Since its inception, John Jay College has been an institution proud to educate public safety leaders in law enforcement, fire suppression, and emergency medical services. Every day, these brave members of our community work hard to keep us safe. We’re continually grateful for their service, and in recognition of their considerable contributions to our safety, we’re dedicating our “Behind the Badge” series to them. In these articles we get to see the man or woman “behind the badge.” We get to know what inspires them, understand what challenges them, and most importantly learn about their jobs through their own thoughts and experiences.

Adjunct Professor and John Jay alumnus Shamus W. Smith ’05 embodies what it means to live a life of public service. He served our country in the United States Marine Corps and New Jersey National Guard. And, for over a decade, he helped protect citizens as a New York City Police Department (NYPD) Police Officer, working on the front lines in some of the city’s most crime-riddled neighborhoods. Today, Smith, who is also pursuing a doctorate degree in Criminal Justice from the CUNY Graduate Center, is bringing all the knowledge he’s gained from the field into the John Jay classroom, teaching the next generation of public servants the importance of helping communities across the country. “Working in law enforcement really is a calling,” says Smith. “The people who do this work do it because they want to help others. They have this innate feeling to protect those most in need.”

Growing up, Smith often found himself being a protector of the “little guy,” whether it was the kid being bullied in school or standing up for a stranger being harassed on the street, but he credits his former baseball coach with inspiring him to work in law enforcement. “My baseball coach, the late Joe Tahara, was a Sergeant in the Sacramento Police Department,” recalls Smith. “After his patrol was done, he would show up to practice in his patrol car and wearing his police uniform. As a kid, it left such an impression on me. I had such deep admiration for him. He emanated such a degree of integrity, care, and strength; we knew we were protected and safe when he was around. I wanted to be just like him and give people that same feeling.” We sat down with Smith to learn more about his career with the NYPD and what lessons he hopes to teach his students in the classroom.

You grew up in California, what drew you to New York?
During my undergraduate college experience at the University of the Pacific (UOP) in California, I remember seeing a classmate flipping through a John Jay College catalog and I was blown away by this idea that a college dedicated to criminal justice existed. After graduating with my bachelor’s degree from UOP, one of the graduation gifts I gave myself was a trip to New York City and on my to-do list was a visit to John Jay. I wanted to learn how I could apply to the College’s master’s program in Criminal Justice. I went on to graduate with my master’s degree in Criminal Justice in 2005.

How did you come to serve as an NYPD police officer?
During that fateful New York City trip, after visiting John Jay I went and took the NYPD exam. I was able to join the force a little over a month after graduating from the College. After the Police Academy I was assigned to the 44th precinct in the South Bronx. I was excited and honored to be a police officer with the NYPD. It was a privilege for me to serve that community and help the community members.

Looking back at your career with the NYPD, what did a typical day as a police officer look like for you?
Every day was different, and of course there were some days that were not easy, but I loved being on the front line. That’s where I feel that as an officer you can have a greater, positive impact at the community level. I would interact with community members and worked with a lot of families who were having domestic disputes. I became somewhat proficient in dealing with domestic violence cases.

Can you describe your best day on the job? What happened that day to make you proud, happy, or encouraged?
I remember this one day vividly because it came after a very exhausting and challenging week. My partner and I were on patrol, and we got a call about a missing six-year-old boy. We drove to the location to find his mother who was crying her eyes out. We tried our best to comfort her and reassure her that NYPD was doing everything they can to find her son. While we’re with the mother, I get a call over the radio from another officer who is a few blocks away and he says he thinks he found the kid. So, we drove the mom to the location where this other officer and his partner were at and noticed a crowd building. You see a big crowd and you start to wonder what’s going on. When I opened the door for the mother, she flew out of the car, went past the crowd, and ran into her son’s arms. He was safe. They were both crying. The crowd started clapping. There was even a priest in the corner who came up to my partner and I to bless us. That incident always stands out to me because all we did as officers that day was show up for our community and offer support, and the mother, child, and the community were just so appreciative.

As an adjunct at John Jay, are there any lessons from your work with the NYPD that you’re bringing into the classroom?
I try to utilize some of my experience to show them the big picture. I encourage my students to study policing from around the world, to travel and learn from different communities and cultures, and of course, I talk about some of the complex issues they may come across when working in law enforcement and having to deal with bureaucracy. But for me, it’s especially important to stress work-life balance. I remind my students that if they’re aspiring to go into law enforcement, they’re going to work and it’s a lot of work, but it’s also the most fulfilling career they can have. I openly talk about the stress police officers feel, the importance of taking care of your physical and mental health, and the need to find a balance within your work and your social life.

What do you hope students, especially those hoping to pursue their own careers in law enforcement, take away from your class?
I hope my students walk away with a significant degree of institutional knowledge of the line of work they’re going into. I hope they learn to take time for themselves and attend to their overall health and well-being. I also hope they feel inspired to study more and seek higher education. I have long said that John Jay is my second home and I mean it. Going into the classroom as a John Jay student, and now an adjunct professor, has served me well. It kept me healthy, happy, and feeling balanced.