Paul Cooper is a successful, award-winning entrepreneur who swapped a policing career for technology development after he created Pocket Sergeant, a revolutionary app to support frontline policing. But in his new memoir, From Trauma to Triumph: The Pocket Sergeant Journey, he lifts the lid on the dark realities behind the public success story.
Ex-police officer Paul Cooper has broken his silence about a childhood marred by abuse, neglect and growing up in care in his new book, From Trauma to Triumph: The Pocket Sergeant Journey.
The 40-year-old dad-of-one grew up in Thornaby with his father, a violent alcoholic, and his beloved mother who tragically died from cancer when he was seven.
Aged just eight, Paul and his younger brother were put into care and lived with foster families, the first no better than his early childhood home, but the second was to become his ‘real’ family showering him with love, care and attention.
Recalling those early years growing up in Teesside is raw for Paul, but he is keen to tell his story to others who have survived trauma to offer some hope.
“Writing this book wasn’t easy,” says Paul, who spent his policing career with Cleveland Police and Lincolnshire Police.
“It meant revisiting some of the darkest chapters of my life. But through it all came resilience, and ultimately, the creation of Pocket Sergeant – a tool that’s now helping tens of thousands across frontline policing.
“This book is for anyone who has ever felt like giving up and for those who believe that adversity can fuel innovation and purpose.”
Against the odds, Paul became a frontline police officer. He developed his award-winning app, Pocket Sergeant, following a Eureka moment when he realised he could change frontline policing by saving officers’ valuable time and empower them with all the facts they would need at their fingertips.
From Trauma to Triumph: The Pocket Sergeant Journey has already achieved number one in the Amazon book charts upon release.
“It does feel nerve-wracking to have my story out in the world,” says Paul, who lives in Wynyard with his wife Linda and their 13-year-old son Chester.
“I’ve laid myself bare and talked about times in my life that I have never fully disclosed to anyone, except those closest to me. But the time seemed right now to tell it.”
“Writing this book has been cathartic. I want people to know that it doesn’t matter how dark your beginning is, there is always hope and there is always a way to rebuild your life.”
From Trauma to Triumph: The Pocket Sergeant Journey is available on Amazon at https://amzn.eu/d/9atBue7 – and also available on Kindle Unlimited and Waterstones.