Which Road to Travel?

I often wonder "what if?" My dream was to be a Deputy with the Gallatin County, Montana, Sheriff's Office. I always figured I'd get on there and then replace Bob Pearson as the resident in West Yellowstone. The Air Force was my route and it worked very well, other than I first went to Meagher County, Montana and never moved on to Gallatin. Instead, I wound up in Douglas County, Oregon where I was the resident Deputy in a small mountain town. Pretty much the same thing I'd have had with Gallatin and West Yellowstone.

But, I look back now and remember/realize that I had three main roads to take in Law Enforcement. Just stay where I was as Air Force Security Police, move into some Federal L.E. agency such as Border Patrol, U.S. Marshals or some such or take my discharge and go home and get on a local department somewhere. I chose door #3.

Air Force L.E. was no different than most small to medium sized P.D.s and I'd have done my 20+

years doing the same traffic, family disturbances, crimes and investigations with them as anyone does in most Police Departments. With the added "benefit" of often doing more military type training and exercise. It would have been fun with ok pay and great benefits. Advancement and other opportunities would abound. But; I still had my dream of a brown uniform and a star.

Civilian Sheriff's Departments still provided me with the training and experiences I wanted along with plenty of action and excitement and I got to stay in the U.S. and not have to live in some city somewhere. Rural Montana and then Rural Oregon really was where I was happiest, I think.

Surprisingly enough, I didn't know everything at 22 years old! I thought I did, but, oh well. When I was ready to discharge from the Air Force, I knew very little about the U.S. Marshals Service and I think, if I knew what I do now, I might have taken that road instead.

U.S. Marshals

In truth, I was really in L.E. for the adventure and excitement as much as anything else. Back then, I figured 6 of one half dozen of the other for "action". But I later learned that for action and excitement, the Marshals win hands down. Later in life, after I had learned more about them, I applied and was accepted. But by the time the Marshals called me, I had a really good position as a Deputy Sheriff in a beautiful area of Oregon and the Marshals offer included my choice of five cities; Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, Memphis or San Diego; probably for the first three to five years before I'd have enough seniority to transfer. Yuch! No. I stayed in Oregon. So I'm one of a very few L.E. veterans who can admit to turning down a job with the U.S. Marshals!

Now, I sit in my rusty old trailer house and as I listen to the Montana winter wind blowing by, I dream of what might have been. The choices I made were right for me at that time. It would be interesting to have a chance to try the different roads but we only get this one shot and it worked out ok overall.