Cops and robbers, car chases, and detective stories — I loved them all. Book series like the Hardy Boys and the McGurk Detective Agency piqued my interest as a kid. I binge watched police dramas and reality shows like Cops and Forensic Files as a young adult. On top of that, my grandfather was a police officer in Washington D.C. for over thirty years. So, I guess one could argue that dispensing justice was in my blood.
Of course, I didn’t put any of this together as I entered my senior year in high school.
What Am I Going To Do?
Everyone asks a high school senior, “Where are you going to college? What will you be majoring in?” I hated those questions — mainly because I was clueless. When it came to the terrifying thought of having to earn a living, I always asked myself, “What am I good at? What can I do pretty well that someone might actually pay me for?”
At that time in my life, the answer was: drawing. I liked to draw and I was pretty good at it. I was no Leonardo DaVinci, but I could do better than stick figures. As the internet grew and digital media along with it, I figured that graphic design was the path for me.
After earning my Associates degree in Commercial Design and Illustration I transferred to a four-year university to finish my Bachelor’s. But then life threw me a curve ball. Well, actually, life didn’t throw me anything. I just made a series of choices, those choices had consequences, and those consequences were not part of my game plan.
Decision Time
At the ripe old age of 20 I was hoping to get a job and get married after graduation. Then, things changed. Eight weeks into my junior year of college, I found out that my fiancee (who I had asked to marry me four days earlier) was pregnant. I had a decision to make: was I going to take responsibility for my actions or was I not? I can’t say I’m proud of myself for the choices I had made or for some of the thoughts that ran through my mind as I looked for a way out. But in the end, I took responsibility and never looked back.
I immediately dropped out of college and went to work full-time at my formerly part-time job so I could get health insurance to cover the birth. I got an apartment, got married, and five months later my wife and I were newlyweds and first time parents. We had no money and no clue.
Not Happening
During the first year of marriage it dawned on me that I had wanted to be a police officer all my life. It was as if a switch had been flipped, a light came on, and everything became clear. For some inexplicable reason it had just never occurred to me all those times that I had pondered what I was supposed to do with my life. When I told my wife about this fantastic revelation, her response was plain and simple: “Over my dead body.”
Huh.
So, I prayed about it and told God that if He changed my wife’s mind, then I would know that’s what I was supposed to do with my life. Several months later, I had my answer and took my first police exam.
Who You Know
I can remember sitting at a cafeteria table of a local high school waiting for the exams to be handed out. I sat there watching as uniformed officers walked around shaking hands and trading high-fives with their test-taking buddies. It definitely gave me the feeling of impending doom and a wasted application fee. This happened again and again, and I was getting discouraged. I didn’t know anyone in law enforcement and I was beginning to feel like it was all who you know.
During the next four years, I went back to school at night, earned my Associates Degree in Criminal Justice, took a total of ten police exams, and was finally hired by one lucky winner. I was sworn in with my 17-month old son in my arms (child number two), hair on my head, and a lot to learn.
Slow And Steady
I wasn’t voted Top Cop at the Academy, I’ve never been Officer of the Year, or been given the key to the city. I’ve just been slow and steady day after day, year after year, trying to get just a little bit better every day. Maybe you can relate.
So, what’s your story? How did you become a police officer? I’m sure others can benefit from hearing about it. Send me your story by filling out the form on the Contact page or emailing me at [email protected]. Be sure to include your name, rank, department, and your call sign.
If your story is selected and published in our blog you’ll get the credit using your call sign and we’ll send you a free Johnny Tactical sticker.
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