This is not a book about how bad life can be on a Native American reservation. It is about how two completely different cultures and two different people can come together in a high-stress job and become lifelong friends.
This is a positive true police story.
Michael "DOC" Dwyer was one of the first non-Native American (White) tribal police officers in Arizona, serving during the 1980s and 1990s. His story bridges two worlds — the badge and the reservation, duty and belonging, law enforcement and family.
The story begins during his time with the Mohave County Sheriff's Department and follows his transition into Tribal Law Enforcement. Some of the stories seem far-fetched — but they were real, and they were unforgettable.
The memoir is also the story of DOC's life alongside his now-wife of 35 years — a Cocopah Tribal member from Arizona. Their relationship, their trials, and their bond are woven throughout every chapter, giving the book its heart.
Together they navigated the unique pressures of a life straddling two cultures — the demands of tribal law enforcement, the complexities of reservation life, and the deep human connections that made it all worthwhile.
Please enjoy the first few pages of this memoir. If it interests you, sign up below and DOC will personally update you when the book is available in paperback and audiobook.
~ Michael "DOC" Dwyer
Where the badge first went on and the foundation was laid.
One of the first non-Native officers to serve on an Arizona reservation.
A decade of service, brotherhood, and unforgettable experiences in Indian Country.
Bringing the truth of reservation law enforcement to readers everywhere.
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Sign Up on HomepageA Note of Thanks
Every story worth telling deserves a skilled hand to help shape it. DOC is deeply grateful to his editor, Michael McConnell, whose expertise and dedication helped bring REZ COP to life.
A New York Times best-selling editor based in St. Louis, Missouri, Michael brought both craft and commitment to this project — and DOC couldn't have asked for a better partner on the journey from manuscript to memoir.