I started my career in law enforcement on July 25, 1983, with the New York City Police Department (NYPD). While I was with the NYPD, I had numerous job assignments and was finally promoted to detective 3rd grade. I investigated everything from homicides to property crimes.
Nothing in my career will ever top the day of September 11, 2001. I was working at my desk when one of my squad members yelled out that a plane had just struck the World Trade Center. We all ran over and watched in amazement at the scenes on the television. I walked over to the window and saw the plume of smoke rising in the distance from Lower Manhattan. We immediately changed into our uniforms and headed downtown to the site. We arrived just after the second tower collapsed, and, upon exiting the bus, my first image of the catastrophe was two police officers carrying a stretcher with only the bottom half of a body. I knew it was another officer on the stretcher only because the gun belt was still wrapped around the torso.
I spent the next entire year working the largest crime scene that NYC detectives had ever experienced. Before that incident, I swore that when I reached retirement age, I would not seek another career in law enforcement. However, that fateful day changed my mind. I realized that I would never lose my desire to protect the public from criminals because of the professional challenges of the job and the camaraderie of being a police officer. I retired from NYPD but continued in the field of law enforcement. I moved to Florida in 2003 and began working with the Temple Terrace Police Department. I earned officer of the year in my first year of employment and was promoted to detective by my third year.
My wife asked me once if I felt that being a cop was worth it. I pondered the question for a moment, looking back on all my memories. Then with a large smile on my face and a big sigh, I said “Yes.” Being a police officer is like riding a giant roller coaster. You have your ups and your downs, but in the end, you get off and realize that you need to do it again because it was such a great ride the first time.
Learn more about Temple Terrace Police Department: http://www.templeterrace.com/police/