"Officer Dennis Sullivan is truly a credit to our profession, he has received Letters of Recognition for his apprehension of a burglary suspect while in the commission of breaking into the Georgetown Pharmacy, the apprehension of two suspects breaking into a home in the night time. He was also named an Everyday Hero by the Georgetown Rotary. He is often seen around town on his Police Harley Davidson Motorcycle. Officer Sullivan goes out of his way to check with local businesses to make sure they are secure and to find out if they
have any problems. I have only heard good things from our citizens and business community about him and his patrol efforts. He is proactive in motor vehicle enforcement which improves the quality of life in Georgetown. We are lucky to have such a dedicated law enforcement officer working for the Georgetown Police Department. "
Chief James E. Mulligan
PUBLIC SAFETY PERSON FORM
Name: Officer Dennis Sullivan
Age: 49
Position: Patrolman/Motorcycle Officer
Hometown: Georgetown, MA
In several sentences explain why you decided to get involved with public safety.
For whatever reason, I was fascinated with police work since I was a child. I also worked at the police station as a youngster as a part-time custodian in my town where I was raised and had the opportunity to learn what a police officers position entailed.
Who inspired you and how?
I recall having a couple police officers in my neighborhood in the town where I was raised and I remember having conversation with them on a regular basis while they were on duty and I admired them for there call of duty.
What are the greatest challenges in your field?
The greatest challenges in my field is that there is not a shift that I've ever worked that I haven't assisted someone in one respect or another. Also, at the end of each work day after my shift is complete, it is a nice feeling when I arrive home and can say to myself that I served the public today, helped someone, and performed a good duty.
What advice can you offer for someone who wants to go into public safety?
The best advice I have to offer is that police work is not your everyday average job and this job is not for everyone. Prior to entering a law enforcement position, it would be a good idea to speak with several police officers and conduct plenty of research. It is definitely not the job that it was 25 or 30 years ago.
What's something about your line of work that most people don't know?
What most people don't realize is the enormous responsibility of the job, the stress that goes along with the job, the severe weather conditions we work under etc. Most people also don't realize the job is definitely highly underpaid and a police officer is never off duty. When you are sworn in as a police officer, you have a duty to act when it comes to public safety. The job is basically 24-7-365. Also, just within this past year, police officer killings have risen to 54%. Unfortunately, when police officers leave their families each day and go off to work, they may be saying good bye to their wife's and their children for the very last time!
What is a memorable moment in your career and why?
This is a difficult question due to the fact that I have been a police officer with the Georgetown Police Department for approximately 25 years. Again, I think that everyday I have a memorable moment in my career just for the simple fact that I am serving the public in a positive manner. What memorable part of my career that I think stands out and most police officers will never forget is the extensive and intense mandatory training we receive in the police academy prior to becoming a police officer.
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