Episode 125: Jessica Plumeri, Women in the Security Profession

Born in Trenton and raised in both Trenton and Hamilton Township, New Jersey, Jessica Plumeri graduated from Hamilton High North (Nottingham) in 1990 and attended Mount Saint Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Jessica graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice.

After college, she was hired as a Detective with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.  After graduating from the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice Academy, Jessica was assigned to the Grand Jury, Trial and Megan’s Law Units.  As her career progressed, she was assigned to the Prosecutor’s Special Investigations Unit where she began her passion for investigations involving the illegal distribution of narcotics.  

While learning on the job with the Prosecutor’s Office, Jessica continued to advance her knowledge and skills by completing the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Basic Narcotics School, “Top Gun” Narcotics School and the REID Basic Interrogation Course.  Jessica continued to advance her knowledge by attending many additional seminars and classes with the FBI, DEA and various state and local law enforcement agencies.  Jessica also completed the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice Physical Training Course and is certified by the Police Training Commission as a certified New Jersey Physical Training instructor.  Jessica utilized this training as an instructor at the Mercer County and New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice Police Academies.

In 1999, Jessica entered the graduate program in education at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ).  She attended classes at night and in 2001, she graduated with her Master of Arts Degree in Teaching.  

Shortly after earning her Master’s degree, Jessica decided it was time for a change and new challenges.   In 2002, Jessica was hired by the Hopewell Township School District as a second-grade teacher.  She loved being a teacher and working with children.  It did not take the community long to appreciate her love of teaching.  In 2010, Jessica received the Teacher of the Year Award from the Hopewell Township Board of Education. 

While teaching was a rewarding and fulfilling experience, there was still something missing.  After much thought, Jessica realized her true passion in life was law enforcement, and she returned to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.  As a returning law enforcement officer, Jessica had to complete training at the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice Academy.  Once again, her passion for law enforcement was evident and upon completion of her training in 2011, she received the Police Training Commission Distinguished Recruit Award.

Upon returning to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, she was assigned to the Trial Unit, assisted in homicide investigations, and returned to the unit that was her true passion, Special Investigations, whereby she served as a member of the Mercer County Narcotics Task Force.   As a detective in the Special Investigations Unit, Jessica participated in over 3000 narcotics investigations, 300 of which were undercover investigations.  These investigations involved the distribution of narcotics and guns with the Mercer County Narcotics Task Force, the DEA, FBI, United States Marshal’s Service, the New Jersey State Police, and various state and local agencies in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York.  Jessica again completed advanced training and became a certified undercover officer through a prestigious program hosted by the New Jersey State Police and FBI.  In addition to being an instructor and the Mercer County Police Academy and the Division of Criminal Justice Academy,   she also instructed at the Undercover Narcotic Investigative Training School (U.N.I.T.) hosted by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General.   

During her law enforcement career, Jessica has received numerous awards from the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration and local and state law enforcement agencies.  This includes, in 2001, when she received the West Windsor Police Department Certificate of Excellence for an undercover operation that benefited the entire community.  Jessica has also assisted the DEA as an undercover officer resulting in the seizure of large amounts of narcotics.  In 2018, the Italian American Police Society of New Jersey honored Jessica with the Lifetime Achievement in Law Enforcement award.

In 2016, Mercer County Sheriff John A. Kemler appointed her Undersheriff. As Undersheriff of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, Jessica was responsible for the origin and coordination of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Response Team, airport security for the Trenton-Mercer Airport Division, Policy Development and Training, Court Security, and numerous other essential duties related to warrant services and the capture of fugitives.

In 2019, Prosecutor Angelo Onofri brought Jessica back to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office as Deputy Chief of Detectives where she was responsible for the oversight of major crime investigations throughout the county.

In August 2020, Prosecutor Onofri appointed Jessica Chief of Mercer County Detectives where Jessica oversees the investigative staff of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.

Intro  00:04

Where do I go? The only happened was, I was singled out. The phone calls began about one month ago. What is hazing? Something happened to me when I was out? I'm worried about my safety. He said he was sorry, can someone help me? Where can I go? Can someone help me?

 

Intro Voices  00:30

This is you matter, a podcast for the NYU community developed by the Department of campus safety.

 

Karen Ortman  00:36

Hi, everyone, and welcome back to you matter, a podcast created to teach, inspire and motivate members of the NYU community who have been victimized in some form or fashion and to identify resources both on and off campus that can help. I'm your host Karen Ortman, Associate Vice President of campus safety operations at the Department of campus safety and a retired law enforcement professional. Today I welcome Jessica Plummer I, chief of detectives in the Mercer County prosecutor's office located in Trenton, New Jersey, the only female police chief in a county law enforcement agency in the entire state of New Jersey, Chief plumber, I is here to share her journey to the role of top cop in Mercer County, as well as the evolution of the role of women in policing. Chief Plumeri I welcome to you matter.

 

Jessica Plumeri  01:30

Thank you. I'm happy to be here.

 

Intro Voices  01:32

It's my pleasure to have you here. So let's get started.

 

Jessica Plumeri  01:36

Sure!

 

Karen Ortman  01:36

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

 

Jessica Plumeri  01:41

Well, I can say that as a child, I always wanted to be a police officer, but not in the traditional sense where I wore a uniform, or was a patrol woman. I grew up with a father who when I was you know, elementary age where I could really understand what was going on. He was a trend police officer, but he was a assigned to the Vice unit, which was primarily undercover. Back then organized crime, narcotics. And I can remember being five or six years old and not really completely understanding it. But just being fascinated by the fact that he would tell me that he would pretend to be different people. And it would help him make the trench and safer for me. From that point on, I was fascinated by that.

 

Karen Ortman  02:32

You're bringing me back because I remember the Trenton vise unit, which is now called something different.

 

Jessica Plumeri  02:39

Yes, it's completely it's completely different.

 

Karen Ortman  02:44

You wanted to get into law enforcement because of your father. I did. You went to college. Did you study criminal justice?

 

Jessica Plumeri  02:52

I did. I went to Mount St. Mary's College in a small school in Emmitsburg. They had a it was a sociology major with a concentration in criminal justice. So it was a combination of the two, you know, typical liberal arts curriculum, but I was given some opportunities to do some internships there. It was more of a rural area. So I kind of saw the rural side side of things versus urban side. Um, so I learned a lot in that sense how different

 

Karen Ortman  03:22

And that was in a different state?

 

Jessica Plumeri  03:24

Yes, that was in Maryland.

 

Karen Ortman  03:25

Okay. Yeah. You come back to New Jersey after you graduate college. And what happens?

 

Jessica Plumeri  03:34

So I had toyed with the idea of going to law school and decided that I wasn't really quite sure which side of the fence I wanted to fall on, whether it be a lawyer or in law enforcement. Prosecutor, I should say. And, you know, basically, my parents told me, Well, if you're not sure, we're not going to waste the money. Figure it out while you're in law school. And I was incredibly fortunate to be introduced. Well, I grew up knowing the current prosecutor, or the former prosecutor at the time, Marian Balaam. was and I originally went to her for some career advice. And she brought to my attention this remarkable thing at the prosecutor's office, which in some places is a district attorney's office, that they not only had prosecutors, but they had prosecutors detectives at the time called investigators, and that they were in plainclothes it was not a patrol position and uniform position. It was your detectives once you graduated from the academy. So that intrigued me from the beginning. And she was gracious enough to give me the opportunity back in 1994, to join the Mercer County prosecutor's office on the condition that I was interested in becoming an undercover officer in narcotics, which was like my dream come true. So Oh, yeah, we need a female to buy drugs is what she said. And I jumped at the chance

 

Karen Ortman  05:07

to be a detective in the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office requires that you go to a police academy.

 

Jessica Plumeri  05:16

Yeah, correct.

 

Karen Ortman  05:18

Correct. And how does that police academy differ from a municipal police academy in which someone might get attend and then be assigned to traffic wearing uniform, right?

 

Jessica Plumeri  05:32

It is the same amount of time, it's the same number of weeks, I think anywhere now between 22 to 24. But the municipal cat Academy has all the same, we go to something called the Division of Criminal Justice, Justice Academy. It's more geared towards investigative work, as opposed to traffic work, patrol, things like that. But the only difference is that we still have the same physical training the same defensive tasks six, the same firearms, the same vehicle operations, the only differences, there are probably a quarter of the classes are more geared towards investigative techniques, as opposed to patrol techniques, title 39, which is our motor vehicle code and things like that. That's still included, but it's much more abbreviated than a municipal Academy.

 

Karen Ortman  06:22

And you focus primarily on to see which is the Criminal Code of New Jersey?

 

Jessica Plumeri  06:28

Yes, yes, that's exactly what we focus on. Okay.

 

Karen Ortman  06:32

So narcotics, huh? Yeah.

 

Jessica Plumeri  06:35

My love still my love.

 

Karen Ortman  06:38

This, I know. It's funny, because when I think back when I started, I wanted to be a homicide detective.

 

Jessica Plumeri  06:49

Right?

 

Karen Ortman  06:49

And, and you aren't you remember those days? And I remember making that known to someone in leadership at the time. And of course, this was in 1988. And I was told over my dead body, would a woman be assigned homicide? Yeah. I later was assigned homicide. And that person was deceased, but I had nothing to do with it. Let's talk a little bit about the difficulties perhaps.

 

Jessica Plumeri  07:32

Yeah.

 

Karen Ortman  07:32

Or the perceived difficulties? I mean, you tell me that, you know, this is your story.

 

Jessica Plumeri  07:38

Yeah.

 

Karen Ortman  07:38

With respect to entering a specific area of law enforcement such as narcotics, which is really predominantly male oriented. I mean, even today, I would venture to say, at a at a local and county level, maybe not in a federal level, you have a lot of women. Yeah. Shout out to sue Gibson.

 

Jessica Plumeri  08:01

DEA majors are favorites. Yeah.

 

Karen Ortman  08:05

But tell me about your experience.

 

Jessica Plumeri  08:07

So I went in and did a little naively I should say, my going back to my dad, when I was growing up, it was in the 70s, he was actually mentoring a female intern, and the Trenton police department and it was Abby Clark, she ended up going to be in the DEA, she was my role model. So I grew up watching that and thinking, well, this is normal, right? You know, and, you know, he welcomed her, he and my uncle Jimmy Taylor, at the time, welcomed her with open arms, and she was, you know, learn so much from them. So I go in thinking, well, everybody must be like this, you know, and I do have to say, I was very fortunate. I never went in thinking gender specifics at the time. So I was I encountered you know, some pushback, I was the only female in a narcotics unit for years, I mean, years and years. There were some some bosses that did not believe that females really belonged in a unit like that, other than to search other females when they were arrested. And that was the end of it. You know, the fact that I wanted to do undercover work was just unheard of in terms of if you wanted, they wanted me to play a prostitute that was of course appropriate for me to want to go and try to buy drugs and infiltrate organizations that was something that was not common. So I did have a couple of bosses who at first I should say we're not very keen on the idea you know, didn't use my names and let her do it or you know, give it to the girl and it was your typical, you know, go search the female you can go get the paperwork ready, you can take the complaints, but I was fortunate because I do think that the the members of my unit at the time Time, were very supportive, the men that I worked with, and very encouraging and very proactive in that they saw the benefits to having a female and the fact that I could talk to people that, you know, they couldn't talk to in certain situations, or people wouldn't think that I was a police officer, so I could kind of get over in certain situations that they wouldn't. And when, you know, certain administrators gave me the chance to do it, and they saw that I was successful, they really warmed up to it, I have to say, and really taught me a lot. And you know, not everybody, but for the most part, I was I was supported when I was younger, but I have to say, I was naive going into it, I thought everyone would just welcomed me with open arms. And, you know, I would save the world. Right? You know,

 

Karen Ortman  10:52

so that's what we all think I say, are you?

 

Jessica Plumeri  10:57

Absolutely.

 

Karen Ortman  10:58

When you say that you were able to talk to people in ways that others couldn't? Is that directly related to the, to your gender? Or is that related to something other than your gender? Maybe your experiences?

 

Jessica Plumeri  11:13

Um, I? Well, I So growing up, I was also very heavily involved in theater and singing and things like that. So gender, yes, because people are not on their guard. And I should say, probably, those of the male gender are not on their guard a lot about oh, a female being a cop, sometimes not all the time. But I was very fortunate that throughout my time, being in like drama classes, and theater, never never connecting this at the time, but all the improv classes and things that I had to do really prepared me for being on the street and being able to come up with things when I had to, you know, you're, you're talking on the fly to people, and some will question you as to if you're a police officer, or whatever. And that really gave me a very big jump on being an undercover. There are undercover classes that I was sent to, and things like that, but the whole, the whole thing surrounding undercover work is being able to talk to people. And I really think, you know, being in musicals, and all these plays my poor parents had to sift through later in life to You know, buy narcotics on the street or whatever role I was playing so,

 

Karen Ortman  12:33

so you were a good actress

 

Jessica Plumeri  12:36

Apparently apparently, not all, but it helps

 

Karen Ortman  12:41

in your undercover capacity, what kinds of investigations were you conducting quite a few,

 

Jessica Plumeri  12:46

you know, there was definitely the human trafficking piece of it, you know, the being portraying a sex worker and trying to infiltrate those, you know, types of organized crime rings, which was, you know, is very prevalent now was prevalent, then, probably not as sophisticated. Definitely infiltrating. You know, different narcotics dealers, we have, you know, Stretton is only seven square miles. But, you know, it really encompasses a lot of the trafficking on, you know, between New York, Pennsylvania, and things like that. So, I was, I wasn't able to be that undercover who I wouldn't meet like the kingpin, you know, himself or things like that. But I would have to work my way up to that. So I would start very small, and eventually worked my way up to dealing with the, you know, the key target or who, key distributor, and kind of dismantling like, where they're things where their drugs were kept, where their money was kept, and things like that. And, you know, just talk my way in, buy things and from that building investigation, but you know, it wasn't just me, it was all the support I had around me as well.

 

Karen Ortman  14:08

So primarily narcotics and some human trafficking,

 

Jessica Plumeri  14:12

some human trafficking, some white collar crime. I was fortunate to work for many different counties in the state of New Jersey and some federal agencies, because they would need a female for certain scenarios. And if they didn't have one in their agency, you know, I was recommended and my office was nice enough progressive enough to let me go and help out those other agencies with their cases. Yeah.

 

Karen Ortman  14:38

What advantage do women bring to law enforcement that perhaps your male counterparts cannot?

 

Jessica Plumeri  14:45

I think as women we play so many different roles right in life. We are moms daughters, sisters, cops, whatever that we can we can definitely multitask too. The 10th level. So I think that is something that that we excel in and can, you know, work on an investigation, be helping or mentoring another officer, dealing with our own personal lives on the side, you know, and keep all those balls in the air. I think that's definitely bringing the profession. I also think that we, as women, we think a little differently in terms of empathy. I think we can pick up the box, the compassion, there's, there's so many different realms of that, that I think is so important in so many different levels, talking with victims, I mean, that's huge. Bringing your own experience as a mother, sister, whatever, I can tell you, even in narcotics, bringing in some of those areas with informants that I worked with who needed help, you know, you know, rehabilitation, things like that. I just think we we have many more, let's say, skills, because that's not true. But it's just think there's more empathy and insight that we can bring, just based on our experience.

 

Karen Ortman  16:11

Yeah. Agree. You're now the chief, you've been in law enforcement for over 20 years, yes. You worked in narcotics. Tell me about the progression of your career over the course of 20 plus years, and how you got to where you are today.

 

Jessica Plumeri  16:36

So I've had kind of a very different path than most, you know, for the most part, people come into law enforcement and yours, you stay within the profession, and rise, you know, throughout until retirement, I was with the Merced County prosecutor's office for almost seven years. And I had gone to grad school and gotten a master's in education. And during that, I had to do a student teaching piece, which I kind of I fell in love with at the time. And I was offered a position as a teacher. And I thought, you know, this is something I really need to explore. So I did, I left the profession, which is not very common. And I became first and second grade teacher for about six years and a great school district. And I was, you know, I enjoyed it. I love the kids. I knew at some point, though, that I miss law enforcement, and that was my passion. So I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to return to Mercer County prosecutor's office, again, as a detective, knowing that I'd have to go to the police academy a second time at 38 years old, which was not the easiest having a I think at the time my son was, I think he was five, my daughter, no, my daughter was six, he was four. So you know, another police academy, things like that. And knowing thinking at the time that you know, I love this job so much that because I left I was putting myself behind in terms of advancement. But at the time, I didn't care because I just wanted to come back because that's what I wanted to do. And I was able to come back to narcotics, you know, undercover officer, part two. You know, I did other things, Megan's Law, some homicide, things like that. But then I was offered, the Sheriff of Mercer County at the time had offered me the position of an UnderSheriff what, which, in New Jersey is the equivalent of Deputy Chief per se. Couldn't couldn't say no, you know, that was, it was a big change going from the fast pace of narcotics, you're going 100 miles an hour. And it's like, you know, sexy work and things, but to an administrator. So that was a huge change for me. But I learned so much and learn so much about a different aspect because the sheriff's do do patrol work, they run the courts, they do fugitive work. So it really opened my world in terms of law enforcement and how to be an administrator. And it you know, it wasn't the easiest task because I kind of skipped a lot of steps in the middle. So it was a really big learning curve, but I was very lucky to have a lot of officers at the Mercer County Sheriff's Department really rallied around me and helped me learn about that office and helped me you know, become a, a good supervisor, hopefully within you know, that's what it was. And we did a lot there. We built a new SWAT team that now is the county SWAT team and I'm so proud of them. I was able to to oversee the County Airport Security, I mean things in a million years, I never would have you know, I'm an airport security coordinator like new things like that.

 

Karen Ortman  19:46

And that airport really grew.

 

Jessica Plumeri  19:48

Yeah, it's the things that it you know, I was exposed to there I just so fortunate for and then I was very fortunate again the prosecutor Angela on for He called me and said, I want you back. He offered me a position of Deputy Chief back at the Mercer County prosecutor's office in 2019. It was an offer I couldn't refuse because I felt like coming back home again. And then in 2020, he offered me the position of chief, and you know

 

Karen Ortman  20:19

And here you are

 

Jessica Plumeri  20:19

Yeah, here I am. Yeah.

 

Karen Ortman  20:22

So your story is, is unique. People can stay in this profession for their entire career and not make chief. Right? How has law enforcement from your perspective, particularly as it pertains to women? How has it changed, based upon your experience? And what changes still need to be made to make the profession more inclusive? For women?

 

Jessica Plumeri  20:56

I think it's changed in terms of we see more females in law enforcement. Now. I mean, I think you'd agree that back when we first started it, you know, it was rare to have more than one or two females in a department, if any. Now, you know, you definitely see that growing, which is great to see. I'm a member of the New Jersey female Law Enforcement Association, which is a great organization. And they had their annual conference last April. And I remember walking in and I saw a room of about 800 female police officers, and it gave me chills, because I had never seen that before, I'd never been in one room with that many females in the same career that I was in. So it was just such a great feeling. But I do think that there could be more, I mean, there could be more opportunity more, you know, recruiting of females for departments, because I think we bring so much to the job. And I think, I think the male administrators and male police officers are much more open to the fact of working with a female seeing how competent our female officers are. I've had male friends who are police officers say to me, you know, I never worked with a female. And once I worked with this one particular officer, female officer, she was a better partner than I've ever had. He wouldn't hear that 20 years ago. I mean, that was just not that was unheard of maybe even 10 years ago, I don't know if that we would have heard that. But I still think there's a ways to go in terms of females advancing in the career. I mean, I am, like, as you said, I'm the only county chief of detectives. So there's 21 counties in New Jersey, I'm the only female, I go to these meetings every month, and everyone is wonderful. And they are the most gracious professional. She's I could I can't say enough about the organization. They're wonderful. But I look around and 2022. And I sit there, and I'm, you know, the only female in the room most of the time. And it's not just the chiefs, it's, you know, state police representatives, federal representatives. And I'm always the only female in the room. And I say to myself, how is it that in 2022? I'm the only female sitting here, who has advanced this high in the profession. So I think that's something that we suit better with, for sure.

 

Karen Ortman  23:26

Why do you think that is?

 

Jessica Plumeri  23:28

I wish, you know, I wrack my brain. And I see you know, sometimes I'll meet you know, there are females that will make it to captain or I just I don't know what it is. I really wish I knew. You know, it's just something that I think, in this day and age really should shouldn't be, honestly, I had the opportunity there. The Union County chief was a female she had retired about two years ago. So up until then, I had a counterpart. She went on to bigger and better things. But it just I don't know. We haven't changed that much. Obviously, if I'm the only female sitting in the room. Yeah.

 

Karen Ortman  24:12

If a young listener is hearing this interview, and wants to be in law enforcement, as an adult, what guidance would you give them?

 

Jessica Plumeri  24:29

I would say that before you even enter the profession, make sure you know you know you this is a job that you can't just, I'm going to try it out. This is something you have to be 100% sure that you want to do. It will crush you if if it's not your passion, honestly. The second thing I would say is make sure that you are 100% prepared for the police academy when you go there. Don't show up thinking hard Gotta get you in shape, don't show up thinking that they owe you something because they owe you nothing. You are there to prove to them that you belong to be there. And too many times I have seen males and females show up, and they're not ready. Yeah. And if they're wasting their departments time, and they're wasting their own time, to those who make it through and get there, I would say, any opportunity you have for training, take it. Any opportunity, you have to learn from somebody take it, it's just, the more you're open to learning. And to just figure out how it all works, the more respect you're gonna get. And the more successful you're going to be.

 

Karen Ortman  25:39

No. I remember when I first started in law enforcement, there were I'll call them old timers that were on the job. And they did not have a formal education. Yes, that was not a requirement back then, during the course of my career that changed, that involved. In fact, some departments tie the levels of education to promotion opportunities. What is the educational background of those entering this profession? And do you see an impact related to an educational background? In this profession?

 

Jessica Plumeri  26:21

Yeah, I do for sure. So the way you know, it works in New Jersey is you have departments that are civil service, which means they take a civil service test. And their test results are what determines how who gets hired by that department. There is no other requirement for that, except for military and a high school background. Although some people do have college degrees or go on to get their college degree as they're working. In our office in the prosecutor's offices, there is now it's pretty much you do for Mercer, we do look for a college degree, and I'll be honest with you, most resumes I get that people have a college degree experience and a master's degree. So the it's rising, you know, the level of education that I see come across my desk every day is so much more than we ever saw, you know, and I think it's definitely something that that it makes you a stronger, well rounded person number one, a stronger writer, a stronger, just, you know, just that experience in itself, helps you excel a little more on the job, not say if you have a master's don't have a master's degree, you're not going to be the top. That's not what I'm saying at all. But I think it just makes you a little more rounded, open to things that you might not have been open to before,

 

Karen Ortman  27:48

and enables you to communicate effectively, which is 99%. Of the job requires Yeah, yeah, to be able to talk to people, you have to be able to document what you see, hear feel observe.

 

Jessica Plumeri  28:07

Yes, for sure. And I think that also, you know, depending on what public administration, criminal justice, whatever it also, you know, it kind of gives you a history of everything, and it keeps you up on the trends now and what's current and what what what, you know, the discussions that are happening? I don't know, it's just at this thing it just opened broadens up so many more horizons that help you throughout your career. So I'm seeing a lot more education than we ever saw, for sure.

 

Karen Ortman  28:37

Are women supportive of other women in law enforcement?

 

Jessica Plumeri  28:43

I wish I could say all of the time, 100% of the time, yes.

 

Karen Ortman  28:49

Because we both know that's not true.

 

Jessica Plumeri  28:52

That's not true. It's not I, I again, I've been fortunate where you know, everyone, most that I've women that I've worked with are supportive of each other, you know, want to see each other rise and not fall. But I've also been in situations where it's, you know, there's a jealousy or a competing per se for a particular spot, or whatever. I would say most of the time, you're lucky and you do get that support. But now and then you're going to come across someone who for some reason or another is threatened, you know, doesn't like the fact that another woman is on their territory. Things like that. I have though, through this woman in law enforcement organization, I've seen more support, publicly, I'd say more of a family type thing or not so much a sisterhood, I should say. More predominantly than I've seen in a very long time. And I think that attributes social media, you get to see it, these conventions and things like that. And the fact that is becoming more accepted. I mean, 20 years ago, if we said we were going to women in law enforcement conference, we would have been laughed at, ya know, and now it's something that is supported. I mean, I will go to that. And it's interesting for me, because the male chiefs from the counties are there. supporting their women? Yeah. Oh, that's Yeah. So it's just like a the tables are turned for one day. Yeah. But, um, I think more often, yes, there is not. But I hate to see it when there there isn't, you know, human nature, it is what it is.

 

Karen Ortman  30:35

Right. As the chief, you probably respond to disturbing incidents, such as homicides or other violent crimes. How do you self care?

 

Jessica Plumeri  30:51

Well, I mean, I'd like to say I was great at it. But I'm a runner, so that, to me, is my stress relief. That's where I can kind of clear my mind and try to clear it all out of anything disturbing that I've seen, or I've dealt with, you know, from from seeing a homicide scene to going to one of my officers who have been injured or been in a critical critical incident and things like that. You know, I'm not an expert at it, I'll tell you that. But the exercise is one for me. I, I tried to meditate once in a while not very good, fat.

 

Karen Ortman  31:32

Are you want to be good?

 

Jessica Plumeri  31:34

I do there, I wonder why I'm not good at it. So that's not helpful. It's more of an exercise thing. For me. That's how my self care. And you know, I do try to turn my brain off and focus on my kids and being present. That's something I really, really had to work on. When I was in narcotics I lived in I've lived and breathed that stuff. And I had to learn that, you know, that's not your whole life, that's just a part of your life. So, you know, I mean, I won't let you there's been times where I've, I've done therapy and things like that, because, you know, you may not realize it as each incidents happened, it happened, but it weighs on you after a while, like all of it. Yeah.

 

Karen Ortman  32:17

I appreciate you saying that, because that's a very stigmatized subject. And it's and the more people talk about it, hopefully the less stigmatized it will be, and there is no shame in therapy and help people.

 

Jessica Plumeri  32:34

In New Jersey, actually, we've, we've really become pretty progressive, which I'm proud of the warm one of the former Attorney General started resiliency program. And it stemmed from a very close friend of mine, who I worked with the sheriff's office took his own life. And from that incident, and, and others across the state, their resiliency program was born in New Jersey. And so we have resiliency officers within every police department, that if you are, you know, if you are struggling any in any area of your life, job, home, anything, there is a network of police officers who are trained as resiliency as officers you don't have, they don't have to be in your own department. It could be there's a book of anybody in New Jersey. So if you don't feel comfortable talking to someone in your own department, you can call somebody in another department. And they're trained and they are trained in helping people find, you know, outlets that they need, you know, therapists, counselors, you know, financial advice, whatever it is. So I think the stigma, New Jersey, law enforcement has really tried to take that stigma away, and said, It's okay. You know, we are even working on a program where, you know, every detective is going to have the opportunity to meet with a counselor twice a year. They can go in there and talk, they can go in there and not talk, but it's open to them and confidential. No, I don't even know if they go or they don't go. But it was great. Yeah. So, you know, I think I think talking about things is important. And I tried to do that. And I think getting it in early, the young officers are also presented with this in the very beginning. Because there are things I know now that if I probably knew 10 years ago, or 15 years ago, would have saved me a lot of heartache. You know, things that are talked about now, so that's great. Yeah, it's something I'm proud that New Jersey's does that.

 

Karen Ortman  34:46

That was not there. When I was on the job, Oh, yeah.

 

Jessica Plumeri  34:52

No, and if something upset you. Yeah, exactly. Yep.

 

Karen Ortman  34:59

About what are you most proud?

 

Jessica Plumeri  35:04

My children, I think that's what I'm most proud of. They are pretty awesome. Yeah, they're pretty awesome. They are. Um, it's it's amazing to me, people they've become so, you know, despite anything that's, you know, they're they're very loved and they have a great family. And I'm just just couldn't be prouder of them.

 

Karen Ortman  35:23

In spite of all the negative influences out there. Yeah, yeah, definitely an achievement. Yeah.

 

Jessica Plumeri  35:29

And they've had some great influences, as you know,

 

Karen Ortman  35:32

Oh, I do. What inspires you?

 

Jessica Plumeri  35:37

Um, so many things, honestly, my kids, they obviously, they inspire me every day just to try to be better. And, you know, show them that anything's possible. It's funny, my daughter had never any interests, that I was in law enforcement, she liked it better when I was a teacher. But about a couple months ago, she actually said to her boyfriend, how cool it was, how cool of a job her mom has, and actually asked me to talk about it. And that never happens, you know. And she, she's, she sees that, you know, you can kind of break barriers, which, which I think, inspires me so much to just keep going and showing her and my son that that's possible. My dad and my mom still inspire me, you know, they are just, they're the reason why I've been able to do everything I do. And you know, my friends, you know, but I'm lucky I have a really full life with a lot of inspiration throughout it, for sure.

 

Karen Ortman  36:41

For sure. If you weren't in law enforcement, what would you be doing?

 

Jessica Plumeri  36:47

It's a great question. I love teaching. I don't know that I would be at the elementary level, hopefully, in higher education somewhere. But honestly, I can't see myself in anything but law enforcement right now, you know, beyond maybe something else. But this is just, you know, I was always I was brought up with the, there's nothing worse than going to work every day and not liking what you do. And I'm just so fortunate that, despite you know, the stuff, yeah, I love what I do, I still love what I do. You are blessed. I am very blessed.

 

Karen Ortman  37:28

Sure. Is there anything that we have not talked about that you would like to share?

 

Jessica Plumeri  37:33

The only thing that I would really want to emphasize is that, you know, this career is a very, very fulfilling career. But it's also very difficult for at times, it's if you bring it home with you, you don't, you know, just leave it at work. But if anyone's struggling, if anyone needs the opportunity to speak to anybody, there are so many resources available. There is cop to COP, which is an organization that will take a phone call 20 477 days a week, and will speak to any law enforcement officer about anything that they need. There are so many resources out there and so many people that want to help that it's there's no shame in getting that help. And it's only going to make you healthier, and better person, parent, spouse police officer. So that's the definitely the one thing that I would emphasize the most, and I wish I knew that earlier in my career.

 

Karen Ortman  38:37

Well, I appreciate that. And I appreciate the opportunity to talk to you today. So I thank you very,

 

Jessica Plumeri  38:42

Thank you very much. It's an honor to be here.

 

Karen Ortman  38:45

So my pleasure entirely. And thank you once again to my guest chief Plummer i and to all of our listeners for joining us for today's episode. If any information presented was triggering or disturbing, please feel free to contact the wellness exchange at 212-443-9999 or Mr. US Department of campus safety and their victim services unit at 212-998-2222. Please share like and subscribe to you matter on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or tune in