This article was co-authored by Saul Jaeger, MS. Saul Jaeger is a Police Officer and Captain of the Mountain View, California Police Department (MVPD). Saul has over 17 years of experience as a patrol officer, field training officer, traffic officer, detective, hostage negotiator, and as the traffic unit’s sergeant and Public Information Officer for the MVPD. At the MVPD, in addition to commanding the Field Operations Division, Saul has also led the Communications Center (dispatch) and the Crisis Negotiation Team. He earned an MS in Emergency Services Management from the California State University, Long Beach in 2008 and a BS in Administration of Justice from the University of Phoenix in 2006. He also earned a Corporate Innovation LEAD Certificate from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2018.
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Being a good police officer takes dedication, hard work, and a willingness to always be learning. It's no secret that it's a tough job! If you put serving your community first, you'll be off to a good start. You can also work together with your fellow officers to develop a sense of the shared values and principles you should focus on in your work. Then, you'll have a better idea of the specific skills you would like to develop to meet your goals as an officer.