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An up close and personal interview with U.S. Police Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
DEP CHF William Ford (1977-Present)
USCBP Ports of Entry, Mobile, AL
WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO MAKE A CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT?
 The only reason I attended college was to please my father. As a freshman, I had no idea as to what I wanted to do. My mother wanted me to be a Doctor (Good Grief). My father just wanted me to pass and graduate.
I made several good friends that were enrolled in the Criminal Justice Program. Nothing else caught my interest, so CJ was my major and here I am!
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR CAREER PATH AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW?
I began my LE Career as a Police Intern with the Hattiesburg, MS Police Department while attending USM. I was hooked on being a police officer at age 21!
When I graduated College, I was commissioned a 2 Lt. in the US Army, Military Police Corps. (Still don't know why it's called Military Police).  When I came off active duty, I was hired by the University of Houston PD as a Sergeant (supervisor). My next position was Police Chief, Magnolia PD, then on to the DEA as a Federal Agent.
I have served as a police officer and supervisor in Alabama and also worked as a Mobile County Deputy Sheriff. My highest rank was Chief of Police for the US Marine Corps Police Department but most of that time was as the Deputy Chief. I am now with US Customs & Border Protection; it's a great job and pays well!
DID YOU SERVE IN THE MILITARY PRIOR? AND IF SO, IN WHAT BRANCH OF SERVICE? IN WHAT WAYS HAS MILITARY SERVICE INFLUENCED YOUR CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT?
Twenty-four years total service: US Army, US Army Reserves and the Army National Guard. My MOS has been Military Police and I am now a Warrant Officer and CID Special Agent. The Army was my first career and first real job. The training and experience I have gained through Military  service has been invaluable to me and my career in Law Enforcement. Mostly what I have learned through my military service is leadership; how to accomplish the mission and take care of my people at the same time.
I was activated for Operation Noble Eagle (2003 -2005) to perform security missions in response to the September 11 attacks. Later I served in Iraq at the time Operation Iraqi Freedom became Operation New Dawn on September 2010 to reflect the change in mission there. I did not serve in combat operations but stayed in the International Zone of Baghdad (aka Green Zone) my entire time while in Iraq. In this photo I am standing on the right with Deputy US Marshal Brock and our interpreter Farmer at Saddam's Crossed Swords monument.
As a CID Special Agent, I served with the FBI in the International Zone investigating acts of terrorism, Terrorists Groups and criminal acts committed against the US Forces/personnel and the Iraqi Government.
One word describes how I feel about my military and law enforcement service: Honor!
WHICH, OF THE AGENCIES OR DEPARTMENTS YOU WERE ASSIGNED TO, DO YOU HAVE THE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY?
 That would have to be the US Marine Corps Police Department Albany, GA. Working for the Corps developed me as a manager. I worked with some of the most outstanding people I have ever worked with, among them a few who have left us to be with God.
I think of my service with the US Marine Corps with a deep since of pride and honor.
Semper Fi!
FROM YOUR ENTIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER WHAT PARTICULAR INCIDENT HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
Though my career has never been a boring one, there is no particular incident that stands out alone that had a "big" impact but rather a combination of everything that I have experienced throughout my career is what has affected me. There is one incident I would like to share, however.
While working as a Shift Supervisor, I encountered a crowd of teenagers every Friday night at one of the local restaurants, kind of like a Dairy Queen. One night a particular male teen, about 15 years old, was hanging out and although our PD had never had any major problems with this juvenile, we did have some minor "meetings" with him. The juvenile's father was a con, in and out of prison for years and was pretty rough on the boy. As I drove up to the restaurant that Friday evening, I parked my vehicle and walked toward the door. As I did, this boy walked toward me to greet me and he said, "Officer Ford, what would you do if someone did this?"  at which time he attempted to give me a "fake" head butt. Problem was he misjudged his distance and slammed me with his forehead across the bridge of my nose. Blood went flying everywhere! I held my nose while the crowd was so silent you could have heard a pen drop. The boy was wide eyed and scared to death and standing frozen in his tracks. I told him to go sit in my car and I'd be with him in a minute. It actually took me about 15 minutes to stop the nose bleed. He and I then had about a 30 minute "father to son" talk in my patrol car. I knew him fairly well as I did most of the kids in town. I explained what would have been different if he had done that to another officer or deputy. He apologized and I knew that he had not meant to connect and was just "horsing around." I then let him go.
The last I heard anything about that boy was all good news. Heard he was a good citizen and doing well. I look back from time to time and wonder what would have been different about him if I had slammed him to the ground, put the cuffs on him and taken him to jail for assault on a police officer?
Yes, it was not one incident that had an impact on me but the totality of my experiences made me who I am today!
OF THE MEDALS, AWARDS OR BADGES YOU RECEIVED, WHAT IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
 My being a Distinguished Firearms Expert and Firearms & Tactics Instructor is important to me. I push officers to be proficient at using their weapons. A law enforcement officer's least used tool is his weapon but it can quickly become the most important one when 'that situation' comes about. But it's not only knowing how and when to use the weapons, but being a tactician on the street also. Too many of our brothers have died in the line of duty. Some needlessly because of improper training or simply not taking the time to learn those needed skill sets that could have possibly saved their lives.
Being proficient and tactically minded required knowing instinctively when a situation calls for you to engage or back away. I think we as trainers need to be extremely dedicated to teaching the right mindsets and skills for our brothers to survive on the street. A properly trained Police Officer has the greatest chance of survival and getting them to that point is what is most meaningful to me.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL PERSON FROM YOUR CAREER MADE THE MOST POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON YOU AND WHY?
That would be my best friend, Tom Ivey. He and I were riding partners in a Texas town years ago. One time when we were running radar in the school zone we took turns on our traffic stops, talking to the violators. The next one up was mine. I  pulled a vehicle over and the driver exited his vehicle as we exited ours and he met me at the front of my patrol unit. Had his wallet out and slammed his driver's license down on the hood of my car and shouted, "Write me the G D ticket!" I calmly said, "Okay" and pulled out my ticket book. Tom of course was backing me up and then stepped to my side and looked over his bifocals and said, "Bill, I'll handle this one." I was a little puzzled and ticked off but agreed.
Tom took the man (a HS chemistry teacher of all people) over to the side and spoke to him for what must have been 10 minutes. When they were finished, the teacher walked over to where I was standing and apologized (sincerely apologized), saying he was wrong and acknowledged he was speeding in a school zone and should be cited. I looked at Tom, shrugged my shoulders at him, closed my traffic ticket pad, gave the teacher his license back and told him to slow down, be safe and have a nice day. You know to this very day, I do not know what Tom told that man!
CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR CAREER THAT WAS FUNNY AT THE TIME AND STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
It was Halloween and I was on patrol. I noticed a business that was closed for the evening with a window open in the rear of the building. I called for back-up. Two officers arrived and we entered the building, guns drawn and flashlights lighting the way. I was senior  so I naturally took lead. The other two split off and went left and I went right going through the kitchen area. I had been to that restaurant many, many times but not the kitchen area. Halloween stuff was all over the place. I came to a very large door and pushed it open. It swung wide open and I passed through and cleared the door, then stood still, when all of a sudden, the door slammed shut--hard and very loud! I must have jumped two feet straight up and yelled @#$%$!!! After I pulled my heart back into my chest from my throat, I eased forward. Thinking now that if there were someone in here, they knew they weren't alone. I held my pistol just a little tighter and began to have some tunnel vision. I walked wide around the next corner and all of a sudden came face to face with the intruder! I yelled "Freeze!" aiming my flashlight and pistol in his direction. When I realized that it was only a Halloween mannequin standing with his arm and finger pointed right at me. Of course, I blurted out another @#$%$!!! in a loud tone and my partners came running to my rescue. The restaurant was clear and we all had a very good laugh at me on that one!
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON YOU HAVE LEARNED AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER?
I have learned to live "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Police Officers will be effective as Law Enforcement Officers while holding to this Golden Rule.
 I have been in Law Enforcement for over 30 years. And I have seen many good, sincere officers and I have seen a few that should have never worn the badge. Treating folks with decency and respect is paramount in our line of work. Most people we encounter on the street are just average law abiding citizens and do not mean to do wrong. We should treat them as such.
Even when we encounter a criminal violator, we should do our very best to keep feeling and emotions out of the way. Too many times, I have seen officers allow their feelings to dictate their actions in a situation. Sometimes, we can be our own worst enemies. We must be true to the job, true to others and ourselves. This job requires and demands honesty, honor, integrity, and compassion!
WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIP(S)?
Local Fraternal Order of Police.
Life Member of the NRA.
HOW HAS SERVING AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU CONDUCT YOUR PERSONAL LIFE AND YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS OUTSIDE OF THE DEPARTMENT?
 Most definitely! The values I hold as a person are reflected in who I am as a Law Enforcement Officer and who I am as a Law Enforcement Officer reflects those values I am as a person. It goes without saying that each goes hand-in-hand.
I learned my values as a young boy, from my father. I brought those values into my LE Career. Being a Law Enforcement Officer has intensified those values and helped me understand them in a much better way.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR A ROOKIE WHO HAS JUST PUT ON THE BADGE?
This authority is given to us by the people we serve. With this authority comes a great deal of responsibility. Decisions we make on the street affect peoples' lives. Sometimes our actions can have grave consequences. I only say this because this job cannot be taken lightheartedly. Law Enforcement can be a very rewarding career that we love and cherish. It can also be one that only shows you the dark side of life. It has the potential to make you bitter and mistrusting of others.
The path of Law Enforcement will take you to places most folks can't even imagine. You'll work with some great people and some you'll consider as heroes. And you'll also work with some jerks. But, as in any job, you will learn to take the good with the bad and make the most of what is dealt to you. I have a close friend who has spent his career in Law Enforcement and his life in the martial arts. He told me that we (Police Officers) were the "modern day Ninja." I've never  forgotten that. So please, always remember that Police Officers are servants: servants of the people they protect.
IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU FEEL THIS WEBSITE CAN BENEFIT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY?
Allows this "Band of Brothers" the opportunity to connect with one another all across this GREAT Nation of ours!!! So, God Bless these Heroes, these Police Officers!
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TWS VOICES
TWS Voices are the personal stories of men and women who currently serve, or who previously served as a US Police or Federal Officer, and conveys how serving their Country and Community has made a positive impact on their lives. If you would like your story to be featured in a future edition of Voices, or know someone else who may be interested, please contact TWS Voices HERE.
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For all current serving and veteran Police Officers, Together We Served is a secure, feature rich website enabling Officers to reconnect with lost Brothers and Sisters, share in the camaraderie of other Officers, network for professional purposes and to honor the service of all.
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