Coming of Age - Interview and Transcription

John Morrissey (Step Father) - Early 40s. Irish. Retired Sargent. Father of 4 children. Married to a substitute teacher/baker, Taihiti Vazquez-Morrissey (my mother). His interview contains of questions about his childhood and his life as a Police Officer.

What are some things that you regret in your life/childhood?

Not getting promoted sooner.

I shoulda studied and gotten promoted,

In the police department after five years instead of ten.

Cause, uh, maybe I could have went further in the department,

To have taken and passed the lieutenants test.

Uh, when I first started, I thought I was gonna go all the way

Through captain or whatever.

No, I wasn't depressed at all.

Cause you realize why that job stinks,

And why what you have is... pretty good.

What would I take back?

Studying um, to have studied sooner.

To have taken it more serious and made a better effort to uh...

To do it.

Did you always want to be a Police Officer when you grew up?

Yeah I think so.

I, wanted to be a Police man...

From the early 80's.

Was your dad a Police Officer? Did you want to be like him?

Nope.

Watchin shows like Miami Vice, 

I thought it would be cool to be a Police man.

*sniffle*

Nobody in the family was a cop before,

I was the first and only one.

So that had nothing to do with it.

You wanted to do something different?

Nah.

I thought it was a good job.

I could take it while I was young,

And I'd be retired when I was young.

I took the job at 20 and I'd be out the door at 40.

With the pension and health benefits...

Until Obama care messes that up anyway.

If you weren't a Police Officer, what do you think you would be?

What would I have done?

*clears throat* Uh...

Maybe something... uh...

Scientifical or medical cause I was always good with science and stuff like that.

Maybe a tech guy in a lab or something.

Like you thought that that was like an interesting thing to do?

Yep,

Well I was good at science,

In school.

Did you ever want to like follow your parents, in their jobs?

Nope.

I didn't wanna be a taxi cab driver.

I wanted to have more,

And to have done more then what my parents done.

They left kinda... boring lives.

They didn't really travel.

No house.

Not that that necessarily makes you happy.

But whatever.

*to himself* ah this game is ridiculous.

Social Awareness Writing Project - Choice 3; Find a true story about someone who changes the world every day (even in a small way). Interview and write about the person.

Person who changes the world everyday: My stepfather John Morrissey; Police Officer - Sargent

Interview:

 

ME: Hello John.

 

JOHN: Hello Tatianna.

 

ME: I hear you are a police officer.

 

JOHN: Yes. I am a Sargent.

ME: Would you say that you change the world everyday?

JOHN: I guess I would.

ME: How do you change the world everyday?

JOHN: I protect people and try to make the city safer by arresting murderers and rapists, etc.

ME: I see... And how long have you been a cop for?

JOHN: 16 years.

ME: What's your favorite part of the job?

JOHN: It's something different everyday. You're not stuck in an office.

ME: Why did you want to become a cop?

JOHN: So that I could help people. And try to make a difference. Also, the pension and benefits are good.

ME: Interesting...

JOHN: Do you have any other questions?

ME: No. And thank-you for your time.

JOHN: Your welcome.