Don’t search your own house. Call your local police department and ask them to help out. They’ll want to know why you think someone is in your house, i.e., the door was open, the door was kicked open, the back sliding glass door is broken, the screen is off my window, etc. If none of that applies and you’re going to search your own house, have 911 ready to go on your phone. Start the search from one section of your house and systematically go through it. Example: Don’t skip the downstairs bathroom or closet and then go directly upstairs. Don’t start upstairs either. Start downstairs and go from room to room before moving on to the next section.

Support comes in many different forms. We could use the support on social media. You share your police department’s local heroics through whichever platform you have, or you can like a certain post. You can also stop by and drop off a few gift cards for a local restaurant or coffee shop. And the best way to support yourself when you’re driving around, eating at the local restaurant, or walking your dog is to wave “hi” and say thank you for your service. A smile goes a long way in putting that officer in a good mood while he/she is protecting your streets.

I know I talk about a “normal” family life in the beginning, but the truth is no law enforcement officer lives a normal life outside of work. There are a few professions where you never turn off work when you go home, and law enforcement is one of them. You do learn, over time, how to manage the level of effort you’re putting in. As an example, when I’m at work, my threat level awareness meter is a ten out of ten, but when I’m at the park with my kids, it’s a four out of ten. Law enforcement officers can’t help but evaluate their surroundings or evaluate the actions of others. We’re constantly doing threat assessments because that’s what keeps us alive when we’re at work. We don’t want to be caught slipping.

I had the privilege to work with DDA Matt Murphy on a few homicide cases. And it was truly a privilege. There is no doubt in my mind that he was Orange County’s best trial attorney (he has since retired). He was smooth, articulate, confident, and fun to watch in trial. When he retired, Orange County lost a good one. This case was the only time I got to work with DDA Heather Brown, and she, too, was amazing. She was fun to work with, and I loved her attitude. She is a lil fighter and wasn’t afraid of anything. She constantly thought outside the box, and there was no such thing as downtime. Her mind was going 100 miles an hour, twenty-four hours a day. She called so often, all hours of the day, that at some point she’d call, and my wife and her would be talking before I even knew Heather called to talk to me. To say she was a tremendous asset to the case would be an understatement. She’s now the big dog inside the DA’s office, working on all the big homicides.

Investigative work is by far the most fun. It takes a team—a solid, well functioning team—and the willingness to take a case to the ends of the earth. Every investigative unit I’ve worked in was a blast. The most rewarding, however, has been as a field sergeant. It was incredibly fulfilling to be out in the field with the guys, make a positive impact on the community, and mentor patrol officers.