What inspired you to pursue a career in criminal justice?

What inspired me to become a police officer in federal agent? Honestly, in my case, I have always wanted to be a police officer from the days. I was a little kid. I wrote on the wall of my bedroom, when I was in sixth grade, I wrote my name is Tom O'Connell. I want to be a police officer and so that was written in crayon but it was written in stone and it's been something that I've always wanted to pursue. There's never been been a time in my life that that wasn't the career path that I wanted to follow. And if that's something that you were really interested in, follow your dream, make it happen and you will also enjoy a great career. It is like, no other. So, follow your dreams if that's where you want to go. And those are the types of people we want in law, enforcement, people who have that dream, to be a police officer and follow through,

What inspired you to pursue a career in criminal justice? I would say, what? Inspire me was my Uncle. Sam was born and raised in Detroit and my uncle was a Detroit police officer and I was really enthralled with what he was doing and what it was like to be a police officer. I always wanted to pick his brain as a young kid and learn more about it and hear stories of what it entailed and how he liked the job. So, He really helped mold me and he was sort of like a mentor for me growing up. So having that you know mentor and that role role model really helped, but also I wanted to serve, I always wanted to give back to my community wherever I was going to be. I felt it was a calling that I had that law enforcement in my blood because it was in my family but it was something that I wanted to do. I felt that's what I needed to do. And Getting involved with the law enforcement explorers as part of the Macomb County Sheriff's Department in Michigan, which was similar to like, Boy Scouts. But it's all four individuals who want to get into law enforcement. So really learned a lot there learned a lot about the positions and what it entailed and opportunities ended up applying to Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, and got my degree there in criminal justice, and law enforcement Specialists. And from there, I went on to work. Work at MaComb County Sheriff, for a short period of time, but then to ATF, but it's all about, I wanted to give back. I had a calling that I felt I wanted to serve. I wanted to protect the community and do what I could to make this world a better place.