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equal opportunity employment journal
Interview with A Police Sergeant
July 2021
Jeff Innocenti of Montgomery County, Maryland, is interviewed by Ryan Farrell
What is your job?
I’m a police sergeant with the Montgomery County Police Department. I currently supervise a patrol shift of about 10 patrol officers who respond to 911 calls for service and enforce traffic and criminal laws.
Describe a typical day.
My “day” covers the midnight shift, from 8:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. The officers meet at the police station at the beginning of the shift, and I hold a “roll call”: a review of recent incidents and a discussion of any topics that are pertinent to the officers’ duties that day, like recent crime trends. The officers then patrol the county and respond to 911 calls. My job as a supervisor includes monitoring the police radio and ensuring that the shift is running smoothly. I also review and approve the officers’ police reports and do other administrative work. I work four 10-hour shifts per week. Shifts rotate weekends and weekdays. Everyone works a permanent day, evening, or midnight shift.
What are some other activities related to your job?
Police officers engage with people in the community every day. We are involved in community events, outreach efforts, and teaching at local schools. I’m also a certified instructor and teach DUI (driving under the influence) enforcement to police recruits.
How did you get started in law enforcement?
I knew at an early age that I wanted to be a police officer, and that never changed. I interned with a police department when I was in college, where I studied criminal justice with a minor in Latin American studies. That experience solidified my desire to be a police officer.
