CLOSING ARGUMENTS
For LEOs, retirement is the time
to consider a second career
On the verge of retirement, law enforcement officers – many still
in their 40s – face a major decision: what to do next in their careers.
Often they feel they are too young to retire and want to continue
working. Fortunately, the breadth of their experience makes them
marketable to a wide range of potential employers in the private sector.
One of the many industries they can explore is insurance. At NJM
Insurance Company, for example, former law enforcement officers
serve in a variety of capacities. They work as investigators in the
company’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), as teen driver safety
officers in Public Affairs and as supervisors in Corporate Security.
“Traditionally, the SIU has had a staff with a mix of insurance
backgrounds and law enforcement experience,” says NJM Assistant
Vice-President-SIU Loni Hand, “because it makes for a stronger
department. A former law enforcement officer brings an understanding of the criminal justice system, investigative and interviewing skills and experience testifying in a courtroom.”
Hand says that through the years, insurance investigators have
had to adapt to the changes technological advancement presents.
“It’s a more challenging job than before,” says Hand. “As a result,
when filling a position, we look for candidates who can easily transition from the public sector to the private sector. (Technology) plays
a key role in investigations, especially the ability to use analytics to
look for patterns such as medical fraud.”
In 2012, when NJM was preparing for its centennial anniversary
the following year, it wanted to commemorate the occasion in a spe-
cial way. The company made a major investment in a consumer
safety program to help better educate and inform drivers – especially
teens – and give back to what has been its home state since 1913.
“Before starting our program, we met with the State Police to learn
more about what they were doing in the area of teen-driver safety,”
says NJM Vice-President of Public Affairs Mike Van Wagner. “During
those discussions we learned that the person in charge of the community-policing program was retiring. That’s how we found our first
safety officer, Carsten Boethig.”
According to Van Wagner, Boethig was a natural fit. “He had experience in community affairs and a proven ability to connect with
teenagers and their parents.”
A year later, NJM added Pat McCormick, a former West Windsor
Townshiplaw enforcement officer, as its second safety officer.
“Pat had a lot of experience in community policing,” says Van
Wagner. “Also, he and Carsten each had worked many years in traffic
safety. We were fortunate to be able to get not one, but two former
law enforcement officers who had exactly the skills we were looking
for.”
Another area in which NJM had the need for development was in
corporate security.
“In 2014, we had created a position where the focus was solely on
safety and security in our three facilities,” says NJM Vice-President
for Commercial Lines Bob Murray. “When thinking about the ideal
person for this job, we wanted someone with experience, leadership
and people skills.” d
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JULY 2016
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