30 Years a Cop: What It's Really Like to Put on a Badge and Risk Your Life Every Day

by Michael Csoke

If you’ve ever wanted to know what it’s really like to put on a badge to serve and protect, Michael Csoke is more than happy to tell you. In his 30-year career, he has encountered and dealt with everything from smash-and-grab artists and street corner crack dealers to the most sophisticated crime organizations and international fugitives, including war criminals. Most of his work has been on the rough and tumble streets of Hamilton, Ontario — a city dominated by the Mafia and biker gangs as it struggled to find itself after the steel industry left town for good.

30 Years a Cop is a fascinating, in-depth examination of what it means to be a big city police officer. Csoke’s sincere and candid observations challenge the public perception of policing, it also puts a human face on the profession.

“As you read my stories, you might wonder how you could have been so naive about what was going on in your city.” — Csoke

354 pages, Paperback

Published March 13, 2025

Reviews

[Jen Jones]

A realistic portrait of what policing in Hamilton, Ontario, is like from an officer who held himself—and others—to high standards.

[Paul Manning]

Just a mish mash of stories and newspaper cuttings Mike collected in a big black folder over the years, then gave to a ghost writer. No flow. No heart. Just going through the motions. Boring book!

[Ashley Cureton]

The only risk in this book is the definite risk that you have wasted both time and money.

[Ian Webb]

Poorly written. It's like reading a police report. Stale, with no atmosphere. I couldn't connect with the writer.