Degree:
B.S., Criminal Justice
Current Profession:
Lieutenant with the Asheville Police Department (APD), Asheville, North Carolina.
Currently, I am the commander of the Drug Suppression Unit which works in street-level
drug interdiction and vice-related activity. In addition, I command the Emergency
Response Team, which responds to critical and high-risk situations requiring special
skills and equipment. I am also a handler of an explosives-trained canine with the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Why Western?
Western offered an online criminal justice degree which allowed me to work full time, yet provide an opportunity to further my education
without having to commute and physically be on campus.
Your Western experience:
The first thing that comes to mind is fast! I feel like it was yesterday when I first
came to campus to fill out the application and today I am finished. It brought back
high school memories all over again with me wondering where all of the time had gone.
Looking back through it all, there was never a moment of misery or ill will toward the studies or faculty. Were there tense moments of deadlines and exams? Yes, but that is part of the experience that prepares you for work in the outside world.
The faculty was great! In fact, the level of knowledge and expertise in the subject matter was
outstanding. The personal attention, and over-all genuine care and passion that I
experienced were completely unexpected through an online program!
How did your studies contribute to your career choice?
With my career choice already selected [and] several years of experience behind me, I was apprehensive
about the studies being able to enhance my level of knowledge and work performance.
However, it was quickly apparent that the online courses not only augmented and solidified
my knowledge base, but they began to prepare me for future trends and technological
advances that are coming quicker than the average worker is prepared for. The courses
were designed to help with understanding the why, not just the how, and encouraged
students to challenge themselves to become peak performers through textbook readings,
discussion postings, and exercises.
Advice for students:
Raise the bar of your level of expected performance. You are capable of much more
than you generally give yourself credit for. Remember, you are your most important
critic. Go for it!
Into the future:
My desire is to take the combined training, experience, and education and apply them
through supervision and leadership opportunities to provide a healthy environment
of learning, safety, and enhanced customer service to the community that we live in.
I also would like to be a positive role model for others in the area of career development and continuing education. It is never too late to learn more!