The NJ Police Chief Magazine Volume 25, Number 2 | Page 10

The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | February 2019
Off the Job: Five tips for making a smooth transition from law enforcement
By Andrew Donofrio
Law enforcement is one of those careers where it’s not just what you do, but who you are. I have been retired from the
profession for eight years, yet I still “patrol” as I drive, and always choose the seat in a restaurant that affords me the best
view to observe everyone. When something is part of the fabric of your identity, leaving it, or transitioning to something new,
can be more than challenging. This is why I believe that most individuals in the profession don’t give enough thought to life
after law enforcement and fail to plan for their next act. It is also why many stay in the profession past their retirement
eligibility date even though they may no longer be happy and feel somewhat burnt out. After all, it is a risky, stressful, and
emotionally taxing job. Yet, many stay even though it might be financially and emotionally unwise to do so.
Although I was sure I was ready to leave law enforcement, the transition was bumpier than I anticipated. However, during the
process, I learned quite a bit about what to do to make it successful and more importantly, what not to do. Some of these
lessons took longer to learn then they should have. Had I been a little more proactive and intentional, I could have avoided
time wasted and some personal angst.
As I take you through my journey, share the lessons I learned, and share the tips I have to successfully transition to your next
act in life, I ask you to keep two things front of mind. First, failing to plan is planning to fail. Though it sounds cliché, it packs
a great deal of truth. Whether you have seven days left in your career or seven years, it is important to be objective and plan.
All great endeavors start with an idea that ultimately forms into a plan. Second, you can always earn another dollar, but you
can’t buy another hour. Time is the great equalizer for all of us and we all get 24 hours in a day. Since leaving the profession
I have been very mindful of my time and the quality of my life. I encourage you to develop that mindset now and really ask
yourself the following questions: “What do I want my life to look like after law enforcement?” and “What am I passionate
about?”
My Journey
For as long as I can remember, I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps – law enforcement. My father was a local police
officer in the town where I was raised. I idolized him and was fascinated by his job and his stories. My father, since retired,
was a hardworking man, and continues to be a great father. He was not, however, very big on advice when I brought up the
notion of following his career path. Perhaps it was because he thought I had the skills to be a doctor, lawyer, or anything else
I put my mind to or perhaps, he didn’t want me to experience the negative parts of life that police officers deal with regularly.
Not to be deterred, at 19 years old, I realized my dream and was hired as a municipal police officer for a small town in Bergen
County, New Jersey. At the time, I had only a toe in the water with my post-high school education - taking classes at the local
community college. It was when I graduated the police academy that fortunately, my father dispensed what turned out to be
probably the most valuable advice I have ever received. He told me that while it may seem like you’ll have this job forever, it
will be done before you know it. It’s important, he stressed, that you plan for act two, the second stage of your life. Now at 19
I didn’t exactly absorb this advice completely. But when my father spoke, I listened – probably because his advice was so
scarce.
As my life as a uniform police officer developed, I began to realize that this long-held dream wasn’t enough. I craved more.
The advice my father offered was now resonating with me and I began to put more thought into my future. Of course, another
factor behind this shift was that by the age of 22 I was married, owned a house, and had a baby. I believe that’s what we call
baptism by fire. There’s no greater slap in the face than that of responsibility. During my first few years on the job, I had put
my education on hold, but now I began to consider it again. Without much of a plan, I started back at community college.
Once I earned my associates degree there I transferred to John Jay College with even less of a plan for my education.
However, I was fortunate enough to have been promoted very early in my career and began to realize I had a passion for
leadership. I decided to follow this passion and ultimately pursued a master’s degree in management. There’s that word again
– passion. As you’ll see, I should have paid more attention to it.
During this time, personal computers became mainstream and affordable. Everybody had one and mobile phones weren’t far
behind. Along with this new technology came new crimes and new sources of evidence. I found that I had a growing interest
in technology, and it ultimately became the focus of my career. Using vacation time and days off, and at my own expense, I
began to study computer forensics and computer security. I became proficient in this field and was conducting forensic exams
on computers seized in criminal investigations for agencies all over Bergen County, NJ. This passion led to one of the biggest
transitions of my life. The Bergen County Prosecutor asked me to come aboard to launch and run a new computer crimes unit.
The catch? I’d have to take a demotion from Sergeant, a $2,000 pay cut, and work twice as hard. Hardly the deal of a
lifetime, but I signed on. I took it because I was passionate about the work and the impact I could make – arresting sexual
predators and supporting other detectives investigating all types of serious crime.
I was setup for success. The Prosecutor provided me with the support and funding I needed to accomplish our shared vision
and we were successful. By the time I was eligible to take my full pension at the age of 43, we had grown the unit from just
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