There are many ways to approach a career in law enforcement, according to the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff’s department recruiting officers. On Sept. 17 deputy sheriff’s Fred Quichocho and Stephanie Smith came to Diablo Valley College to present and answer questions from students looking for a potential career in law enforcement.

Smith is a University of Oregon graduate who earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. She put herself through the academy before applying to the sheriff’s department. “It is not hard to pass. It’s an 80 percent on the exam to pass the academy,” Smith said.

Quichocho is an Army veteran who didn’t plan on becoming a deputy sheriff. He originally went into the military to pay for college but then found himself enjoying it and rose up in ranks.

“The army kept me out of trouble and law enforcement was the easiest transition out of the military,” he said. “ However, this career is not mundane.”

Many of the students who attended the lecture were strongly influenced by their family members who have careers in law enforcement. Criminal Justice major Pember, 21, is a second-year student at DVC who plans to follow her father’s footsteps and become an officer after graduating from college. “I want a college degree even though Quichocho said you really you don’t need one. I also know a degree can offer me pay bumps and more money,” Pember said.

Ouichocho asked the students attending the lecture why they were attending, and there were mixed responses. Drew Hutchens, 18, attended the meeting with hopes of learning more about the steps in becoming an officer and what other jobs you can do in law enforcement. His older brother is a coroner, which is an official who investigates suspicious deaths. “I’m really interested in majoring in Criminal Justice,” Hutchens said, “I don’t know how to feel about being a cop in today’s world, but I am still considering other options in the field. I don’t want to do what my brother does, but I was interested when they talked about correctional positions.”

Quichocho responded to Hutchens, “Some people can see a dead body just as a piece of meat in a freezer or road kill. I could never be a coroner. Neither could Stephanie. There are so many different options out there to think about.”

Third-year student Ryan Hamblin, 22, said, “I am interested in becoming a cop, but all the negative public opinion is beginning to turn me away”.

Quichocho explained if you are interested in law enforcement, you have to have the mindset that comes along with it, which they teach you all about during the training. “We do our job. We are not going to back down. We are going to continue doing what were going to do,” he said. Smith added, “We are going to be brutally honest with people as recruiters. You know what comes with the job.”

If you are a student interested in a career in law enforcement, Quichocho and Smith would be happy to answer any questions. You can reach Stephanie Smith by email at [email protected] and Fred Quichocho at [email protected].