A police and fire dispatcher for the Cook County Sheriff's Department describes the lessons he has learned in the Masters in Emergency Management program and the exciting prospects they have opened up for him as he expands his career in new directions.
About Tim Bergel
- Position
- Police and Fire Dispatcher, Cook County Sheriff's Department
- Program
-
Class of 2020
After beginning his career as an EMT paramedic, Tim Bergel, a winner of the Master of Science in Threat and Response Management’s (MScTRM) Emerging Leaders in Emergency Preparedness Scholarship, took a position as a police and fire dispatcher for the Cook County Sheriff’s Department’s 911 center. Since being promoted to supervisor, in which role he oversees the command center and conducts training sessions for new hires, he has developed both an appreciation for the broader aspects of emergency management as well as a desire to explore them in greater depth.
“Law enforcement is all about response,” he says, “and you typically respond to one incident at a time. I was drawn to the MScTRM program for the prospect of working in emergency management on a grander scale. I wanted to move to the next level and take part in the planning side by preparing and thinking about events that might happen in the future."
Understanding the Challenges of Disaster Recovery
Having some familiarity with the key concepts of disaster recovery as they apply at the local level already, the emergency management degree program has provided him with the tools to expand his knowledge and learn about their function at the state and federal level as well.
“I’ve found that the key to diving into the curriculum is understanding exactly how they relate to my experience and what I already know,” Tim says. “Once I’ve figured that out, I can apply it to other areas and in that way start building a broader and more complex view of emergency management in my mind.”
He notes that the real world experience of the instructors is critical to the in-depth understanding he gets as a student in the MScTRM program.
“Having an instructor like Ed Buikema, a former FEMA Region V director, teach you about emergency management means you get much more than just the instruction,” he says. “He can draw on his real world experience in disaster management and give you concrete examples. It sometimes takes someone who’s had their boots on the ground to convey a real sense for the challenges you face doing emergency management.”
Looking at a Bright Future of Possibility
Another factor to Tim’s enjoyment of the program has been the camaraderie he’s developed with his classmates. He says it’s amazing to come together with others in the same industry who, at the same time, bring a whole different world of experience to the table.
“There’s so much knowledge and experience among the students that even when class is over you’re still gaining valuable insight,” he says. “Being able to chat with police officers and homeland security people and even hear about what working in flood management entails contributes to the comprehensive view the MScTRM program gives you of emergency management.”
Already thinking about the expanded career options he’ll have upon graduating, Tim is looking forward to using the knowledge he’s gained to carry out new roles and projects in the upcoming years. Whether it’s a new position at the Sheriff’s Office in Cook County or a position at the federal or state level, he’s excited to expand his focus from emergency response to areas of emergency management that plan and prepare for potential dangers in the future.
The Graham School is no longer accepting applications to the Master of Science in Threat and Response Management program in Autumn 2024. The University will take this opportunity to consider future programming in the field.
