On the 25th anniversary of the RCMP's first mission to train police in the world's failing states, an account of a year in the life of our "CivPol" missions in Afghanistan, Palestine and Haiti, and an intimate portrait of the idealism and courage our police officers bring to this complicated and dangerous work. The RCMP's International Peace Operations Branch is a unit that travels to the world's most desperate places to help train corrupt police forces in ethical practices. Terry Gould gives us the untold story of the extraordinary individuals behind these missions: the city, provincial and Mounted Police officers who volunteer and the cops they set out to train in law enforcement ideals amidst the entrenched violence and oppression unique to each troubled nation. Gould explores the hope, heartbreak and tragedy experienced by Canadian cops as they try to lend the right kind of help by establishing trust with local cops and civilians against a history of Western colonial exploitation. And he shows us why the creation of an ethical police force is essential to the renewal of these failing states, and to a peaceful future for all of us. Terry Gould is a Brooklyn-born investigative journalist who focuses on organized crime and human rights issues. He lives in Vancouver.