Schhol Essay Essay, Research Paper

I drove down the street, turning off the headlights as I proceeded. I made certain not to use the siren on my way there. I didn?t want to attract any attention if it wasn?t absolutely necessary. I parked the car on the opposite side of the intersection and quietly closed the door. Then I started towards the house, doing my best to stay low and in the shadows. As I approached the picture window, I could see inside. There was a gossamer curtain hanging like a veil over the window, but I could still see in. There he was, just like Headquarters said. He had a bottle of V/O in his left hand and a Browning 9MM in his right. I thought to myself, I could shoot him now, except for that woman sitting across the table from him. I have to make sure I do nothing to endanger her safety. I watched for a few more seconds as he would point the gun at her and then wave it back towards me. I wasn?t sure if he knew I was there! I had no choice but to act. I radioed for assistance and waited in the shadows for them to arrive, all the while keeping Headquarters appraised of his actions. I thought, ?This can go bad real fast?.

Fortunately, help arrived quickly. We were able to enter the house, disarm the subject and place him under arrest. Nobody got hurt. No shots were fired.

When it was over, the Police Department and the Police Benevolent Association commended me as ?Top Cop of the Year? for 1996, as well as ?Cop of the Month? for December 1996. I was merited with an ?Excellence in Police Duty? award for the actions I took at the scene. I have also been honored with three ?Command Level Recognition ? awards.

By now you probably realize that I am a Police Officer. I was hired by the Nassau County Police Department in October 1990. I was one of the first 135 new officers hired from the list of eligible applicants. After I completed the Police Academy, I was assigned to perform patrol functions in the Fourth Precinct. During this time, acting on my own initiative, I immersed myself in further independent study so as to prepare for the upcoming promotional test. I took the Sergeant?s test in January of 1993 and earned a score that ranked me as number 85 on the list for promotion. Over 1,100 Police Officers took that promotion test, and the majority of them had far more experience than I did. I was promoted to my current rank of Sergeant in May 1998 and was the youngest member of my class. The other member of my class had between 15 and 32 years police experience. I had 7. Upon completion of Sergeant?s training, I was given my current assignment working in the ?Court Liaison Office? of the Police Department. I am charged with overseeing Police Officers who respond to court, as well as working in close quarters with the ADA?s in scheduling cases for presentment to the Grand Jury.

My experience in the Police Department has taught me a great deal. In addition to all the law and police procedure, I have studied supervision and honed my interpersonal skills. I have learned to think on my feet in all situations, from simple questions to what actions to take at the scene of a homicide. I have learned to put my personal feeling aside in order to carry out the provisions of the law. I have learned to analyze a situation and organize my thoughts so as not to overlook something that would require my attention.

I have testified before the Grand Jury, at hearings (both administrative and criminal), and at trials. I have worked within the legal system as part of it.

I know I will succeed in your law school because of my life experience, ability to think and function under pressure and my capacity to maintain a fair and impartial outlook in all situations. This combined with my extensive law enforcement background, keen interest in criminal law and never quit attitude will make me an asset not only to your law school, but to the legal profession as a whole.