Running head: INTERVIEW REFLECTIONS 1 First Interview: Paul Cross Student WDF University of Texas-El Paso
Running head: INTERVIEW REFLECTIONS 2 First Interview: Paul Cross When I first received this assignment, I knew exactly who I was going to contact first to get the information needed to make this process smoother. At first, I debated if I wanted to conduct the interview in person or by email. I thought about it, and concluded that I would be doing this by email because I knew that I would not like to be put on the spot and receive questions that require an adequate amount of time to answer. The person that I decided to interview first was Paul Cross, who is currently an Assistant Chief for the El Paso Police Department; I had him as my instructor last semester for my introduction to criminal justice class. I really enjoyed his class because he took his time teaching and reviewing to make sure his students were being taught well. The questions that I decided to ask Paul are the ones that I find most important on why I want to get into law enforcement. I begin my interview by asking him what did you think about your major during college, he replied by saying his major was communications, and his minor was in business. He stated that he believed his major and minor would prepare him for any type of work he wanted to do. I would have to agree with that because those two combinations would be useful in many different carriers especially in law enforcement because you have to be able to communicate with people in order to be successful. Mr. Cross said that he was always interested in local law enforcement over federal because he did not want to travel as much as federal law enforcement requires you to do. Federal law enforcement is a higher quality of work, which pays better than local agencies, but it does require a person that is willing to move around where ever the agency needs you to work. When I get out of college I would like to become a DEA agent, but there is so much competition for this profession that even the highest qualified people are denied from being an agent.
Running head: INTERVIEW REFLECTIONS 3 One question that I always like to hear people answer is what influenced them to get into their profession. I believe that law enforcement is one of those professions that you really need to enjoy doing because it will bring added danger to your life as well as more stress, and if you do not like the fact that this job will be a danger to your life then it is not for you. My Dad always told me that many Deputies get burned out quickly because they try to change the world in a couple years, and truly that is not a good way to approach this job. It is one of those jobs that you have to set a goal for that day and achieve it. There is no reason to go out there and write a copious amount of tickets and arrest many people because you will get burned out in law enforcement quickly. Mr. Cross stated that his uncles and cousins were police officers in Chicago, and they influenced him in this career because they would always come home and talk about their work. He enjoyed listening to their stories about their day at work because he was a man that loved to think about what he can do to better this world when he becomes a police officer. This was very similar to me because my Dad is currently a Deputy Sheriff and has been for twenty-eight years. Growing up, and still to this day I always enjoyed hearing about his crazy experiences at work, but I would always have to ask him about his day. My father was the type of man that wanted to leave his work at work because his goal at home was to love my sister and my Mom as well as me. Overall I enjoyed this interview because his responses are similar to my life, and what I want to do in this career. When I was writing this paper it influenced me even more to want to get out there and get into law enforcement as soon as I can. As a whole my ultimate goal is to work for the DEA, so I need to earn my bachelors degree before I get worked up about wanting to get on the streets, and take care of business.
Running head: INTERVIEW REFLECTIONS 4 Second Interview: Steven Schwerin Student WDF University of Texas- El Paso
Running head: INTERVIEW REFLECTIONS 5 Second Interview: Steven Schwerin The second interview that I decided to do was an interesting one, because my English teacher Adam Webb referred this person to me. I thought that this was interesting because Mr. Schwerin has been in law enforcement for approximately thirty-one years, and I knew this man would have a good amount of information to share with me. I never received the chance to ask a person with such qualifications and experience in the criminal justice field like Mr. Schwerin has completed through his career. When I was trying to decide what I would be asking him, I concluded that I would ask him the same questions that I asked in my other two interviews. I wanted to see the different answers that I receive from people with different ranks and qualifications in the criminal justice field. When I asked Mr. Schwerin what did you think about your major when you were in college, he replied with an answer that was similar to he was not satisfied with just a bachelors degree. I say this because he stated that he was a supervisor in juvenile justice for four years before he wanted to earn a master s degree in criminal justice. This makes me think that he definitely had high standards for himself in this profession, and he was not settling for any job that is easy to obtain. I think this was a very good decision that he made because he ended up obtaining the position of Chief in his last ten years in his probation career. Even people that have the qualifications to be a Chief, very few ever make it to this rank because there is so many people that are trying to reach the same goal as you, and you basically have to be the person that they are looking for. This is similar to me because I was always told to set a goal at the highest possible rank because you never know what your hard work and dedication will bring to you. My father would tell me this because he wanted me to do something greater in my life than he did in his, and it will be the same for me when I have my kids.
Running head: INTERVIEW REFLECTIONS 6 When I asked Mr. Schwerin were you interested in federal or local law enforcement in the beginning of your career, he replied with an answer that is true among people interested in a career in probation. Federal positions in the probation field are far and few between, and you might as well stick with a department that you like and set your goal to promote over time. He also mentioned the same thing that Paul Cross talked about with how federal law enforcement requires you to move around many and he was not willing to be placed anywhere. When you talk to a good amount of people why they did not want to get involved with a federal agency, the majority of the people say that they were not willing to travel as much as federal law enforcement requires you to do. Right now in my life if I had the chance to work for a federal agency I would be all over that job and I would not care what city they put me in. As I get older and find the place that I want to live the rest of my life, my perspective may change on this idea of continuing to work in federal law enforcement. Life is about finding what makes you happy, and you learn through experience what you enjoy doing and what you do not enjoy doing. Through my time talking with Mr. Schwerin I learned that there is more to law enforcement than being a patrol officer or some type of agent for federal law enforcement. When I discovered that he has been working in the probation field for thirty one years it made me think, what I would enjoy doing in this field. I will also be looking into what it takes to be a probation officer and the ranks I can achieve in this profession.
Running head: INTERVIEW REFLECTIONS 7 Third Interview: Mario Hagelsieb Student WDF University of Texas- El Paso
Running head: INTERVIEW REFLECTIONS 8 Third Interview: Mario Hagelsieb The third interview I completed was a good experience for me because it was a man in is English class. I knew this one was going to be different from the other two interviews I conducted because the other two have been in law enforcement for a good amount of time. Mario was in the US Army for six years and he has experience that is similar to law enforcement, while he was in the Army he spent time in foreign countries and one of those country s was Afghanistan. While serving his Country in Afghanistan Mario learned firsthand what it takes to protect himself as well as the innocent. First of I would like to talk about the kind of work Mario wants to do. His goal in law enforcement is to become a DEA agent, which is the same goal as mine; he also mentioned that he will keep his options open with positions with the FBI or ATF. I thought this was interesting because the DEA seems to attract many people that want to experience action on the daily basses, unlike other federal positions that require more office work. When I asked Mario what he thinks about majoring in criminal justice, he basically said that it will eventually be a rewarding career, and how he thinks the criminal justice field will be exciting and an experience that will never be forgotten. This is similar to what I think because you will have days at work that will never be forgotten due to dangerous experiences and rewarding experiences. Rewarding experiences are good to have in law enforcement because you know you are helping others and slowly taking criminals of the streets. When I asked Mario about his career in the beginning he stated that he wants to start with local law enforcement then eventually move into federal. Most federal agencies require you to have two years of experience as a patrol officer, or two years in the military with an honorable discharge. If Mario is a patrol officer for a couple years and then decides to apply for the DEA, he will have a better chance of getting in due to his time in the
Running head: INTERVIEW REFLECTIONS 9 U.S. Army. This is always a plus especially in federal law enforcement because so many people want to become some type of agent, and the more qualifications you have results in a better chance of getting into that agency. The next question I would like to address is what influenced Mario to get into the criminal justice field. Mario stated that with his experience in the military he learned what it takes to protect others and what is considered legal and unmoral to his country. He would like to expand his skills and use them in the criminal justice field. Mario seems to be protective of the innocent and have a good idea of how to deal with criminal behavior. His road would not be considered the safe route but it is a very rewarding route once it is completed, many people do not realize the sacrifices these people make in their life. Many do it for the love of others and their country as well as having a good heart that will bleed out towards others as they are in harm s way. I believe Mario deserves the career he wants because he will bring a good attitude to modern law enforcement and he will show others what it takes to be successful in his profession. Mario also mentioned that his uncle is employed to Homeland Security, which is a federal branch, if my uncle was in Homeland Security I would like to surpass his level of command and become a DEA agent. As I wrote this paper, I received a better understanding of what the men and women of our Armed Forces do and the sacrifices they make for our lives to be safer. This interview also helped me understand how Mario will help the world of law enforcement by bringing his courage and commitment to his agency. I believe no matter what field Mario is in he will find a way to be successful at his job because he is prepared for any type of law enforcement this country has to offer.
Running head: INTERVIEW REFLECTIONS 10 Final Reflection Student WDF University of Texas-El Paso
Running head: INTERVIEW REFLECTIONS 11 Final Reflection When I completed all three of these interviews I enjoyed hearing the responses I get from different people with different goals. When I first started to think about who I would be interviewing first I decided I would be interviewing Paul Cross first. I had him as my professor for my Into to Criminal Justice class last semester, and I respected him because he taught well and he is the Assistant chief for the El Paso Police Department which is a high rank in the police force. Paul Cross also helped me become more familiar with all of the different federal agencies because he had recruiters from each of these agencies come speak to the class. This helped me decide that my goal in law enforcement is to work for the DEA, which is a federal branch that will not be lacking action. My second interview was also an interesting one because I didn t know who this man was, but when I got his answers to my questions I quickly realized this is a man with a lot of qualification in the probation field. He has thirty one years of experience with this kind of work and he also has been around with different agencies, which makes me think that he was in search of an agency that was greater than others. I believe this had something to do with him becoming a Chief because he went back to school and received his master s degree and after a while working his tail of he became a Chief. This rank is basically as high as you can get unless you are elected Sheriff for a department. Steven Schwerin influenced me to keep working towards my goals in law enforcement and to keep pursuing my education in criminal justice. The third interview I did was a great learning experience for me because the man I interviewed is a student in my English class. Mario Hagelsieb is not new to law enforcement
Running head: INTERVIEW REFLECTIONS 12 because he spent six years in the US Army where he fought criminals all the time especially while he has in Afghanistan where the tensions of war are on the rise. I stated in my interview that I believe Mario is prepared for any type of law enforcement this country has to offer. I say this because military men and women are highly trained especially in fields related to law enforcement. Most people in the military will be able to sense danger better than your average police officer. Mario also has a goal that is very similar to mine and that is to work for the DEA, the DEA seems to attract people that are looking for a fun filled job that brings satisfaction through catching big time drug dealers. Something that I would like to talk about in my final essay is that law enforcement seems to attract people that are looking forward to change this world. We all want to live in a safe and loving environment because this is something people strive for, but there is a lot of community s in this world that are dangerous to live in. One of the reasons why I want to get involved in law enforcement is to help those living in and near harm s way. These people are working hard to support their family and children, and then we have these criminals out on the street interfering with the honest people. The reason why I mentioned this is because Mario stated in his interview, that he is very protective of the innocent and has a low tolerance for criminal behavior. I agree with Mario all the way on this because anyone who gets into law enforcement needs to be able to step up for their country and department and do what is right. I know some Deputy Sheriff s that are just flat out lazy and do absolutely nothing to better their community. This is a prime example of someone that is not passionate about their job and they should find another job because there are people in their community that rely on law enforcement in certain situations. Another situation that I would like to address is that all three people that I interviewed were influenced to get into law enforcement by someone. This is not a job that you do for the
Running head: INTERVIEW REFLECTIONS 13 money of just so you can carry a gun to work. This is a job that you truly need to be passionate about doing because you are put in harm s way every day you go to work. Every person that I interviewed is passionate about their job; two of the people that I interviewed have been in law enforcement for a long time and have worked their way up to earning high rankings. The other gentlemen I interviewed just got out of the US Army and is currently going to school so he can be successful in law enforcement. The reason why these people are in law enforcement is so they can help innocent people that are victims of crimes become successful in this world, and to put the criminals behind bars. One of the biggest influences in my life is my father; he helped me develop a good work ethic and showed me what it takes to become a success to your family. The biggest tool that he taught me in life is honesty, he would tell me if you are honest throughout your life you will find it much easier to live and life will be better as a whole. As I completed my interviews and this final essay I realized what it takes to be successful in law enforcement. I talked to people that are very successful in this profession and discovered that education is something that will determine how successful I will be in law enforcement. Education is something that shows my work ethic and my ability to learn and adapt to task that I don t want to do. When agencies see my education background they will be astonished because they will know that I am in this profession to reach a goal that many people have trouble reaching, and that goal is to come to work and apply my skills and education to my task.