From the Inside Flap
What happens when a German emigrant swaps the corporate world for a deputy sheriff's badge in Arizona? Deputy While Immigrant is the gripping, award-winning memoir of Tom Peine, who left behind business suits and boardrooms to navigate the high-stakes realities of law enforcement in America's rugged Southwest.
Peine's story takes readers beyond the uniform and into the heart of policing, where each day brings unexpected challenges and profound moments of humanity. With honesty and unflinching detail, he recounts the life-altering events of 9/11, his grueling training at the academy, and the high-pressure decisions of life on the beat. From protecting vulnerable communities to confronting personal and professional tests, Peine's journey is as compelling as it is inspiring.
This memoir is more than a collection of action-packed stories—it's a deeply personal exploration of cultural adaptation, resilience, and the pursuit of purpose. Through vivid storytelling, Peine offers a rare perspective on the immigrant experience and the demands of serving and protecting a diverse community.
With humor, heart, and an unwavering commitment to justice, Deputy While Immigrant invites readers to reflect on courage, transformation, and the universal quest for belonging.
From the Back Cover
An immigrant's journey. A deputy's badge. A story like no other.
At age 41, Tom Peine swapped corporate life in Germany for the high-stakes world of law enforcement in Arizona. Deputy While Immigrant—an award-winning memoir recognized by the NYC Big Book Awards and Reader's Favorite—is his gripping account of resilience, cultural adaptation, and justice.
With unflinching honesty and vivid storytelling, Peine takes readers on a ride-along through the challenges and triumphs of policing. From the life-changing events of 9/11 to serving diverse communities in the American Southwest, his story reveals the deeply human side of law enforcement.
This is more than a memoir—it's a testament to courage, transformation, and the universal pursuit of purpose.
Experience the story that's captivating readers around the globe. Grab your copy today!
About the Author
Tom Peine is an accomplished communications professional with a diverse sales, public relations, public safety, and public affairs background.
Tom Peine was born and raised in Germany. He has a German education in banking business and initially worked in the finance industry. In 1997, he met his second wife, a natural-born American citizen. Following a switch to the software industry, he took on the roles of sales manager and global account manager. He emigrated to the United States at the age of 36.
Eventually, Peine naturalized, became a U.S. citizen, and chose to join the ranks of law enforcement. Just shy of his 41st birthday, he started attending a law enforcement academy and became Deputy Sheriff in Pima County, AZ. After almost ten years serving his community, he and his wife moved to Oregon and later temporarily returned to Germany, where he worked as a strategic outreach specialist for the U.S. Army's 7th Army Training Command.
They returned to the United States in 2020, where he lived in San Antonio, TX until 2023. Today, he works for a public relations firm and lives with his wife in Massachusetts.
