He doesn’t know exactly what drew him into law enforcement, but Detective Jerry DeRosia of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department in Independence Township is pleased with the career choice.
‘It’s something I always wanted to do.? But, he said, there wasn’t one person that inspired him, and he wasn’t following in anyone’s footsteps. He just sort of fell into the line of work.
Now with 18 years of service, and seven years to retirement, DeRosia’s career, which has included work with the Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, has been, what he calls, well-rounded.
He started as a civilian service agent, basically another name for a prison guard, at the Oakland County Jail in 1986.
According to DeRosia, 40, it’s the job nobody wants. It’s the low man on the totem pole, so to speak.
But, he defends, ‘The jail is a great place to learn. Your schooled real quick in the ways of the streets.?
After a few years, his job title was changed to Deputy I. Then, in 1989, he was promoted to Deputy II, acting as a supervisor in the jail.
He worked in Road Patrol from 1991 to 1994, before going undercover in various street narcotics cases with NET.
‘Every time we did a dope deal in Pontiac, there was always the potential for violence. Every time you got into a car with someone you didn’t know, you were putting yourself in danger. You don’t know what drug dealers are capable of.?
After a year and a half with NET, DeRosia was approached to start up a special team of law enforcement officers in a collaboration with the State Police and Sheriff’s Department. It was a new concept for Oakland County. The goal was to target high level, international drug couriers who were bringing drugs into the state.
DeRosia was sent to Florida to train with the Florida National Guard, their Department of Law Enforcement, he explained, for a closer look at how the drug world operated.
As the team, called the Oakland Macomb Interdiction Team, was starting up, they were approached by the FBI. They were sworn in as special agents and deputy U.S. Marshals.
‘That gave us federal credentials to go anywhere in the U.S. It gave us federal jurisdiction and contacts with federal databases.?
DeRosia, who has been labeled the ‘resident computer geek? at the Independence Township substation, was the technical support man for the FBI team.
‘During that time we developed hundreds and hundreds of informants to tell of us drug couriers, other than that everything is classified.?
What DeRosia can say is the FBI narcotics team used thousands of the money seized on drug raids for law enforcement such as training equipment for officers, the sheriff’s helicopter and more.
And the overall effort was geared to developing new and innovative ways to track drugs.
DeRosia was involved with the FBI until 1999. Job burn out took over.
‘It was time to move on after five years undercover. It started to get to me. I had to work targets out of state regularly,? DeRosia said.
Family is important to DeRosia, who has been married for seven years and has one daughter. ‘I lost so many years while undercover, I like to spend as much time with my family as I can now. I missed birthdays, holidays and family functions.?
Also, acting as a different person undercover, took a toll on DeRosia after time.
‘You start to become a different person when you’re taking on a different persona regularly. ?
He came back to Road Patrol for Oakland County, did a stint as deputy in Springfield Township, until a detective position opened up in Independence Township.
Lt. Dale LaBair sought out DeRosia. ‘He was highly rated as a patrolman, and his reputation continued as skilled investigator. We got what we expected to get.?
‘I try hard to do my job the best I can,? DeRosia said, who is hoping to start a private investigation business. ‘In a few years when I retire I won’t say I haven’t had a good career.?