Sacramento Police Officer Found His Calling In A High School ROP Program
Brent J. Meyer is the vice president of the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), and a police officer with the Sacramento Police Department. He has lived and worked in Sacramento his entire life.
PORAC, founded in 1953, is a professional federation of local, state and federal law enforcement associations, representing nearly 68,000 public safety members within 920 organizations throughout California and Nevada. "Our duty is to provide Californians with the safety and security they need to feel protected in their homes and on our streets."
Meyer began his career early, as a high school senior (1992-1993) taking advantage of the Sacramento County Regional Occupational Program (ROP), which offers tuition-free career training in 138 occupations, where he was assigned to Sacramento PD. "After graduating, I began at Cosumnes River College, but stopped shortly thereafter to become a community service officer, a civilian position, with Sacramento PD. I returned to the Union Institute & University, earning my Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice management in 2004."
Meyer says, "Earning my degree taught me to become a critical thinker and problem-solver, and gave me perspective on the breadth of what law enforcement officers do in our communities. On the street, my education helps me work with individuals by finding substantial solutions, not just a 'Band-Aid' for the moment. As a law enforcement advocate, my education has provided me a foundation to use in conjunction with my experience to make my profession more safe and efficient."
What keeps Meyers motivated is, "The look on people's faces when cops show up. Sometimes they are happy to see us, sometimes not. Someone's instant recognition that 'things are going to be okay,' or 'uh oh, I'm in trouble,' is a rewarding feeling that cannot be reduced to words."
He counsels future officers to understand that, "Nothing in this job is done in 60 minutes with four commercial breaks. Remain flexible. Keep an open mind, and cultivate patience. Believe in miracles, perfect timing, and coincidences - they are a secret reality of why we show up in places at the right time to protect you."
Karen Hansen M.S. Earth Sciences, has been an educator and consultant who is currently an analyst regarding land and other public information records. She lives and works in Sacramento, CA. She has been writing about earth and the environmental sciences for Examiner.com since May of 2010. Find her work in several sections of the publication. You can find her work at SF Solar Energy Examiner, SF Environmental News Examiner and Environmental News Examiner
