From badge to boardroom: Transitioning from law enforcement to IT consulting
by BJ Duncan, Senior Consultant
After 20 years serving in law enforcement, I made a decision that terrified me: I left the security of a government job to pursue a career in corporate IT consulting.
It wasn’t easy, and the journey wasn’t without challenges. But looking back, I realise my years as a police officer didn’t just prepare me. They gave me unique skills that deliver value in ways I never anticipated.
My path into policing (and back out again)
My journey in policing was unique. I passed out of the NSWPF academy in 2002 as a sworn officer. Twenty months later, I quit because at the time, the job just wasn’t for me.
Within the year, I returned to NSW Police as a civilian, spending over 11 years in Police Radio (VKG). Eventually, I returned to the academy and into the NSW Police Force as a sworn officer for a second time. This time, I found the field I loved: technology -specifically digital forensics. Working in digital forensics showed me how closely policing and technology intersect, and it planted the first seeds for the career shift I didn’t yet know I’d make.
After eight more years as a sworn officer – and after months of apprehension – I finally took the leap.
The fear of letting go
Leaving law enforcement is scary.
You walk away from:
- guaranteed pay
- benefits
- a clear career trajectory
- an unusual degree of job security
I spent countless nights weighing the decision. The financial uncertainty alone was paralysing. Was I throwing away years of experience? Could I compete with people who had computer science degrees and decades of industry exposure?
Eventually, I asked myself a confronting question:
“Am I staying because I love this job, or because I’m afraid of what comes next?”
The identity shift nobody talks about
One of the hardest adjustments wasn’t technical – it was personal.
For years, I was “Officer.” I carried authority. People relied on me in emergencies. My identity was wrapped up in being a protector.
In IT professional services, I am an advisor. A consultant. Someone who influences without a badge. There’s no uniform, and initially, no automatic respect for the experience you bring.
The camaraderie is different too. In law enforcement, trust forms through danger and shared responsibility. In consulting, connection grows in quieter ways: working to a schedule, navigating scope, solving problems together, and supporting each other through delivery. It’s just a different kind of bond, and it takes time to find your place in it.
The skills that transfer (and add serious value)
What I wish I had understood earlier is this:
The skills developed in law enforcement aren’t just transferable. They’re competitive advantages.
- Crisis management under pressure
In law enforcement, you make critical decisions with incomplete information in seconds. In IT, the same skill applies when issues arise and project outcomes and deadlines are at risk.
In moments where some feel the pressure rise, I revert to the calm, methodical approach I used at emergency scenes: assess, prioritise, communicate, and act.
- Investigation and problem-solving
Root cause analysis in IT feels remarkably like casework – gathering evidence, interviewing users, documenting meticulously, and following leads to piece together what happened. My years in digital forensics made this even more intuitive, teaching me to trace digital activity, understand system behaviour, and piece together a technical story from fragments. Years of chain-of-custody discipline also translate directly to documentation, compliance, and cybersecurity work.
- Communication across all levels
Policing taught me to explain complex situations to people from all walks of life and to de-escalate under pressure. In my consulting work, I use those same skills daily – translating technical jargon for executives, managing difficult stakeholders, and calming the occasional frustrated client.
The de-escalation techniques that worked on the street work just as well in a boardroom.
- The security mindset
Policing hardwires you to think in terms of threats, vulnerabilities, and risk – spotting what’s out of place and thinking like an adversary. That mindset carries straight into cybersecurity and risk management.
Years of understanding physical security, compliance, and legal processes also help me navigate information security and data privacy requirements.
- Team coordination and leadership
Multi-agency responses taught me how to coordinate across departments, navigate complex hierarchies, and lead under pressure.
Those same skills apply directly to cross-functional project work – balancing delivery teams, business units, vendors, and executives with competing priorities and tight deadlines.
Adapting to a new environment
I traded shift work for mostly business hours. Tactical gear for business casual. Radio chatter for Teams notifications. CAD and legal statutes for KPIs, OKRs, and agile ways of working.
The pace felt different too. Instead of the adrenaline that comes with frontline policing, the work became more strategic and collaborative. And while you can’t see a secure system or well-designed workflow in the same way you can see handcuffs on a suspect, the impact is just as meaningful, especially at a company like bdna, where improving society is core to everything we do.
What I don’t miss
There are aspects of policing I was relieved to leave behind:
- trauma exposure
- the toll of shift work
- constant physical danger
- the stress placed on family
- increasing public and political scrutiny
Those weights accumulate, quietly and constantly.
The adjustment period is real
My first six months were humbling. Suddenly, I was a beginner again.
I invested in certifications like BA Fundamentals and BA Tools and Techniques – not because I lacked skill, but because I needed to translate my experience into a language the industry recognised.
Even how I described my past needed reframing.
“Conducted criminal investigations” became:
“Performed complex analytical investigations with attention to chain of evidence and detailed documentation.”
Same work. Different framing.
Re-aligning what matters
One of the biggest shifts for me wasn’t financial – it was about purpose and lifestyle. Moving into my technology services role gave me new ways to contribute, new challenges, and a different rhythm of work.
Policing will always be a critical profession, and I’m proud of my time in uniform. For me, the transition was simply about finding the next way I could make an impact.
My advice
Start before you leave. Build your bridge while you still have stability.
Reframe your mindset. You’re not “just a cop”.
Give yourself time. You’re changing career, culture, and identity.
Find others who’ve done it. You’re not alone.
Remember your reasons. They’ll get you through the hard days.
A message to the hiring managers
Candidates with law enforcement experience bring:
- calm under pressure
- discipline in documentation and compliance
- strong communication across hierarchies
- adversarial thinking ideal for cybersecurity
- sound risk awareness and ethics
- proven problem-solving
- experience navigating complex organisations
Look beyond the lack of a traditional tech background. The value runs deeper than that.
Continuing to serve – just differently
Transitioning from law enforcement into the technology and professional services world meant letting go of certainty, rebuilding identity, learning new skills, and proving myself all over again.
For me, it was the right step at the right time. A new way to contribute and continue doing meaningful work in a different context.
But policing remains one of the most important professions in our society. I’m proud of the years I spent in uniform, and I have enormous respect for the people who continue to serve our communities every day. My story isn’t a suggestion that anyone should leave the job – it’s simply an example of what a transition can look like when it’s right for someone’s personal circumstances.
In technology consulting, I’m challenged in new ways, learning constantly, and still drawing on the skills I honed in policing to solve problems that matter. It’s a different way of serving – not a better one.
If you’re thinking about a similar shift, the most important thing is understanding your own reasons and your own timing. There is no “right” path – just the one that aligns with your life, your values, and your future.
Your law enforcement experience isn’t something to overcome . It’s a foundation you can build on, whatever direction you choose next.
