Public Safety Captain Values Education And Integrity
Craig Anderson is the Department of Public Safety Patrol Captain at City of Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety. Anderson is currently assigned to manage one of our two patrol teams (approximately 35 officers and six supervisors). He ensures his team of patrol supervisors and officers are equipped, trained and supported to effectively carry out the mission of preserving life and property through the department's values of excellence, professionalism, accountability and community engagement.
Anderson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology with a criminology emphasis from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He also completed the Special Agent Training Course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia, the Contra Costa County Police Academy at Los Medanos College, the Santa Clara County Joint Fire Academy as well as the Sherman Block Leadership Institute.
What are the scope and responsibilities of your current role?
"In my current role, I ensure the supervisors and officers on my team are focused on achieving our primary mission of preserving life and property. As a fully integrated public safety organization, this consists of ensuring all of the personnel on my team are fully trained in police, fire and EMS skills. As part of the management team, I regularly evaluate our processes and procedures to ensure they are contemporary and support our primary mission in agreement with our departmental values."
What is your favorite part of your daily duties?
"The best part of my daily duties is interacting with the supervisors and officers on my team. I receive great satisfaction in watching their growth and accomplishments as individuals and as a cohesive team successfully achieving goal."
Do you feel your education prepared you for your current role?
"Yes, both my formal and informal education prepared me for my current role. My formal education opened the door for many opportunities I've had throughout my career. My informal education of reading, attending seminars and learning from the many great people I've had the privilege to work with has enabled me to be successful after walking through the doors my formal education opened."
Do you have any advice for people who desire to pursue a similar career?
"Police departments throughout the state are having tremendous difficulty hiring qualified people for this profession. I cannot emphasize enough the value of a formal education and the need to pursue and demonstrate a life of integrity and virtue for those interested in this profession. It is an extremely rewarding and at times an extremely difficult profession. If I had to do it all over again, I would, without hesitation."
Michelle Guilbeau is a writer, reviewer, teacher and business owner. She also has experience in school administration, literacy coaching and is proud founder of CraftKitsForKids.com and MichelleGuilbeau.com Michelle enjoys sharing her knowledge of cities, food, travel, education and parenting issues with her readers. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.