By Joe Bucci

By 5 o’clock the early birds were leaving, and the night prowlers were just beginning to arrive. It was the eye of the storm of this year’s Oktoberfest in Newark.

A figure wearing a uniform of brown and khaki stood in the background. You could barely see the man’s eyes underneath the brim of his hat, but you knew he was at work. He stood poised watching festivalgoers and monitoring activities.

“How can I help you,” said the New Castle County police officer. I had asked for his name, but he would only talk to me if I let him remain anonymous.  His words were frank and his tone had a hint of irritation, suggesting that he was being interrupted.

He looked like what you would expect: white, early forties, of medium height, and stocky build. If you saw this man you could easily mistake him for many of the other officers on the force.

He had been a county-policeman for eighteen years. He looked good for a man reaching retirement. He’s had a good run, but law enforcement wasn’t his first choice.

The officer was a local from Delaware. Like many others in his generation, his father had worked at the Newark Chrysler Plant. He was the youngest in a large Irish Catholic family.

“I wanted to join the fire department coming out of high school,” he said, “But Wilmington was limited for paid positions.” As he talked about himself, his posture became relaxed, and he looked more human. He was at ease, and open to conversation.

He decided to join the county police after earning his associate’s degree at Delaware Technical Community College.

“It would have been nice to go to the university, but I didn’t have the grades or the money, sometimes life gets in the way, I needed to find a job that would let me support myself, and the police department works for a good cause.”

It was much harder to get a job in the police force today than it was twenty years ago. He may not have become a lawyer, but that didn’t hurt his pride. His job had its downside, but he was content with it.

“I wish I spent more time with my daughters,” he said, “The family doesn’t spend as much time together.”

He didn’t miss his wife as much.

Patrol was a young man’s job, and he wasn’t certain how long he would be able to keep up. The officer wasn’t as fast as he was when he joined the department, and had put on weight. He admitted to losing patience as well.

“Some nights are frustrating.” He said, “All people are accountable to the law in one way or another, everyone would have less problems if we all understood that.”

The officer hoped to move on to an administrative position, but he was denied. He knew that things could go wrong while he was working, and he was concerned about his family. It wouldn’t be an easy move considering he had spent so many years doing patrol, but he remained optimistic. He knew that there were worse jobs  in the department.

Speaking of retirement gave him further relief. He considered the possibility of entering the private sector, and mentioned taking some time off. But, he did not neglect the idea of continuing his work in the department if the right opportunity arose.