The man in the uniform
CADET TO CONSTABLE 776
The journey began with a leap into the unknown. Fresh out of school, Jim Graham joined the police cadets, eventually stepping onto the beat as Police Constable 776. In his debut book, 'Pushing Doors Marked Pull', Graham offered a raw, humorous, and deeply human glimpse into the chaotic world of a young officer. It was a life of extremes—balancing the everyday grind of the streets with the "unspoken" coping mechanisms of the time, where sharp humour and a stiff drink were the only ways to blur the edges of the horrors witnessed on duty. But the beat was only the beginning. As Graham rose to join the elite Regional Crime Squad, the stakes shifted from local chaos to international crisis.
THE FRONT LINES OF THE DRUG WAR - THE REGIONAL CRIME SQUAD
His second book, 'Is It Fish for Dinner?', dives into the heart of the 1980s and 90s—an era when international drug trafficking was reaching a fever pitch. On the front line of the war against sophisticated criminal networks, Graham faced life-threatening risks to dismantle syndicates that felt untouchable. Through these true stories, readers revisit a defining era of policing marked by:
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High-Stakes Operations: From pulse-pounding high-speed chases to the tension of deep undercover work.
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Dark Humour & Camaraderie: The unbreakable bonds formed in the face of danger and the occasional absurdity of life on the force.
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Unwavering Dedication: A candid reflection on the courage required to protect others when the safety net is thin.
The book takes you back to a time when the officers were larger than life and the stakes were even bigger.
Is there Life on Mars?
COMING SOON
A collection of humorous & real time accounts from Graham's time in Oldtown Police.
The gripping conclusion to Jim Graham’s raw and unfiltered trilogy has finally arrived with Quebec One, a visceral look into the high-stakes world of a patrol sergeant in Oldtown. Graham doesn't hold back as he navigates the razor's edge of policing, documenting the defiant clashes with "ivory tower" supervisors and the legendary, high-octane pranks that served as the only release valve for a pressure-cooker environment. This isn't just a badge-and-siren memoir; it is a candid exploration of the darkness behind the uniform, where the trauma of the streets is often met with a bottle to numb the edges. As the walls of Oldtown begin to close in, the story takes a sudden, sharp turn—witness Graham’s abrupt departure and his high-stakes transition to the elite, nationally recognised undercover unit of Westshire Police. Quebec One is more than an ending; it’s a breathtaking bridge from the chaos of the beat to the shadows of deep-cover operations.
THE CUSTODY OFFICE
Before I finished with the documentation, the ‘back door’ buzzed and in walked another officer and a suspect. He could hardly stand. That was the suspect, obviously, but in my earlier days, you never could tell who was more drunk, the suspect or the officer. I pulled a new custody sheet from the pile and was now in automatic mode.
‘Name?’ I asked our drunken friend.
‘David Philpott,’ came the slurred reply.
I looked at the drunk, then at the officer, who shrugged. David Philpott was the name of our Chief Constable.
‘I want your real name, please,’ I said.
‘Sergeant,’ the drunk said. He seemed to have a lisp. ‘I have the utmost respect for you.’ He held out his hand to shake mine. To keep the peace, I shook it.
‘Cold hands, but hopefully a warm heart, Sergeant. My name is David Philpott.’
Barry came from the cell corridor and saw Mr Philpott at the custody desk.
‘Alright, Jimmy. Locked up again?’ asked Barry.
‘Officer Nolan. You know my name is David Philpott. Please refer to me by my name and I will afford you the same courtesy, if you don’t mind.’
Doc MacDonald appeared at the glass door. I pressed the buzzer to let him in. David Philpott and the second of the yoghurt sauce lads were being processed at the counter by Barry and another officer. I accompanied the Doctor to cell number two to the groaning lad with Kate Bush arms. I opened the door and he was still at it, weaving his arms in the air like a traditional Indian dancer. The doctor went into the cell. I kept the door ajar, checking down the corridor into the custody area. Barry was doing okay as the doors buzzed again, bringing in more arrests. The custody office was getting noisy and the yoghurt lad recognised someone from the kebab house. Voices started to rise. I looked back at Doc MacDonald, who was examining the suspect lying on the mattress. His arms flailed around him. The noise from the custody office grew louder and the yoghurt lad decided to throw the first punch. David Philpott and his arresting officer tried to stand between the two aggressors. All I could see were arms and legs. I ran back down the corridor and pushed yoghurt man to one side. Everyone in the office was now busy trying to stop the fight and keep people apart.
‘Sergeant, please restore some decorum in your custody office,’ shouted Philpott as one of the officers grabbed a suspect in a headlock and pulled him to the floor. The bodies were everywhere and there was a distinct smell of mint and yoghurt sauce. It seemed we were all holding onto someone or something. Philpott was standing in the middle, shouting commands to those arrested.
‘Have some respect, young man,’ he said to one of the yoghurt aggressors with his wisp.
I looked down the cell corridor and saw Doc MacDonald at the door of cell number two. He was waving frantically and it looked like the occupant was holding onto the doctor and ‘mounting’ him. It reminded me of a sexually aroused dog when it makes a special friend of your leg. I let go of the arm or leg I was holding and went to the doctor’s aid. His new friend was in full flow, giving the doctors’ leg a real pounding.
‘Come on, doctor, you know you want it. Come on, doc, come on, doc, just do it,’ said the suspect. He was definitely elsewhere.
The fighting and sexual advances were eventually brought under control. A check of the custody record............................
PUSHING DOORS MARKED PULL
5 ***** REVIEW - AMAZON
I absolutely loved this book. A fascinating insight into policing as we will never see again. Sometimes sad, sometimes terrifying but mostly heartwarming and funny. Jim Graham manages to draw you in, and make you feel as though you are there with him. I applauded his honesty in highlighting the dark times he experienced in the police, and the impact it had on himself and his family, a side of policing members of the public never get to hear about. A must read and can’t wait for the next instalment.
IS IT FISH FOR DINNER?
5***** REVIEW - AMAZON
If you only buy one book this year, make sure it's this one. A roller coaster of Policing stories from a time when it was possible to do the job with a smile on your face. Anyone who can relate to Policing in the 70's and 8O's will appreciate every page of this. A fabulous read from cover to cover. Many great stories and lots of laughs on the way. Terrific read.
GOODREADS.COM
5***** REVIEW
Both Jim Graham’s “Is it fish for dinner” and its predecessor, “Pushing doors marked pull” are a compelling, humorous insight to policing of that era. Based as it is on his actual experience it is easy to remember how dictatorial superior officers were and how the author, in many different ways, sought to deal with it. Bringing to life the many characters (some of whom on the police side did little to redeem themselves) enables the reader to follow his career as he articulates with clarity the collision between family and professional life. Both of the books fall into the category of “I’ll just read a few more pages”. These books are not about settling scores but much more about giving the reader a bird’s eye view of policing across various specialisms (as well as in his early policing days). The product makes for engaging reading.
Please don’t stop writing Mr Graham.
OFF DUTY NARRATIVES • 70S 80S 90S STORIES • LATEST BOOK COMING SOON