“When Kosovo declared itself an independent nation, I was overwhelmed by the fact that I not only had a front seat view of history, but I also had a small role in the creation of that history. I was not only there… but I had contributed in an executive position to the emergence of the Republic of Kosovo. Such experiences are what make serving as a United Nations police officer a spectacular experience, all of the complications, danger, headaches, cultural dissonance, and political subterfuge notwithstanding.”
Four Years in the United Nations International Police takes you through the extraordinary four year journey of Michael R. Sanchez. After many years of policing experience in the Virginia and Texas, in 2005 Mr. Sanchez was selected to represent the United States as an International Police Officer for the United Nations (UNPOL). He served three years as an UNPOL in the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). In those three years, Mr. Sanchez rose from being an investigator on a regional task force to the Director of Personnel and Administration for the UNMIK Police. Mr. Sanchez was in Kosovo when independence was declared on 17 February 2008.
Along the way, Mr. Sanchez was assigned to the UNMIK Police Training Centre as a police instructor and firearms instructor, then as the Deputy Chief of The Training Centre. Mr. Sanchez travelled to 7 different countries as a Selection Assistance Team leader. SAT teams conduct testing on UN Contributing countries’ national police forces and establish a list of those police officers who qualify to participate in peacekeeping missions as UN Police Officers.
After the UNMIK Police mission was handed off to the European Union, Mr. Sanchez was deployed as an UNPOL to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Mr. Sanchez was deployed to the Les Cayes (Sud) region of Haiti and ultimately worked his way up to Regional Commander. Mr. Sanchez was in Haiti when the 12 January 2010 earthquake struck. He commanded the Les Cayes Region throughout the recovery.
This book takes the reader through the extraordinary journey of working as an International Police Officer. During his four years, Mr. Sanchez worked with police officers from 72 different nations. He describes in very human terms his personal and professional growth, as well as his ever-increasing understanding of the world throughout this experience.
“For four years of my life, I lived a multicultural existence that very few people can even imagine… and I learned A LOT about myself, people, and the world along the way. My four years as a United Nations Police Officer were the greatest learning experience and the most significant period of personal growth in my life. Not only did I manage to live this incredible experience, I served in leadership positions in two different United Nations Police missions.”
This book gives the reader an fascinating glimpse into the world of peacekeeping, international policing, and the United Nations. This experience includes extensive cross-cultural experience, understanding of the world, professional achievement, and personal growth.
Hard Cover : Four Years with the United Nations International Police Paperback
Inspector Ben Maure, Ph.D. Candidate
Former Canadian Diplomat and Police Peacekeeper,
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Dr. Sanchez’s book is a masterful blend of personal experience and insightful analysis, capturing the essence of his time as a United Nations Peacekeeper in Kosovo and Haiti. Through a narrative that balances humour with the gravity of leadership and decision-making in crisis, he offers a rare glimpse into the challenges of peacekeeping. This compelling work is not just a recounting of events; it's an enlightening journey through the complexities of international relations and human resilience. A must-read for anyone interested in leadership, this book stands as a significant contribution to both academic discourse and real-world understanding of peacekeeping missions.
Readers' Favorite announces the 5-Star review of the Non-Fiction - Autobiography book "Four Years with the United Nations International Police" by Michael R. Sanchez, PhD
Foluso Falaye
Readers' Favorite
Michael R. Sanchez's memoir is a great example of how our important decisions as adults have a strong link to what we experienced growing up. His early service with the Civil Air Patrol as a teenager helped shape his leadership skills, which became an important part of his work with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the UN Police in Haiti (MINUSTAH). In Four Years With the United Nations International Police, Michael reveals his very busy, eye-opening work with the United Nations.
Readers follow the author's discoveries about other nationalities, cultures, and what some countries think of the USA. Whether it's shedding light on the clean streets of Windhoek, Namibia, the declaration of independence in Kosovo, or the tumultuous earthquake days in Haiti, Michael's memoir is an immersive travel experience and a historical gem.
Four Years With the United Nations International Police is a fantastic book for various reasons, from the author's great storytelling skills to the culture-rich stories and the amazing personalities. One impressive personality is described as "Pakistan's top terrorist hunter" and has escaped three assassination attempts. Though it had a plethora of happy and inspiring moments, Sanchez's job with the UN was far from easy; it involved witnessing troubling atrocities after a devastating earthquake, the dangerous pursuits of criminals, and more.
Ultimately, Michael's comprehensive memoir fills you with several strong emotions that linger long after you close the book; it had me clapping joyfully, daydreaming about traveling, and pondering some thought-provoking societal issues. The author's heartwarming determination to be impartial and to make a difference while working with people from different parts of the world is the sort of resolve that advances us as humans."