Interviewing Officer Dave

I spoke to a Police Officer named Dave today. He definitely gave me the 411 on being an officer and everything it entails. Officer Dave works in the Transit Division, which mainly deals with being on the field at MTA Locations. He’s been on the job for twenty two years, and will soon retire. He works a midnight shift and shared that this shift is very hard work because of the non-natural hours that have to be worked. When he comes into the precinct he has to undergo Roll Call, receive his assignment of the day, be briefed on crimes that happened prior to his shift, and file reports. Officer Dave noted that as a Police

Officer in the Transit Division you get more robberies than anything else.

I asked Officer Dave “Why a police officer and not a sanitation worker?” Just like many officers, Officer Dave, has always wanted to be a cop when he was a kid. He took the Police Exam in 1983 and was hired in 1990 when he was 22. He gave me the rundown of the steps after that exam, including the Police Academy. In the Police Academy, there are three main subjects of study, physical fitness, police science, and law. After the Academy and you are officially on the police force, that is when you see your least and greatest favorite aspects of the job. Dave’s least favorite experiences in this job are the deaths at the scene, especially with small children. His greatest favorite is helping people, working with fellow officers, and gaining friendships.

The one thing that surprised Dave the most about the job was the crimes that were unknown to the police department that are never called in. This is surprisingly true and happens every single day. I asked Officer Dave if he felt like the rate of employment was going to change for the New York City Police Department (NYPD), he said it’s going to increase. For the mere fact that a lot of people are going to be retiring in the next two years because their 20-year mark is approaching. The main thing you do need to become an officer is to have a respect for others; without that respect, you will not go far in this line of work.

After talking with Office Dave, I still believe in this career goal, and I am going to make it past an Officer and become a Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain within a 13-year span.

-Veronica Noel

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