- Join the Marines
- Become a Policeman
Carrillo did exactly that, after joining the Marines at the age of 17 and serving for three years, he accomplished his second goal of becoming a police officer, a profession he immediately fell in love with and was ‘completely committed’ to.
“After 34 years; 12 years in Narcotics, at least 200 drug raids executing search warrants, a few dozen undercover busts, 7 years in TAC, 1 year at Internal Affairs, a few years in patrol in between (patrol is what being a cop is all about), the last 7 years in public affairs, and few close calls along the way, I think that hardest thing I’ve done is informing the Chief this morning that I was retiring.”
“I guess that’s why they call it the thin blue line,” Carrillo said, “The thin blue line separates the ugliness that most people don’t know about and don’t see because we are here to protect them from that. That’s why we become cops. It’s trying. There are some scary times, there are some fun times. There’s a cost to it though, personally and to the people that care about you, but it’s rewarding. There is a gratification in knowing that you did something good everyday and nobody will know about it but you and God.”
“Above all God, I had great partners that I trusted with my life and they never failed. Wearing the uniform for that last time today. Thank you to all my family and friends for supporting me through it. Ending this chapter and moving on to a new one.”
“Bittersweet. It’s the hardest thing I’ve done as a cop but when you know you know. It was time. What a ride!”
As for the best advice he was ever given? Well that came from Chief Greg Allen and can’t be repeated! But he does have some advice to anyone thinking about joining the force,
“I would warn people away from the job if they are not fully, 100% committed to it. It takes a toll. If a person wants to do it and commits to it they will love the job, but they will also hate it. It requires a lot but it is very gratifying at the same time. There are times you’ll see that you made a difference in someone’s life, but there are times you won’t be able to see how far reaching that difference is.”
Sgt. Carrillo received an outpouring of support, congratulations and well wishes on his social media page. Many thanked him for his mentorship, while others said he gained new family members along the way and nearly all posted that the EPPD ‘Big Dog’ would be greatly missed!
