My Path to a Career in Federal Law Enforcement by Emerson

My Path to a Career in Federal Law Enforcement by Emerson - May 2023 Scholarship Essay

My hopes and dreams of being a law enforcement officer began when I was a young girl and the path to get there starts by beginning college in my criminal justice program, finding an internship in a federal law enforcement agency, and beginning to develop my professional network, both with professors and law enforcement professionals. I come from two parents who absolutely love their careers, both have always headed to work with a smile and are respected, appreciated and important members of our community who make a difference in our town and I hope to emulate that for my career. I have been connected to law enforcement my whole life as my father is a police Sergeant. As far back as I can remember, I have looked up to him and his co-workers and have seen firsthand the positive difference they make in our community. I look forward to carrying on the family tradition by serving in federal law enforcement in some capacity.
Law Enforcement officers have had a challenging few years and hiring and retention have been a huge challenge. My Father is the Training Director at his agency and enjoys getting to plan the training regimen for the entire department as well as for the recruits. He prides himself on being a mentor to younger officers and I have seen how they look up to him. He is a master trainer in active shooting scenarios and has trained many businesses and schools in our town, providing an invaluable service to so many. His ethics and caring heart are things that I hope to carry with me in the field as they will serve me well.
The other part of my home education has been with my mother who is a Social Worker who handles child abuse cases. I have seen firsthand how trauma can impact families and can lead to disastrous consequences for generations if not put in check. My Mother, like my father, exhibits the utmost ethics with her clients and even when she must make difficult decisions about a client's parental rights, she does so with the utmost respect and consideration. I have seen my mother greet clients in public and never has it been awkward or uncomfortable, she has their genuine trust. My Mother's teamwork and rapport-building skills are what I hope to carry into my police work as working with my unit and backing one another up is the most important part of the job and gets everyone home safely.
I plan on obtaining my degree in Criminal Justice while learning as much as I can about the theory of crime, data, and statistics. I believe that understanding crime and its technical origins would make me a better-prepared officer, one who can appreciate the socioeconomic and generational causes behind why people commit crimes as well as the scope of the issues across various communities. I look forward to attending law school and developing a solid background in evidence and in the Constitution, which would lead to a better understanding of the rights of the accused as well as my responsibilities as an officer of the court. Bookwork is just part of being a high-quality law enforcement officer, using the skills that I have observed and carried forward, will only give me a leg up in customer service to everyone I encounter while in uniform.
I look forward to the opportunity to get an amazing education and enrich my mind with new and exciting experiences and I most look forward to serving my Country as a Federal Law Enforcement Officer. One of the reasons that I chose to attend Florida International University is because of its robust federal law enforcement internship program, I will have the opportunity to work with several agencies and hopefully find my future home.