From 1973 - 2007, Major Charlie Carden worked as a Law Enforcement Officer for the Chapel Hill Police Department, the Watauga County Sheriff's Office, the Boone Police Department, the Division of Motor Vehicles Enforcement Section, and the NC Highway Patrol. The Heart Of A Trooper attempts to share some of Charlie Carden's most memorable encounters, as Charlie Carden attempts to put the reader in the Shotgun, ride-a-long seat of his patrol car, just for the experience. There never comes a day that I don't miss patrolling the Interstates and the rural backroads of the farming communities within my District, and I often tear up for the memories gone by, wishing I could stop by any one of the old country stores in my area once again, turn my outside loud speaker on, and play one more game of Checkers with the old friends I had become more than acquaintances with over the years while enjoying a bottle of pop, filled with a bag of salted peanuts. Yes, we argued and took sides, and we voiced our opinions on the political headlines of the day. Never did anyone cross the line of respect, and if someone got anywhere close to dishonoring another, someone would intervene and referee the conversation, and the heat of the moment would come to a low simmer to revisit on another day. However, there was never any doubt, and it was clear that in the end, love abounded when all was said and done. My advice to our Troopers...Take the time to love those you serve...You never know who will come to your aid when you are in a roadside ditch fighting for your life! One more thing...Learn to play Checkers; and sometimes, allow your opponent to win... Major C.J. Carden, North Carolina Highway Patrol, 66th Basic School.