Ray Dethloff

Hello, thanks for your interest. I chose this photo to honor my parents. Varying levels of attention or neglect from your parent(s) determine so much of who and what you are. I was fortunate to have been raised as a good kid in a stable middle-class home in Morton Grove, Illinois. Believe it or not, I didn't swear as a kid because I grew up hearing and saying "dagnabit", "shoot", "darn it" and "dog gone it". I know, very tame. No silver spoon in this mouth, I was a paperboy, cart boy, caddie, and a factory worker after I graduated high school. After 3+ years in a factory, I had to get out and joined the U.S. Marines where my factory labor gave me a near perfect PFT score. Post Marines, I had the motivation to do 4 years of college and my first job afterwards was as a stockbroker in downtown Chicago. The '87 market downturn hit hard. I quit knowing I could return to the securities industry within 2 years without retaking exams. Perusing classified ads from various cities across the USA, I stumbled upon an ad for the Dallas PD with a toll free number (yes, I became a cop on a whim). Adventuresome, after being hired I moved to Texas where I knew not one soul. The rest you know. If you like a job and work hard, you will be good at it. I enjoyed my career.

Like so many people, as a young adult I struggled to find my path in this world. I discovered as a cop that I thrived on excitement. If you've made it this far, I think you do too.