Vanessa Rivera
Sergeant
Chicago Police Department
Chicago, IL USA
Milestones
My road in life has taken me all over.
First I had to do a lot of school and take many tests—including physical tests—just to become a police officer.
Then I had to figure out if I would be able to do this with two kids and always having a new schedule and sleep schedule.
Then I had to take many tests to get to my promotion and become a sergeant. It was very challenging and there was a lot of competition.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Lane Tech
Lane Tech
Career
Sergeant
I help, support, and supervise about 30 police officers.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Law
Government
Helping People
Day to Day
On a typical day I work night shifts and what that looks like is lots of paperwork. I have to review and approve reports that come in. I drive around the city listening to my radio to support the police officers that need help or need support with a call, and at the end of the night or morning, I make sure everyone is okay to leave and it's safe for them to go home.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for professionals
For any new officers, know that things will not be handed to you. You have to work for what you want and any goals you want to achieve.
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Peers:
"The discouragement I heard was more from my peers and how I didn't feel like I got the support I needed or even protected from the people above."
Q&A
How many years have you worked as a police officer
Asked by Anonymous Student10 years
Is there anything you would want to change that you have done over the years
Asked by Anonymous StudentNo i think i did everything right that has made me as successful as I am now.
What is the hardest thing that you have seen while working on the job
Asked by Anonymous StudentI have seen many things while working but one thing that really stuck with me was a dead baby. it was hard because i have kids of my own.
what would you say you like most when working
Asked by Anonymous StudentMy old unti and the people i worked with really it made the job not as hard as it is usually i had been with them for about 5 years
Has social media affected you and the way you work
Asked by Anonymous StudentYes, social media affected the way i worked and it has had a negative impact on my job due to the majority being on why police are so bad so it has made my job a lot harder
Interviewed By
Anonymous Student
Student undefined
