Job Title/Rank: Police Officer
Job Location: NYPD Office of the Chief of Personnel
Degree: B.A. in Criminology
Mentors: Adjunct Professor and NYPD Chief of Personnel John Benoit and Adjunct Professor and Assistant Commissioner, NYPD Community Affairs Bureau Alden Foster ’12
Hometown: Bronx, NY

Who inspired you to start a career in law enforcement?
My family has an extensive history of working in law enforcement, and I always admired them for serving in their communities. My mom was slated to go into the Police Academy in 1996. Then she found out she was pregnant with me, so she decided to be a stay-at-home mom. She put her career dreams on the back burner to raise her children. Fast forward 23 years later, I became a New York City police officer, fulfilling her law enforcement dream. Now, she’s working for the NYPD as a school safety agent.

What does your typical day look like?
I work in the community outreach team for Chief of Personnel John Benoit. What I really love about the job is going out into communities and informing people of the over 700 positions we have in the NYPD, the benefits of having a job with the city, and how they can advance their careers.

Describe your best day on the job.
The day I started teaching newly graduated police officers was the best day. Thanks to the NYPD’s Method of Instruction training program, I got New York State certified to teach. With that, I’ve been able to help our newest officers be safer while out in the field. Being tasked to create the training was an honor and an incredible learning experience. I got a lot of positive feedback from people within the department. That opportunity to teach others makes me want to teach in the future.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being an NYPD officer?
Getting a chance to meet people across the city and hearing their stories, whether it’s a person in the department or someone I meet at a scene following a 911 call, the opportunity to communicate, hear about their life experiences, and learn life lessons from others is something I find to be so valuable. Those stories have helped shape me into the man and police officer I am today.

How has your John Jay education enhanced your career in the NYPD?
The psychology, sociology, and anthropology courses I took at John Jay prepared me to be a police officer who leads with humanity. They emphasized the importance of being empathetic and understanding of people. We all come from different walks of life with different experiences and shouldn’t be judgmental. Everybody has a story, a place where they’re coming from, and it’s my job to relate to them in the best way possible so I can be the most effective in my role.

What advice would you give to John Jay students wanting to work in law enforcement?
Remember that when you put on the NYPD uniform, it’s no longer just about you. When you wear that uniform, you’re held to a much higher standard and can’t do what other people are doing. As an NYPD police officer, you’re representing our department, city, and first responders. You have to act in a way that reflects the department positively. You have to always remind yourself that when you’re responding to a 911 call, you’re responding to someone who is in distress. You have to come from a place of empathy and compassion when interacting with others. Try to put yourself in that person’s shoes and remember you’re providing a service.