An unflinching and courageous memoir of a cop who walked through hell and came out the other side. What sets The Backpack apart is how valuable a resource it is for people, particularly police officers, who are in pain. Highly recommended."-- "Adam Plantinga, author of 400 Things Cops Know and Police Craft"
"From shootouts to confrontations both with others and within, The Backpack is a memoir that provides a riveting personal story that is thoroughly engrossing, educational, and inspirational."-- "The Bookwatch"
"Powerful story of survival and true grit from a remarkable officer. Brandon has not allowed Sept. 25th, 2000, to define his character, but rather to reveal it. His story is raw, painful, and courageous as he takes us through the ups and down of his healing journey, the impact physically, mentally, and emotionally on him and his family -- it was not easy. Once Brandon realized this suffering was uniquely his own to bare, it allowed him to believe in the healing power of his faith, his family and himself. A must read for your emotional survival toolkit."-- "Battle Creek Police Chief Jim Blocker"

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