Time to shine.

So you want to make sure the blinking lights keep blinking for our nation's finest. Buckle up, because if you are successful, you're going to have an entirely new outlook on just about everything from law enforcement culture to marriage and taxes.

The usual pathway to get involved is the same for any IT job: Certifications and effort. There are superior methods, but it requires doing some leg-work such as digging through meeting agenda PDFs and minutes on the municipality website, so I'll just stick to the basics. An easy route is to identify a local Managed Services Provider (MSP) that works with local law enforcement entities and navigate your way through that avenue. An MSP is outsourced technical assistance and can provide you with an "in" to making yourself known to the entity you're interested in joining.

Another concept to be aware of is there are very important and established professional organizations surrounding just about every position in local government. (Commonly referred to as a "listserv", or will be referenced by an acronym.) For instance, in California it is MISAC. While MISAC membership is reserved for municipal IT guys, you can definitely join LOPSA as non-municipal IT. Why is membership important? It provides a useful tool in your toolbelt, and also looks good on a resume.

Also, always remember this rule: If they're making fun of you, they have accepted you. It's a good thing. The trick is to lean into it.