One in an occasional series
Retired Chief Spotlight Chief Pat O’ Dea [ Haworth PD ]
NJSACOP is spotlighting retired police chiefs who have moved on to successful careers in other professions. In this edition, we highlight Patrick J. O’ Dea, an attorney at law. Chief O’ Dea retired from the Haworth Police Department in Bergen County in 2010, after serving nearly 26 years in law enforcement.
What job skills did you develop as a police chief that you now use in your career? As a police chief you are in contact with people from all walks of life. Whether it is economically, educationally or culturally, all people are different and have their own experiences. Being a police chief gives you great exposure to these differences, so you avoid the temptation of applying cookie-cutter remedies to all issues. You learn to take the time to get all the facts and then apply a unique solution to the problem.
What are you most proud of from your years of police work? I am most proud of the things that I did that were new and groundbreaking at the time, such as attending the first DARE instructors and DRE training classes to be held in NJ. Then as I rose through the ranks, I recognized that things shouldn’ t be done just because“ we’ ve always done it that way.” This led to new training for the department, as well as an embrace of technology and the willingness to try new work schedules to benefit the health and wellbeing of the membership.
What drew you to your current career? What drew me to my current career as an attorney was that of course as a police officer you get to deal with lots of attorneys, who I saw as another group of people making sure that the public was being protected. So, I think what drew me to being an attorney was the same thing that drew me to being a police officer; that I would get to help people, often when they are at their lowest point in life.
What advice would you give to police chiefs on the brink of retirement who are considering future career paths? I tell police chiefs and all police officers that you should start planning your next life from day one on the job. This doesn’ t mean that you should have your eye on the door from the beginning, but there should be the realization that police work is hard physically and physiologically. While many have long, fulfilling 40-year careers, most do not, and retirement can be a sudden, jarring experience. So I would say as you progress and excel in your police career, find something you enjoy to do and then explore as to how that other thing can be expanded into a career after your police career is over.
What was the most challenging part of transitioning from law enforcement to your current career? When I retired, I went to work in a law firm, and I was initially worried about how I would handle not being the ultimate authority or decision maker. But as it turns out, my fear was actually an asset, as I was able to empathize with those that were the decision makers and gain insights that helped me and those around me get the job done.
What mindset shifts were necessary for you to succeed outside of policing? I would say that there was not necessarily a mind shift, but more of a slight adjustment. Police work prepares you for many things, most importantly dealing with people in crisis, and once you can successfully master that skill, you can apply it to just about any situation. You cannot get away from the police mindset that you develop, because even if you want to, once people learn of your police history, they will expect you to perform in a certain manner. So, the number one police mindset you should have is to treat people with respect and courtesy. From there everything is easy.
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