February 29, 2016

ENGL101A 31207
Profile Portfolio
The Profile of Officer Samels
Have you guys ever wondered what it was like to be a law enforcement
officer? Ive always found law enforcement so interesting since I was little.
Whenever I run into a police officer I always find the need to ask them
questions. They all tell me they love their job and that everyday is different.
You never know what to expect is what they all say. Ive always wanted to
major in something that I would love to wake up too and being a law
enforcement officer of some sort is what I wanna do. On February 24th,
2016, here I am sitting in my criminal justice class. Our professor surprised
us with a guest speaker which was swat team officer Hogan Samels. Here I
am dying to know more about him so I waited until our class was done to ask
him all the questions I had for him. Once class was over I approached him,
asking him if he had time to answer a few questions. You can ask me
anything, anything at all., he responded. He had to head out soon so I only
had a few minutes to ask my questions.
Officer Hogan Samels is a caucasian gentlemen that gets the job done as he
claims. He looked to be about 510 standing next to me with his uniform.
Officer Samels has been a member of the Emergency Response Unit also
known as the SWAT team in D.C. Metropolitan Police Department for about
11 years. Job isnt easy he says. In order to become a SWAT team member

it requires many physical trainings and knowledge tests according to Officer

Samels. Everyone has to be in top shape. They all get tested every 90 days
to see if they still reach all the fitness requirements. They also get tested on
their accuracy when using a firearms. Being one of the snipers is tough he
said, they have to be able to shoot a 2 inch square from 600 yards away
without missing in any type of weather conditions. Their ability to take
someone out should always be at their best.
Officer Samels started off at Montgomery College studying Criminal Justice.
Once he got his 60 credits he entered the Police Academy. The Police
Academy is where you get put to the test, Officer Samels explains. Its kind
of like Military Boot Camp but cant say its exactly the same., he says. Once
graduating from the Police Academy he started his career as a Patrol Officer.
Where exactly? I didnt get the chance to ask him, since he was kind of in a
hurry to head out. Shifts as a Patrol Officer range from 8 to 12 hours. Every
two weeks they switch off from working the day shifts to working the night
shifts. He got paid around $30 dollars an hour, usually for patrolling around
an area he were assigned to. It was very relaxing as Officer Samels claims.
Being a Patrol Officer was fun while it lasted (Samels). As the years went
by and experience grew, Officer Samels wanted to keeping moving up in his
Law Enforcement career and knew how he always thought about being in the
SWAT Team. You only need 4 years as a uniformed officer to apply for the
Emergency Response Unit. Applying for the SWAT Team is the hard part
because you go through all these tests to see if you qualify and all these

background checks. Officer Samels was committed and always wanted to be

in the SWAT Team since he was little. Motivation is the key Officer Samels
states. All those physical trainings and fitness tests arent no joke. You have
to stay on top of your game because only a few are picked out.
Being in the SWAT Team has changed Officer Samels. He says being a cop
has made him physically and mentally stronger. He has no fear. When the
SWAT Team gets called on the scene, theres no being afraid. The SWAT Team
are usually only called on rare situations and when theyre called it's no joke.
Officer Samels loves his job. He says he loves helping people and the
community so he found the job right for him. Everyday theres something
different or unexpected he claims. He loves how interesting his job can get
sometimes. There are many benefits that he loves. On the downside, he
says that he hates all the fitness tests, especially because hes getting old.
When I was young I was the runner, he said. He would chase all the
suspects when theyre on the run because the young ones are the ones
usually in better shape than the older officers.
Officer Samels took place in the response of The Navy Yard shooting. The
Navy yard shooting took place in September 16, 2013 in the Washington
Navy Yard in Southeast Washington D.C. A guy shot 12 people killing them
and injuring 3 others. The Emergency Response Team was called to the
scene around 8 a.m. and Officer Samels was a part of it. He had no clue what
he was expecting. He arrived on the scene, got suited up, and was mentally
ready to go in with his team to take out the suspect. By his side he had

Officer DeSantis. Officer DeSantis has been Officer Samels partner for many
years. Officer DeSantis has not only been my partner for the past years but
has been my mentor, my right hand man. He has taught me everything I
know. I have so much respect for that guy., he said. By the time Officer
Samels and his team arrived on the scene, the suspect had already shot and
killed 8 people. Officer Samels and his team went into building 197 where
the suspect was heard shooting his shotgun. Officer Samels and his team
didnt know where the suspect was until they entered the building and heard
shots being fired. They quickly realized the suspect was on the upper floor by
the gunshots they heard. The team all went through different doors so that
they could have different angles on the suspect. Once they had a visual on
the suspect, they went in to take him out. Officer Samels entered the room
with Officer DeSantis. The suspect quickly realized Officer DeSantis coming
in so he shot at Officer DeSantis right in the chest. Lucky for Officer DeSantis
having a bulletproof vest helped him take the hit and returned with gunfire,
killing the shooter, and being the hero. Officer Samels witnessed everything
first hand. Even though Officer Samels wasnt the one to take down the
suspect, he is still a hero as most people see it. It takes a lot guts to be a
member of the Emergency Response Unit.
Officer Samels continues to work for the D.C Metropolitan Police
Department. Making around 90,000 a year isnt bad at all. He and his team
are only called up to a scene about 6-12 times a year while the rest of the
time they keep working on fitness and their firearm abilities. Officer Samels

is currently working on getting his negotiating skills better. He practices to

one day be one of the best negotiators since hes getting old. Negotiators are
the ones that try talking down a suspect from doing further damage and
their main goal is to stop the suspect from doing what theyre doing and if
they can to make them surrender.
Being a member of the Emergency Response Unit isnt easy. My first
impressions of Officer Samels was that he was thick skinned and looked like
he was a tough, responsible, and down to earth guy. I one day hope that
someone gets the same impression of me. He is a hard working gentlemen
thats currently still going to school working on getting his Masters Degree.
Officer Samels always expresses himself of being so strong because of
everything he has seen on the field. Hes also recommended to go to therapy
after incidents that happen that traumatize others including himself and his
team.
As you can see, the job is very interesting. You have to respect a guy as
tough as Officer Samels. Literally nothing can break him. I hope to one day
be able to save lives and help enforce laws in order to make our environment
a safe place. Im glad I got the chance to interview him. Law enforcements
officers are well respected for helping our community be a better place.
Without them there would be total chaos. I have so much respect for Officer
Hogan Samels and wish him the best of luck.
Work Cited

Samels, Hogan. Personal Interview. February 24th 2016