Moore called a tow truck. As she approached the vehicle she observed the driver glaring menacingly at her. Suddenly, the burly man burst out of the truck with fists clenched, screaming at her: drunk and ready to fight.

Grabbing her baton, Moore called for backup. She kept control of the situation with a firm calming voice until backup arrived.

“You never know what will happen during a call,” said Moore, an Iraq-combat veteran. “Sometimes the seemingly easy calls blow up while the potentially dangerous ones go smoothly. It’s exciting and that’s why I love my job.”

The 29-year-old former-Army Reservist has worked for the Oakland Police Department for nearly two years. Moore patrols the east streets of Oakland. As a patrol officer, she responds to the issues of community safety. The majority of her time is dealing with civil disputes, but she also has to deal with real issues like drugs, robbery, vice and violence.

“I also get a lot of strange calls,” Moore said. “Once, we picked up a guy who was lying naked in the street. Another lady was butt naked on her balcony, throwing stuff at her neighbors. When we arrived, she threatened to throw things at us. We managed to secure her and get her to a hospital.”

On the Job

Moore works from 0500 to 1700. After roll call, she hits the streets. When not responding to calls, she drives the streets on patrol, keeping a watchful eye. At 1600 she returns to the precinct, fills out and submits her reports and goes home.

“My Army training really helps me out every day,” said Moore. “You learn to develop a thick skin, which is crucial on the streets. You also learn discipline. That’s probably the most important thing. You get called a lot of nasty names in this job. You have to be disciplined enough to hold back, be professional, and not get worked up.”

A Premier Name in California Law Enforcement

Celebrated as one of California’s best law enforcement agencies, the Oakland Police Department offers its officers a yearly salary of between $74,804 and $102,018 ($67,185 for those in the academy). You can also receive bonuses if you have advanced degrees and certifications and are bilingual. The retirement benefits are generous and most officers are eligible to retire when they are 55.

To apply, candidates must be 20 years old, a U.S. citizen, and have at least a high school diploma or GED. Applicants must undergo written and oral tests, a polygraph, and psychological and medical examinations. Trainees will then attend a 25-week academy, learning the skills and education an officer needs: criminal law, firearms, vehicle operations, etc.

After graduation, officers spend two years on patrol developing and honing those academy skills before earning eligibility in future career paths, such as K-9, S.W.A.T., narcotics and more.

In Uniform

In 1997 Moore attended City College of San Francisco. Looking for an adventure, she enlisted in the Army Reserve. After boot camp at Fort Jackson, S.C., she underwent civil affairs training at Fort Bliss, Texas. Deployments included North Carolina, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Korea.

In August 2004, Moore went to Iraq for a year. Her unit traveled to villages surrounding Baghdad and performed humanitarian work, such as building wells, distributing blankets, food, and children’s school supplies.

“We saw some of the country’s first elections,” said Moore. “It felt good seeing people voting, sometimes risking their lives. It felt like we were making a difference for the Iraqis.”

Moore not only helped rebuild a country, she found a new career. A first sergeant in her unit was an Oakland Police Officer and told her about the good he did in his civilian job. He told her she would make a good cop and should apply.

When Moore returned to California, she applied to the department, was accepted, and completed the academy training.

“This is such a wonderful and rewarding job,” she said. “You get to help people each day and many are really appreciative. It feels really good.”

Moore has the following advice for aspiring police officers:

Be ready to make decisions on your own. “As a police officer, you have to exercise good judgment. Many times, you’re people’s problem-solver.”

Be physically fit. “Maintain your military exercise routine.”

Stay confident. “On the street, you work with a lot of bad people who can immediately see if you’re not confident.”