In this hard-hitting work of non-fiction, real heroes from across the spectrum of US policing tell their unforgettable stories.

For these men and women, it isn't just a job. It's a calling.

PROTECT They are our eyes. Our ears. Our protectors. Those who wear a badge, doing their best to help people.

SERVE These cops serve their communities. They serve their country. They're in the business of saving lives-even at the risk of their own.

DEFEND These patrol officers and K9 handlers, sheriffs and detectives reveal what it's really like to wear the uniform, to carry the weight of the responsibility they've been given.

American Cops is the extraordinary first-person account of America's police force.