CAREER FIELD RESEARCH

For my career field research I interviewed a retired detective named Ron Perry. I interviewed Mr.Perry on the phone and asked multiple questions about his life as a detective. I asked him about what it was like in the field, behind the scenes, school requirements, benefits you receive, the most challenging parts of the job, and the best parts. I learned that it is best to start off as a patrol officer and then work your way up to a detective. Detective Perry stated that when you start off as a patrol officer you get more experience in the streets, you make connections with people that will help in your career in the long run. He explained that when you don't start off as a patrol officer it is more beneficial in the long run because you learn the fastests routes and know who you can trust and who you can't. Whereas if you go directly into a detective then you still have to figure things out and your cases might take longer to solve. He also explained the benefits that you receive depending on the departments, one benefit is that if you are there for a certain amount of years you earn vacation days and they also help towards your retirement. He didn't talk much on salaries because that all depends on your education and the department you work in. Mr. Perry said that going to college to study criminology is very beneficial because it prepares you on how to fill out and write all the case studies and helps when doing all the investigation. After talking with Mr.Perry he explained that the hardest part of his job was having to inform the families that they had lost a loved one, and I think that that would really have an impact on my life also. But after having this interview it made me realize that this is something I really do want to study, I want to make a difference and help families get justice. Although I don't want to be a patrol officer and just go directly to detective I feel that becoming one first will help my career in the long run. Although you don’t exactly need to go to college, I still plan on attending one after graduating high school because as Mr. Perry said it will help with creating case studies and prepare me for the long nights with no sleep. Something that detective Perry helped me realize is that even after I retire I wish to still be involved in my community the way he is. Although he is retired he is still involved in whatever crimes go on in his community and he helps in any way he can.