Midnights

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Funny, touching, and revealing, this memoir offers a rookie cop's perspective during midnight shifts in a mostly peaceful town. Alec Wilkinson, just twenty-three and fresh out of college with a music degree, takes a job as a policeman in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, despite having no training. His main qualification is his familiarity with the town of 2,000 people from his childhood summers. With a year of wearing a uniform and carrying a gun ahead of him, Wilkinson hopes for a quiet experience, but encounters high-speed chases, drunk drivers, and domestic squabbles. His partner candidly shares the challenges of the job, revealing the harsh realities of police work. An attempted bank robbery unfolds humorously when the teller convinces the robber that carrying $300 in cash is impractical. Throughout his journey, Wilkinson develops respect for his eight fellow officers, who share their insights on the often thankless nature of their work. One officer reflects on how they are usually called to handle people at their worst. This engaging narrative not only provides insight into the lives of police officers outside large cities but also marks the beginning of Wilkinson's career as a writer and essayist, making it a compelling read for anyone interested in the realities of law enforcement.