Anyone who has worked the same job for a long time likely has their share of stories. And if that job involves regular interactions with the public, they probably have even more. And if said public isn’t always thrilled about those interactions, well … you get the point. Stories. Lots of them.

Tim Cotton certainly has all of those bases covered as a veteran police officer, having served for more than three decades in a variety of capacities. He’s got the stories for sure. But unlike the majority of his peers, he’s taken the time to write some of them down.

That writing started in earnest with Cotton’s assumption of the position of Public Information Officer for the Bangor PD, a job whose duties included updating and maintaining the department’s Facebook page. He started sharing his thoughts and stories about the job on that page (along with a healthy helping of the Duck of Justice, an old stuffed duck whose origin has become the stuff of legend), as well as a delightful regular feature titled “Got Warrants?” where he related the week’s particularly ridiculous incidents.

Before long, literally hundreds of thousands of people – nearly 10 times the city’s population – were following the page, all of them eagerly anticipating TC’s latest bit of homespun hilarity. Soon, Cotton’s writing was appearing elsewhere, popping up in newspapers and on various websites.

The logical next step? Write a book!

Hence, we get “The Detective in the Dooryard: Reflections of a Maine Cop” (Down East, $24.95), a collection of thoughts, musings and anecdotes about the world as seen through the eyes of one particular (and kind of peculiar) police officer. These tales are brief, breezy reads that embrace the idea of sharing stories that might not make their way into the local paper’s police beat, but warrant (see what I did there?) telling nevertheless.

Escapees steal, then crash SUV

SOUTH PORTLAND – Three men who escaped from the Long Creek Detention Center are back in custody after they stole an SUV last week and led police on a short chase that ended when they crashed.

NEW YORK - In an age of ubiquitous cellphones and surveillance cameras, New York City police forensic artist Matthew Klein is one of a dying breed of crime fighters who helps catch bad guys with a pencil and paper.

Woman runs from warrants

OLD TOWN Police are searching for a woman with active warrants who reportedly fled from police.

On July 26, around 12:30 a.m., Officer Jim Fearon was on foot patrol downtown when he noticed a couple of people sitting in the gazebo. The park closes for the night at 10:30 p.m. He approached them, explained that the park was closed and asked for their identification.

It's funny you should say that

OLD TOWN Police say an Ellsworth woman returned to her home a little too soon.

On July 16, Officer Ryan Fitch went to a Stillwater Avenue apartment to advise tenants of the progress of an investigation involving Cassandra Murchinson, 20, of Ellsworth, who had been arrested on charges of domestic assault previously, and to let them know what to expect. He explained that Murchinson had bail conditions not to return to the residence.

Bangor woman arrested for hit and run

BANGOR Police arrested a Bangor woman who allegedly fled from an accident last week.

On July 10, around 9:15 a.m., Officer Myron Warner was called to the corner of State Street and Broadway for the report of an accident. He learned that one of the women involved had fled on foot. She was later identified as Tamara Strout, 43, of Bangor.

Public assistance sought in Canaan sexual assault

CANAAN Maine State Police are asking for the public's help with a sexual assault investigation in the Somerset County town of Canaan that occurred July 7. 

Detectives are investigating the sexual assault of a 50-year-old woman who was pulled off her bicycle along the road early that afternoon. She reported that two men assaulted her and then fled in a motor vehicle.

A passerby stopped to assist the woman following the assault and called 911. The victim is from Florida and was visiting a relative in Canaan. She was treated and released from Redington-Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan.

Oxford man faces felony sexual assault charges

BANGOR Police arrested a British man for gross sexual assault after he flew to the country to meet with a 13-year-girl at an area hotel room.

On June 30, Det. Andrew Whitehouse from the Penobscot County Sheriff's Office contacted Bangor Det. Brent Beaulieu concerning a sexual assault he was investigating. Whitehouse informed Beaulieu that he received a complaint from the father of a 13-year-old Levant girl. The father told police that she had met Nicholas Cheese, 26 of Oxford, England, online about a year ago and that Cheese flew to Bangor last week and rented a hotel room in the city.

Big Apple robbery was a conspiracy

BREWER The clerk who  reported the robbery of the Big Apple on June 10 has since been arrested and charged with the allegedly staged robbery.

On June 18, Stephen Thoner, 37, of Brewer, was charged with felony (class C) theft in connection with the reported robbery of the Big Apple.

Brewer Detective Sergeants Jay Munson's and Tony Pinette's continuing investigation revealed that Thoner, who was an employee of the Big Apple Convenience Store, conspired with Meagen Herbert, 23, of Bangor, to commit this crime. Their plan involved staging a robbery at the store and the theft of money.

Just a bad day

OLD TOWN Police say a man who was being fired also ended up being arrested after his employers suspected he was under the influence of an illegal substance.

Just after noontime on June 12, Officer Brent Fournier was called to the Old Town Fuel and Fiber Mill at the employers' request. They told the officer that they were going to terminate the employment of Joshua Hall, 33, of Charleston, because they suspected he was under the influence. They had called police because they were concerned that Hall might attempt to drive while intoxicated, according to police.