Five Questions with Det. Sgt. Jamie Berger

1. Why did you become a police officer?

I became a police officer because it is a job in society that always changes. You never have two days exactly the same. It was also a great way to give back and help the community that I grew up in.

As a police officer, you have the ability to help people in many different ways. I went to college and majored in criminal justice and then was able to pursue my career by first becoming an Auxiliary Police Officer with the Town of Wayland as well as a Seasonal Police Officer in Provincetown and then moving on to become a full-time police officer. These experiences cemented why I wanted to become a police officer. 

2. What is the most bizarre/unique call to which you have responded?

One of the more unique cases I have investigated was when I first moved to the Detective Division. I began to investigate a son who had opened up numerous credit cards, by stealing his father’s identity and running up tens of thousands of dollars on those credit cards. The father did not know his son perpetrated this crime, until the son defaulted on making payments to the credit card companies and they began to call him.

I encourage everyone to check your credit report yearly to make sure that the only credit that appears is the credit you’ve applied for or have.

3. Can you describe your specific job/role on the police force?

Currently, I am the Detective Sergeant for the Wayland Police Department. My primary responsibility is to supervise detectives, youth officer and the community services Officer. The Detective Division is responsible for all investigations and follow-ups on criminal activity within the Town of Wayland. 

Some of these investigations can be residential break and enterings, larcenies, assaults and numerous other crimes.

As the Detective Sergeant, I perform background investigations for new candidates for positions within the Town of Wayland, perform Alcohol/Cigarette compliance checks and a variety of administrative duties as well.

4. What is your favorite food or meal?

My son told me the other day when reviewing my questions for Wayland Patch that my favorite food is a pepperoni/onion pizza. Although pizza is a close second, my favorite food would be a perfectly cooked, medium-well filet mignon.

5. Are you a cat or a dog person? Or some other animal-person?

I am a dog person; I have always had boxer dogs in my family. My father has a boxer, my brother has a boxer, my son has two Boxers and I used to have a boxer as well. My ideal boxer, which I am searching for, would be a white, female boxer, so if anyone knows of one, please let me know.