Project 4
For my English portion , I emailed 7 former federal law enforcement agents and asked them to fill out a questionnaire. Then I wrote a paper on why I wanted that job.
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For my history I studied the different in department jurisdiction and then made a small cheat sheet that someone would use to determine the authority on an investigation.
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English:
What is something about your job in law enforcement you never expected?:
The unique types of cases that I encountered over my career I never expected. I saw so many different types of crime committed in ways that I never thought possible.
Doing nothing most of the time.
As a junior in high school what should my priorities be on?
The FBI will accept most anything as a background but right now computer expertise and dual languages are helpful.
Your priorities should be to enjoy being a high schooler and not think too far into the future. If you plan too much, you're likely going to miss amazing opportunities you never imagined, along the way. You'll have your whole life to figure your life out, but high school only comes once. If you must focus on something, focus on becoming a good person with character and integrity. Don't be scared to step outside of your comfort zone- even if it feels like failure. Successes are often masked as failures; it's just hard to see that as a junior in high school in today's "everyone-must-win" culture. Work on becoming confident but not cocky; look people directly in the eyes and give them a firm handshake and greeting when you speak to them.
Getting the best grades you can get. Participating in every extra circular event your feel comfortable with. Avoid doing anything which makes your feel or look bad. Plan for college.
If you had to pick the best college major for work in any of the federal agencies what would it be?
Criminal Justice, Psychology, Computer Science, Legal Studies are all good Majors.
There is no "best" college major. Agencies have a need for people with all sorts of skills sets and backgrounds. Focus on what you enjoy and are interested in. Just like most employers, federal agencies want to hire well-rounded people, regardless of what they studied in school. Although it's not all that important what you majored in, or what college you went to, it is important that you do go to college. Get as much education as you can. The more education you get, the more opportunities you will have, even if you choose a path other than federal law enforcement.
Accounting, english, politial science, etc.
What does/did the average day look like for you in your selected agency?
The best thing about my job is every day was different. I never knew what was going to happen that day. The only thing that you knew for sure was if you had court scheduled you must be there. Everything else was determined by the crime that might occur. I worked in violent crime like bank robbery, kidnapping, fugitives, drugs so every day was very fluid.
There is no "average day." Agencies vary in their missions and how they go about conducting them. There is a lot of monitoring, investigating, and documenting what you see/do. Expect paperwork, bureaucracy, and politics; lots of paperwork, bureaucracy and politics.
Seeking something to do. When I was with a Federal Law enforcement agency our priority was seeking out and recruiting "informants".
What is/was the wort part of the job that someone should know about going in?
The mobility agreement you sign to become an FBI Special Agent. That means they can transfer you to where they want you to work. The second negative thing was you were on call almost all of the time. So if a bank got robbed on a Saturday I was going to have to work it.
Like any occupation, unless you're self-employed, there are a lot of things that you can't control and you just have to do/have to happen. Things aren't always fair and justice isn't always just. You'll hear a lot of people in law enforcement say, "It is what it is."
Constant changing of policies and their interpretation by each level of management.
What is the most rewarding part of the job?
The satisfaction of knowing you did something really important that day. It could be by taking a criminal off of the street or finding a kidnapped child. I always felt that in my small way I was making a difference in society.
Coming home to my family.
The ability to move higher in the agency (promotions) or transfer to an other geographical area.
If you worked for more than one agency which was your favorite and why?
FBI without a doubt. I loved every minute of my job and was so proud to be an FBI Special Agent.
Without hesitation, I would encourage anyone interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement to begin by working at a local level, within a police department, a sheriff's office, or something similar for a few years. The experiences, confidence, and friendships you gain doing this will be priceless and beneficial for the rest of your life. I could go on and on about the many reasons I feel like working at this level, even if just for a few years, is critical.
The United States Attorneys office was my favorite cause I was able to make a positive impact on my community and receive positive feedback from my efforts. (I was a federal criminal prosecutor).
What is the most common misconception about your job?
That it is an easy job. It is a very intellectual and demanding job both emotionally and physically.
For many reasons, law enforcement is an easy target for many in the public to blame for many societal and communal problems. The public often forgets that, as they are bound by the law, law enforcement actually plays a very small role in the criminal justice system. Law enforcement does not create laws, as many seem to believe. Likewise, law enforcement often has no say in who actually get prosecuted after an initial arrest; this task is left to prosecuting attorneys. Often times people who have been arrested and charged with a crime are released, for any number of reasons; there is a common misconception that this is the fault/decision of law enforcement. Law enforcement very rarely plays a role in these decisions.
The most common misconception was the belief a criminal investigator's job was exciting and full of adventure. I reality it is working long hours in the hope you can achieve anything for your efforts.
How often does the job spill over into your private life?
Yes very much so. It is hard to interview hardened criminals and the go home and forget about what you just heard or saw.
This depends on what agency and what kind of work you're doing. Regardless, experiences of the job will shape you, and your personality and outlook on life will likely change drastically. It is impossible for people who have never been in law enforcement to understand what those in law enforcement continually endure. The job will likely affect your friendships and who you choose to spend your time with.
Every day. You can not go home without reflecting on want did or didn't happen in given day. Always on call and must be always available - 24 - 7.
If you had to pick another job what would u pick?
Something related to business or sports.
A health care professional - working with disabled or handicapped or challenged people or animals. The stress is high but so is the rewards.
What is your fondest memory of this job?
Solving the Pizza Bomber case. It was very long and complex and I was proud we never gave up.
I've enjoyed traveling to places, and experiencing things which I might not have had an opportunity to, were it not for this job.
My fondest memory about being a Law Enforcement agent was having the ability to meet and work with professionals.
How well do other agencies work together in investigations?
Just like everything else it is competitive but everyone has the same goal in mind and that is to solve the case. Agencies work much better together than they did prior to September 11, 2001.
This depends on which agencies, what part of the country they're in, and what kind of case they're investigating. As a rule, inter-agency cooperation is usually pretty good. Agencies are usually working toward the same, or similar goals, and can assist each other with different aspects of investigations.
The Bureau did not work well with other agencies cause it would use the work of the other agencies to enhance its reputation. They did the work and we took the credit on TV.
What is your experience working in joint department investigations?
Joint investigations are the best to work on. Each Agency brings their strengths to the table. I worked on a violent crime fugitive task force for 6 years. We were highly effective because of the cooperation between Federal, State and Local agencies.
It's all I do.
Not very good. Joint investigations always resulted in jealousy and internal squabbles (my agency said we could not do this or we will not give the manpower need to do the "grunt" work.)
What is any advice for someone joining a federal law enforcement agency?
Apply to every agency and department you can until you get hired. Then switch to the agency you want after you get the experience you need. Be persistent and never let anyone tell you that you cannot do something.
Like I said before, join a local law enforcement agency before joining a federal law enforcement agency. It can only help. I regret not having learned a second language. It's absolutely essential. Even if you decide not to join a federal law enforcement agency, learning another language is a skill that will help you in almost any occupation/career you choose.
Listen, learn and avoid "toxic" people. Duck, drop and roll.
The unique types of cases that I encountered over my career I never expected. I saw so many different types of crime committed in ways that I never thought possible.
Doing nothing most of the time.
As a junior in high school what should my priorities be on?
The FBI will accept most anything as a background but right now computer expertise and dual languages are helpful.
Your priorities should be to enjoy being a high schooler and not think too far into the future. If you plan too much, you're likely going to miss amazing opportunities you never imagined, along the way. You'll have your whole life to figure your life out, but high school only comes once. If you must focus on something, focus on becoming a good person with character and integrity. Don't be scared to step outside of your comfort zone- even if it feels like failure. Successes are often masked as failures; it's just hard to see that as a junior in high school in today's "everyone-must-win" culture. Work on becoming confident but not cocky; look people directly in the eyes and give them a firm handshake and greeting when you speak to them.
Getting the best grades you can get. Participating in every extra circular event your feel comfortable with. Avoid doing anything which makes your feel or look bad. Plan for college.
If you had to pick the best college major for work in any of the federal agencies what would it be?
Criminal Justice, Psychology, Computer Science, Legal Studies are all good Majors.
There is no "best" college major. Agencies have a need for people with all sorts of skills sets and backgrounds. Focus on what you enjoy and are interested in. Just like most employers, federal agencies want to hire well-rounded people, regardless of what they studied in school. Although it's not all that important what you majored in, or what college you went to, it is important that you do go to college. Get as much education as you can. The more education you get, the more opportunities you will have, even if you choose a path other than federal law enforcement.
Accounting, english, politial science, etc.
What does/did the average day look like for you in your selected agency?
The best thing about my job is every day was different. I never knew what was going to happen that day. The only thing that you knew for sure was if you had court scheduled you must be there. Everything else was determined by the crime that might occur. I worked in violent crime like bank robbery, kidnapping, fugitives, drugs so every day was very fluid.
There is no "average day." Agencies vary in their missions and how they go about conducting them. There is a lot of monitoring, investigating, and documenting what you see/do. Expect paperwork, bureaucracy, and politics; lots of paperwork, bureaucracy and politics.
Seeking something to do. When I was with a Federal Law enforcement agency our priority was seeking out and recruiting "informants".
What is/was the wort part of the job that someone should know about going in?
The mobility agreement you sign to become an FBI Special Agent. That means they can transfer you to where they want you to work. The second negative thing was you were on call almost all of the time. So if a bank got robbed on a Saturday I was going to have to work it.
Like any occupation, unless you're self-employed, there are a lot of things that you can't control and you just have to do/have to happen. Things aren't always fair and justice isn't always just. You'll hear a lot of people in law enforcement say, "It is what it is."
Constant changing of policies and their interpretation by each level of management.
What is the most rewarding part of the job?
The satisfaction of knowing you did something really important that day. It could be by taking a criminal off of the street or finding a kidnapped child. I always felt that in my small way I was making a difference in society.
Coming home to my family.
The ability to move higher in the agency (promotions) or transfer to an other geographical area.
If you worked for more than one agency which was your favorite and why?
FBI without a doubt. I loved every minute of my job and was so proud to be an FBI Special Agent.
Without hesitation, I would encourage anyone interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement to begin by working at a local level, within a police department, a sheriff's office, or something similar for a few years. The experiences, confidence, and friendships you gain doing this will be priceless and beneficial for the rest of your life. I could go on and on about the many reasons I feel like working at this level, even if just for a few years, is critical.
The United States Attorneys office was my favorite cause I was able to make a positive impact on my community and receive positive feedback from my efforts. (I was a federal criminal prosecutor).
What is the most common misconception about your job?
That it is an easy job. It is a very intellectual and demanding job both emotionally and physically.
For many reasons, law enforcement is an easy target for many in the public to blame for many societal and communal problems. The public often forgets that, as they are bound by the law, law enforcement actually plays a very small role in the criminal justice system. Law enforcement does not create laws, as many seem to believe. Likewise, law enforcement often has no say in who actually get prosecuted after an initial arrest; this task is left to prosecuting attorneys. Often times people who have been arrested and charged with a crime are released, for any number of reasons; there is a common misconception that this is the fault/decision of law enforcement. Law enforcement very rarely plays a role in these decisions.
The most common misconception was the belief a criminal investigator's job was exciting and full of adventure. I reality it is working long hours in the hope you can achieve anything for your efforts.
How often does the job spill over into your private life?
Yes very much so. It is hard to interview hardened criminals and the go home and forget about what you just heard or saw.
This depends on what agency and what kind of work you're doing. Regardless, experiences of the job will shape you, and your personality and outlook on life will likely change drastically. It is impossible for people who have never been in law enforcement to understand what those in law enforcement continually endure. The job will likely affect your friendships and who you choose to spend your time with.
Every day. You can not go home without reflecting on want did or didn't happen in given day. Always on call and must be always available - 24 - 7.
If you had to pick another job what would u pick?
Something related to business or sports.
A health care professional - working with disabled or handicapped or challenged people or animals. The stress is high but so is the rewards.
What is your fondest memory of this job?
Solving the Pizza Bomber case. It was very long and complex and I was proud we never gave up.
I've enjoyed traveling to places, and experiencing things which I might not have had an opportunity to, were it not for this job.
My fondest memory about being a Law Enforcement agent was having the ability to meet and work with professionals.
How well do other agencies work together in investigations?
Just like everything else it is competitive but everyone has the same goal in mind and that is to solve the case. Agencies work much better together than they did prior to September 11, 2001.
This depends on which agencies, what part of the country they're in, and what kind of case they're investigating. As a rule, inter-agency cooperation is usually pretty good. Agencies are usually working toward the same, or similar goals, and can assist each other with different aspects of investigations.
The Bureau did not work well with other agencies cause it would use the work of the other agencies to enhance its reputation. They did the work and we took the credit on TV.
What is your experience working in joint department investigations?
Joint investigations are the best to work on. Each Agency brings their strengths to the table. I worked on a violent crime fugitive task force for 6 years. We were highly effective because of the cooperation between Federal, State and Local agencies.
It's all I do.
Not very good. Joint investigations always resulted in jealousy and internal squabbles (my agency said we could not do this or we will not give the manpower need to do the "grunt" work.)
What is any advice for someone joining a federal law enforcement agency?
Apply to every agency and department you can until you get hired. Then switch to the agency you want after you get the experience you need. Be persistent and never let anyone tell you that you cannot do something.
Like I said before, join a local law enforcement agency before joining a federal law enforcement agency. It can only help. I regret not having learned a second language. It's absolutely essential. Even if you decide not to join a federal law enforcement agency, learning another language is a skill that will help you in almost any occupation/career you choose.
Listen, learn and avoid "toxic" people. Duck, drop and roll.
My Dream Job
I feel that I stand out among my peers simply because I’ve always known what I’ve wanted to do with my life. I have always wanted to join the federal level of law enforcement. My interests in becoming a part of a federal agency started when I realized I wanted to provide services to the community. Being apart of a federal agency is perfect for me because I’m a person who likes to interact with new experiences every day to stay busy. The idea of staying active and being beneficial towards my community is an exciting aspect that I look forward to pursuing.
Since I was a child, I knew that I didn’t want to work at a desk job; however, I don’t want to do something that requires hard, manual labor. Dr. Clark, an agent for multiple law enforcement agencies, answered a few of my questions about what the average looks like when working at the federal level. He responded, “The best thing about my job was that everyday was different. I never knew what is going to happen. But there was of course scheduled court that I had to attend to. Everything else was determined by the crime that might occur. I investigated violent crimes like bank robberies, kidnappings, fugitives and drugs ordeals.” This is precisely the type of job that I have always wanted.
There are some downfalls to working for a federal agency: extended hours, employees are on call at all times, and the risk of dying while on the job. However, the job has its perks. It comes with the personal reward of feeling accomplished. Although the best part of the job varies from person to person, I think that Dr. Clark said it the best, “The satisfaction of knowing you did something really important that day. It could be by taking a criminal off of the street or finding a kidnapped child. I always felt that in my small way I was making a difference in society.” For me, it's not about the cool badge, or so I can say that I work for the FBI, and it's definitely not for the pay. The reward is that I can go home, put my head on my pillow, and know that beyond a doubt that I did something that had a positive effect on someone's life to made it better.
Another part of the job that I love is the variability. I can do one of the multiple college majors they accept and follow different job paths at the federal level. Dr. Clark said, “There is no "best" college major. Agencies have a need for people with all sorts of skills, sets, and backgrounds. Focus on what you enjoy and what you’re interested in. Just like most employers, federal agencies want to hire well-rounded people, regardless of what they studied in school. Although it's not all that important what you majored in, or what college you went to, it is important that you go to college. Get as much education as you can. The more education you get, the more opportunities you will have, even if you choose a path other than federal law enforcement." This makes the job more intriguing because I want to study more than just accounting or law, which everyone seems to be pushing.
I also admire this job because of its uniqueness. Every day can be different. It makes me think and not just push papers all day. When I asked Mr. Irwin about this, he replied, “There is no ‘average day’. Agencies vary in their missions and how they go about conducting them. There is a lot of monitoring, investigating, and documenting what you see/do”. I know the job includes a lot of paperwork, bureaucracy, and politics but at least the paperwork and other problems make something tangible like an arrest of a criminal. I truly believe this Job would keep me on my feet from the first day to the day I retire.
Since I was a child, I knew that I didn’t want to work at a desk job; however, I don’t want to do something that requires hard, manual labor. Dr. Clark, an agent for multiple law enforcement agencies, answered a few of my questions about what the average looks like when working at the federal level. He responded, “The best thing about my job was that everyday was different. I never knew what is going to happen. But there was of course scheduled court that I had to attend to. Everything else was determined by the crime that might occur. I investigated violent crimes like bank robberies, kidnappings, fugitives and drugs ordeals.” This is precisely the type of job that I have always wanted.
There are some downfalls to working for a federal agency: extended hours, employees are on call at all times, and the risk of dying while on the job. However, the job has its perks. It comes with the personal reward of feeling accomplished. Although the best part of the job varies from person to person, I think that Dr. Clark said it the best, “The satisfaction of knowing you did something really important that day. It could be by taking a criminal off of the street or finding a kidnapped child. I always felt that in my small way I was making a difference in society.” For me, it's not about the cool badge, or so I can say that I work for the FBI, and it's definitely not for the pay. The reward is that I can go home, put my head on my pillow, and know that beyond a doubt that I did something that had a positive effect on someone's life to made it better.
Another part of the job that I love is the variability. I can do one of the multiple college majors they accept and follow different job paths at the federal level. Dr. Clark said, “There is no "best" college major. Agencies have a need for people with all sorts of skills, sets, and backgrounds. Focus on what you enjoy and what you’re interested in. Just like most employers, federal agencies want to hire well-rounded people, regardless of what they studied in school. Although it's not all that important what you majored in, or what college you went to, it is important that you go to college. Get as much education as you can. The more education you get, the more opportunities you will have, even if you choose a path other than federal law enforcement." This makes the job more intriguing because I want to study more than just accounting or law, which everyone seems to be pushing.
I also admire this job because of its uniqueness. Every day can be different. It makes me think and not just push papers all day. When I asked Mr. Irwin about this, he replied, “There is no ‘average day’. Agencies vary in their missions and how they go about conducting them. There is a lot of monitoring, investigating, and documenting what you see/do”. I know the job includes a lot of paperwork, bureaucracy, and politics but at least the paperwork and other problems make something tangible like an arrest of a criminal. I truly believe this Job would keep me on my feet from the first day to the day I retire.
History:
customer_relationship_management_-_to_start.pdf |