This woman overcame incredible childhood abuse to become an amazing police officer

 

It’s a miracle that Jamie Rooney turned into such an amazing adult. Her childhood was a nightmare of neglect, physical abuse, and severe poverty. She was surrounded by abusers of alcohol and drugs.

Jamie’s book, Black To Blue, published by North Country Press, is sobering and very troubling, especially for a guy like me who had wonderful parents. But I must thank her for sharing her story, which had to be difficult.

Because the police came to her rescue more than once, Jamie decided at an early age that she wanted to be a police officer. But I consider it a miracle that she was able to put all that horrible abuse behind her to become a police officer. And not just any officer.

She has dedicated her career to working with kids, some of whom are also abused and living in difficult situations. In her own words: “I am Resource and Drug Abuse Resistance (DARE) Officer for the beautiful community in York, Maine.”

“This book is my opportunity to show those who are struggling with difficult times that they do not have to be a victim no matter how terrible the circumstances are,” writes Jamie. “My students at the York Middle School tell me that I am ‘the coolest cop ever.’ Now that makes it all worth it.”

Jamie is also a terrific Mom, and dedicated the book “to my beautiful children who remind me every day just how precious life is.”

Jamie Rooney, my friends, is an inspiring woman. I assure you that her story is one you will never forget.

 

 

George Smith

About George Smith

George stepped down at the end of 2010 after 18 years as the executive director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine to write full time. He writes a weekly editorial page column in the Kennebec Journal and Waterville Morning Sentinel, a weekly travel column in those same newspapers (with his wife Linda), monthly columns in The Maine Sportsman magazine, two outdoor news blogs (one on his website, georgesmithmaine.com, and one on the website of the Bangor Daily News), and special columns for many publications and newsletters. Islandport Press published a book of George's favorite columns, "A Life Lived Outdoors" in 2014. In 2014, George also won a Maine Press Association award for writing the state's bet sports blog. In 2016, Down East Books published George's book, Maine Sporting Camps, and Islandport Press published George and his wife Linda's travel book, Take It From ME, about their favorite Maine inns and restaurants.