You'd think after serving 25 years in the New Jersey State Police, George J. Wren Jr. would know this about police officers - they really don't like being interviewed.
But that's exactly what the longtime law-enforcement vet set out to do shortly after turning in his badge.
"For the most part, police officers in general are tight-lipped. Thank God I had good interviewing skills," said Wren.
Just how good the interviewing skills the 53-year-old Sea Isle City man developed during his police career are apparent in the size of "Jersey Troopers II," Wren's 712-page history of the State Police in the years between 1971 and 2006.
The book includes anecdotes by active and former police officers, as well as information Wren gleaned from combing through records at the New Jersey State Police Museum & Learning Center in West Trenton.
The book is a sequel to an earlier one by Leo J. Coakley, a State Police sergeant who had covered the organization's history from its founding in 1921 through its first 50 years.
Wren had read that book before entering the State Police in 1982 and again shortly after joining the force.
Coakley's book ended with a statement that the future history of the State Police has yet to be written. Young, excited about his new job, Wren took the sergeant's challenge to heart.
"Back in 1983 and 1984, when I was trooper patrolling the backwoods in Cumberland County, I read Coakley's book and said to myself 'If no one does it by the time I retire, I'll do it,'" Wren said. "When I got down to retirement, I thought, 'No one's done it yet, so why not?'"
Researching the book, Wren found why no one else had attempted the project. A former member of the State Police's Intelligence Bureau, the retired trooper soon discovered researching the book to be a job in itself.
"My wife will tell you I did it more than full-time," Wren said.
Wren most enjoyed meeting with other former troopers and discussing their time on the job.
"That was the most fun - getting together with guys and talking about old cases and stuff. It was good sitting down with guys who were in maybe 15 and 20 years before I was, and talking about what they did. It was a lot of fun to gain their insight on things."
With the book published by a print-on-demand company, Wren and his wife sell it through their Web site, www.jerseytroopersii.com. Proceeds from the sale of the $48.95 hardcover and $38.95 softcover go to a scholarship fund for the children of troopers who died off duty.
Contact Steven V. Cronin:
609-272-7242
SCronin@pressofac.com
But that's exactly what the longtime law-enforcement vet set out to do shortly after turning in his badge.
"For the most part, police officers in general are tight-lipped. Thank God I had good interviewing skills," said Wren.
Just how good the interviewing skills the 53-year-old Sea Isle City man developed during his police career are apparent in the size of "Jersey Troopers II," Wren's 712-page history of the State Police in the years between 1971 and 2006.
The book includes anecdotes by active and former police officers, as well as information Wren gleaned from combing through records at the New Jersey State Police Museum & Learning Center in West Trenton.
The book is a sequel to an earlier one by Leo J. Coakley, a State Police sergeant who had covered the organization's history from its founding in 1921 through its first 50 years.
Wren had read that book before entering the State Police in 1982 and again shortly after joining the force.
Coakley's book ended with a statement that the future history of the State Police has yet to be written. Young, excited about his new job, Wren took the sergeant's challenge to heart.
"Back in 1983 and 1984, when I was trooper patrolling the backwoods in Cumberland County, I read Coakley's book and said to myself 'If no one does it by the time I retire, I'll do it,'" Wren said. "When I got down to retirement, I thought, 'No one's done it yet, so why not?'"
Researching the book, Wren found why no one else had attempted the project. A former member of the State Police's Intelligence Bureau, the retired trooper soon discovered researching the book to be a job in itself.
"My wife will tell you I did it more than full-time," Wren said.
Wren most enjoyed meeting with other former troopers and discussing their time on the job.
"That was the most fun - getting together with guys and talking about old cases and stuff. It was good sitting down with guys who were in maybe 15 and 20 years before I was, and talking about what they did. It was a lot of fun to gain their insight on things."
With the book published by a print-on-demand company, Wren and his wife sell it through their Web site, www.jerseytroopersii.com. Proceeds from the sale of the $48.95 hardcover and $38.95 softcover go to a scholarship fund for the children of troopers who died off duty.
Contact Steven V. Cronin:
609-272-7242
SCronin@pressofac.com
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