AboutDick Rogers Expertise I`ve spent twenty-five years in law enforcement as a state trooper and deputy sheriff. Retired as a lead homicide investigator. My interest is in answering questions dealing with ethical and moral dilemmas facing officers in the field.
Question Hi:
In the story I am writing, a homicide offficer talks to his old friend on the force who has become a PI. To make the homicide officer seem like a real person, I wanted him to tell the PI how he felt about his work, his likes and dislikes. Is he becoming sick of the way people kill, has it become routine where he is doing his job, or does he take pride in getting a killer off the streets? Can you help with this? Thanks.
Answer Demetrius, I can only answer this from my own perspective. Working homicide was the "top drawer" of my law enforcement career. Was it always creme de la creme...? NO. Too many dope cases...too many gang cases, but the "whodunnits" made up for all of that. While working homicide, I was promoted to lieutenant...but in major departments, lieutenants didn't work homicides...they worked as squad supervisors...sometimes rolled out on a case but deputies and sergeants worked the cases...so, I turned down the promotion to stay in homicide...sound crazy...maybe. But, the Sheriff approved it and understood my decision (knowing the sheriff helped). Nothing about homicide is routine except in the cases I pointed out. Think of Lenny Briscoe in "law and Order". Cynical, but on mark...focussed, but funny. Got it?
