Kathryn Fitzallen was among hundreds of Northern residents who took to social media to express their concern over Ted Calvert’s new book, Ted’s Tales- Stories from a country policeman.

The 176-page publication recounts Mr Calvert’s 41 years and 232 days employed by Tasmania Police - his experience, who he met and what he saw.

While its blurb promises readers “some laughs, some tears, and some amazing insights into the life of a country policeman”, Ms Fitzallen said it also contained details of her brother’s death she had not previously been aware of.

“One of the tragic accidents [in the book] was my brother, probably the most descriptive accident in the book,” she said.

“For us as family members to read very specific details … that was upsetting.

“It was a shock to see it in writing, I did think I would have been okay after it being nearly 17 years since, but reading the detail it was harder than I thought it would be.”

Another reader, Chrissy Richards, said she had no complaints about the book despite her cousin being mentioned in it.

“I grew up in Scottsdale and I think Ted was a great cop,” she said.

“As for the tragic accidents one of them was my cousin and I look at it as it made a real impact on [Ted’s] life and he is telling how upsetting it was for him to attend these incidents, no malice intended.”

Retired Police Association of Tasmania president, David Plumpton, said while the details printed may already be public knowledge, he did not believe it was appropriate to publish anything that would cause more pain.

“I don’t mean to be critical of Ted Calvert, who had a distinguished career with Tasmania Police, but in the past we always had an understanding that some things should only be shared between cops,” Mr Plumpton said.

“It’s up to the individual member and their conscience– but there are some things that are meant to stay private.”

Mr Calvert’s daughter, Melanie Calvert, said her dad never intended to hurt anyone.

“Ted’s Tales is about an era, a life, a job,” she said.

“[The book] isn’t cruel, life is cruel. I challenge anybody who reads the whole book to not admit dad worked tirelessly for the Scottsdale community – don’t think dad’s heart didn’t break at every death.

“We’d like to apologise to anyone who has been hurt or saddened, it certainly wasn’t our intention.”

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