Please tell us a little about your background.
My parents are from Saint Paul, and I grew up in Cottage Grove. Because I come from a large Italian family, we spent a lot of time in what was then known as Little Italy. Growing up, I was heavily involved in sports, especially hockey.
How did you get into law enforcement?
I started out as a reserve officer and worked for the Cottage Grove and Red Wing police departments before applying at Metro Transit. At the time, I was looking for a part-time role but they were only hiring full-time, so I went for it and started here in 2004. The Blue Line (then Hiawatha Line) had just opened, and I was spending most of my time on light rail. Back then, I didn't even have a squad car and walked to and from the train.
What do you enjoy most about working at the Metro Transit Police Department?
The variety. Over the course of my career here, I've patrolled buses and trains, been a use of force instructor and field training officer and as a K-9 officer. I'm also the kind of person who doesn't like to sit still. So, I really enjoy getting to go all these different places and meet lots of people, whether that's riders, bus and train operators, or officers from all the other departments we work with. I've made a lot of friends through work over the years.
What are your interests outside of work?
I'm a huge family guy, so I spend a lot of time with my children, siblings, parents, and cousins. And I do a lot of coaching. My son, who has autism, is involved in hockey, softball, basketball, and golf, and regularly competes in the Special Olympics. It's been an amazing experience and well worth it to see the smiles on their faces.