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Michael Wambold - Deputy Sheriff
- Gen-Achievers
- Jun 9, 2020
- 9 min read
Updated: Feb 19, 2021
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2019), the projected growth for individuals pursuing a career in criminal justice in the U.S. will rise by 17 percent within the next 10 years. The abundance of options for recent graduates as well as those transitioning into new career pathways has been increasing year-over-year. Although there are a variety of job opportunities in the criminal justice system, many perceive that working in law enforcement means you have to become a police officer. This, however, is not the case in today's modern workforce.
For this interview, we at Gen-Achievers wanted to learn more about other options one can pursue in the criminal justice system. After further consideration, we reached out to Montgomery County (PA) deputy sheriff, Michael Wambold, to learn more about how others can obtain a successful career in this industry. In our interview, Michael references the training, trials, and opportunities he has had with the sheriff's department, and the benefits of working in this field. He also goes on to discuss other passions he has in his life, including coaching youth & collegiate soccer teams in the area.
We'd like to thank Michael for his time in providing feedback to our interview questions as well as his commitment in making our communities more safe. We hope that he continues to support others' through his expertise in criminal justice and soccer, and utilizes his knowledge to help those hoping to land promising careers in the criminal justice field.
Give us what a typical day looks like in the shoes of Mike Wambold.
A typical day for me starts around 5:30 am almost everyday of the week. I try to wake up this early because I have learned that people who are driven and successful often wake up earlier or stay up later in order to get a jump start to accomplishing their goals, and the second reason is that I enjoy watching the news and learning about current events happening around the world. While I am up, I make sure my work boots are polished, my bullet-proof vest is fitted correctly, my uniform is crisp, and my tools (i.e. duty weapon, mace, handcuffs, baton, etc.) are all positioned correctly and clean. I double-and-triple-check all of this before I leave, and am usually out the door no later then 6:30 am because of my commute to work; getting to Norristown is hectic! If there is any advice that I can give to others, especially those who are preparing for a career in law enforcement, is that punctuality is key!
Once at work, I sign my time sheet and retrieve my radio and duty issued taser. In order to carry my taser every morning, I have to do what’s called an ARC test. This is to ensure that the taser is fully functioning without any faults. Once I am settled, our department goes through a process called roll call - making sure everyone who’s supposed to be at work is on time and receiving their assignment/s for the day. The regular division that I work in is courts. In this division, we are responsible for the safety and security of the courthouse, annex buildings, employees, civilians, judges, juries, inmates, or individuals we take into custody. Additionally, we handle a grand total of twenty six courtrooms: thirteen criminal case courtrooms, seven family case courtrooms, and six civil courtroom
If I were to be on the early shift (i.e. 7:30 am start time), there is an additional task we have called inmate bus duty. Unfortunately, this is one of the most dangerous tasks we do in the courts division, since all inmates who are scheduled for court that day are brought in from local prison by our transportation deputies - creating an influx between inmates and sheriffs. Once we are notified on the radio that the bus team is five minutes out from the detention area, the early shift deputies go into the “bullpen”. Each deputy must do a full pat-down search of each inmate to verify that they are not attempting to bring any form of contraband into our facility. What makes this process dangerous (aside from the inmate-to-sheriff ratio) is that we are in close contact with up to 100 individuals who are convicted murderers, rapists, gang members, etc. This typically takes anywhere from 20-45 minutes, depending on how many inmates are brought down to us. Once this process is complete, I then go into one of the courtrooms for my usual duties as assigned.
The types of cases being heard, such as family or criminal, will depend on how many inmates and/or people are going to be in court for that day. With this in mind, I have to consult with the court staff, judge, and crier (the representative who yells, "All Rise", when the judge enters the room) to see how each would like to work the list as well as verify when an inmate must be brought up from lockup to the courtroom. While court proceedings are occurring, listening to our radios is critical. We need to make sure people are not being disruptive, and to remain updated with each courtroom setting. Until court proceedings are finished, the courtroom each deputy is in is their assignment for the day, unless otherwise informed. Once everyone has cleared the courtroom, I call on the radio to let my supervisors know that court is over for the day. If it is near the end of my shift, I will walk down to our office, put away my radio and taser, and sign out.
Aside from my job as a deputy sheriff, you can find me coaching & training youth soccer teams.
Most people perceive that pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice means that they want to become a police officer, detective, or work for the FBI. However, there are (obviously) more career paths one can take in the criminal justice system. Can you tell us more about being a county sheriff, and how this can set you up for a career in this field?
First of all, getting a degree in criminal justice is just a "ripple in the ocean" for the amount of time, patience, and training one has to go through to obtain a job with any type of law enforcement agency. What I love about law enforcement is that there are a multitude of avenues someone can go down since it transcends into almost every field; the options are endless. For example, if you have a criminal justice degree, but you don’t want to become a police officer, you still have the capabilities of landing a career as a probationary officer, corrections officer, mental health caseworker, social worker, executive security for celebrities, TSA, or even cyber security for most for-profit companies.
Being a county sheriff has opened the door for several options in the criminal justice system because of the specialized training I have received in areas that most police departments don't train on. Furthermore, my knowledge of civil aspects in law transcends into being a tool for most law enforcement agencies. This is due to their misunderstandings of how to handle PFA orders, or the processes of evicting individuals properly. The network that one can attain as a county sheriff is also incredible. For instance, I have come to know respected judges, chiefs, and officers throughout Montgomery county, as well as other representatives across the state.
You've been a part of some pretty high-end cases in Montgomery County, PA; Bill Cosby's trial was one you recently were responsible to control. What was it like coming across a situation like this as compared to an average day a the office?
In my four years with the Montgomery County sheriff's department, I have been in high profile murder, gang, and drug dealer cases. However, the Bill Cosby case is one of those moments in my career that I will be able to share for the rest of my life. Although both trials were pandemonium, my department did an amazing job of maintaining tight security while the logistics we implemented were ordered in the proper manner. For example, there were a few incidents which occurred that made us put more restrictions that we normally do.
During the first trial, one of the security guards who does not represent our department, brought his friends to meet Bill Cosby. This became a huge security issue since civilians were not supposed to have any form of private contact with Bill Cosby whatsoever. The next incident (which a video was shown with me in it on Good Morning America and other National & International news stations) was during the first day of the second trial. A naked protester jumped over the barricade that we had, and ran after Bill Cosby. A huge struggle ensued and chaos erupted with the media and people crowding the area. The final incident was with one of the "town's locals", who brought a reclining chair to the front steps of the courthouse. This wouldn't seem like a big deal on most occasions, but it caused a commotion due to the number of people there for the trial.
During the first trial, we also had a double murder trial at the same time, which goes to show how busy it can get in a blink of an eye in law enforcement. During those days, we had close to 5,000-plus people in-and-out of the courthouse. Let’s just say I’m glad it’s over!
You aren't just busy being a county sheriff, but you're also coaching & training multiple soccer teams - both at the club and collegiate levels. Could you provide your experience as a coach as well as tips for others who hope to break into the coaching realm?
As of now, I help coach three soccer teams - two youth teams (boys and girls), and the men’s college team at Gwynedd Mercy University. My experience with these teams have been a roller coaster ride; spending a lot of time developing these programs is already a hassle, but then having your players not implementing correctly can become more frustrating. In the end, though, it’s been some of the most rewarding work aside from my job with the sheriff department. This is especially true with the youth teams I coach. When the kids are having fun at practice, or they are excited when I show up to their games, it makes me realize why coaching means so much to me. At the collegiate level, the atmosphere, tactics, inspirational speeches, and the impact one can make on young peoples' lives makes me love it even more. As a previous collegiate athlete myself, being able to give back is truly rewarding.
To those who are trying to get into coaching, do not use what worked for you and believe it’s going to work for others. You need to create programs that can be understood across the board. If you can make a program where your youth teams are successful at the basic level, and your older teams are also having success doing the same exact drills, but at a faster pace, then you’re coaching methods are proven to work. It’s the ones who take their own ideologies & philosophies and force them onto players who fail as coaches. You need to develop confidence, but most importantly, never letting the inner child in you recede. Once you stop having fun, walk away.
You are about to get married (congrats!), but it seems like it maybe hard at times to see each other due to both of your schedules. How important is it to find someone who understands your personal passions in addition to taking on side hustles that will likely make you work well over 50-plus hours per week?
Just like anything in life, if you want something, you need to work for it. A relationship takes work on both sides of the spectrum; it should be a priority if you want to be committed in one. My fiancé, Jennifer, is amazing, and loves the fact that I work hard in my career. Just like her, I love to hear about her day and the hard work she puts in to be the best possible. It’s extremely important to find someone who understands the importance of growing one's career, but communication among one another is just as significant.
It seems that a shadow surrounds millennials and younger generations in that we are "lazy" or "dependent" on others, and we are not striving to become tomorrow's leaders. What can you say to steer this perception into a positive picture for us all?
I believe that millennials and younger generations are often misunderstood because we are growing up in a new era. Our grandparents and parents grew up in a time where graduating high school without attending trade school or college, going into a blue collar career, and/or joining the military were popular choices. Nowadays, most organizations won’t even consider you as an option if you don’t obtain a high school diploma. Our generations, it appears, have also become more health conscious. This maybe due to the development of new health diets such as keto or gluten free, but it's something that needs to be worked on if we want to continue to be aware of what we consume.
We are changing the world through technology and developing systems that make us a progressive, tech savvier, society. It seems that older generations look down on us because they did not grow up in a time where everything that we do, no matter how large or small, has the likelihood of becoming outdated instantly. Most millennials, for example, are dependent on others such as their parents because they are in student loan debt, or are landing in careers that are not keeping up with inflation; not because they want to be dependent on their parents. Most of us work hard, but sadly, the media glorifies "celebrities" in shows such as Floribama Shore, which could be why we are portrayed this way by other generations.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers (e.g. tips, advice, etc.)?
My advice to others, which might be the first time you are hearing this, is learn a second language. Becoming bilingual will open so many new doors for you, no matter the career you decide to pursue. You'll also be able to become culturally diverse, and learn things that others wish they could. Another tip is to invest your money while you're young into something such as stocks, mutual funds, or real estate - be smart, don't waste your money on materialistic things. Do not think for right now, but think for the future because changes in our society appear to be happening at a monumental pace. Lastly, respect everyone for who they are.
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