A book launch is coming to Strathroy this weekend. Mark Aarssen has Strathroy connections and worked 12 years for the Wallaceburg Police. During those 12 years, he found himself in some unusual situations and sometimes even dangerous ones. Over the course of the pandemic, he put his time into writing a memoir about his years of service called ‘An Onion Under Glass’
Aarssen is having a book launch on Saturday at the Shops on Sydenham Mall. He’ll be there from 10-6pm talking and signing copies of his book.
During his time on the force, Aarssen encountered some goofy characters that tutor and mentor him. He encounters hilarious misadventures and real crime drama. He’s experienced everything from car crashes, frozen bodies, what he describes as ‘unintentional cannibalism’ and street smart kids that cause him to wonder about his vocation.
“I was so self conscious about making mistakes and I seemed to make them so regularly that I took it to heart so deeply that it really bruised me. A police officer came over and said ‘look kid, you got to develop a thicker skin if you’re going to work in this business. You need to understand that people make mistakes all the time. Don’t beat yourself up. You’re just like that thin skin between the layers of an onion you know that almost transparent skin, that’s what you are'” said Aarssen. “That became my nickname.”
Aarssen says the book is about how he was ‘molded by adversity, friendship and Hilarity to become a Confident Professional Cop.’
He talks about near death experiences, being shot at, hunting down criminals, he even survives being shot by one of Canada’s more notorious criminals who later escapes and returns. Harold Ballard and the Toronto Maple Leaf’s are involved in a case as well.
Written by: K. Close
