Professional Spotlight: Sheila Ramos

With over 15 years of experience in law enforcement, Sheila Ramos, an Instructor in the Forensics Techniques Branch, has seen firsthand the challenges and triumphs of the field. What began as an aspiration to serve and protect, soon evolved into a lifelong commitment to teaching and mentoring the next generation of law enforcement professionals.

Sheila began her career in 2009 as a police officer for the Saint Mary's Police Department in Georgia. After 1.5 years on the job, she was promoted to Field Training Officer (FTO), where she provided hands-on training and guidance to new officers in the field.

"Becoming an FTO was very rewarding" expressed Sheila. "I found a lot of joy in training new officers, guiding them on their law enforcement journey, and being part of the growth in their careers."

Driven by her enthusiasm for growth and mentorship, Sheila soon advanced to Corporal at the Saint Mary's PD. However, with limited opportunities for professional development due to the size of the department, she made the decision to transition to Glynn County Police Department in 2014, where she could continue to expand her skills and expertise.

"The moment I was hired, I hit the ground running - I went from completing my field training to training others again as an FTO, and after 1.5 years on the road, transitioned into the Criminal Investigations Division (CID)."

Sheila's new position in CID offered more growth opportunities than she could have imagined. With the vast size of the police department, she had the chance to collaborate with various agencies, gaining invaluable experience investigating a wide variety of crimes, from petty theft to homicide. After gaining some experience in CID, Sheila's passion gravitated further towards crime scene investigations. This passion led to her certification as a Crime Scene Technician and Latent Print Examiner through the state of Georgia. She also received her certification as a Crime Scene Investigator with the International Association of Identification (IAI), allowing her to conduct independent investigations, process crime scenes, and train others in crime scene preservation.

Sheila emphasizes, "Continuous learning has always been a priority for me. I was always training and actively seeking out training and opportunities to refine my skills and further develop my expertise."

After eight years in CID, she became a Sergeant, responsible for overseeing the CID Crime Scene Unit and Evidence and Property Room. From there, she began implementing training for the other investigators, ensuring they remained up to date on case law, crime scene management, and search and seizure protocols. Around this time, the Crime Scene Unit established a civilian sector, where she developed an FTO program to support its growth and effectiveness.

Recognizing the growing demands of the department, she also led the effort to accredit the Evidence and Property Room, securing approval for its expansion to accommodate the increasing amount of evidence. With these improvements in place, she went on to oversee 12 criminal investigators and two crime scene technicians.

As the focus began to shift towards digital evidence, Sheila took the initiative to establish a policy, position, and workspace for its analysis. This enabled the department to handle digital evidence in-house and apply best practices for the integrity and preservation of digital evidence for cases such as crimes against children, patrol operations, and ongoing investigations.

"Although, I grew a lot from this experience, I knew that my service would be more impactful helping others achieve even greater success than I had," said Sheila. "I wanted to do more."

Sheila began to reassess her career path, leading her to apply for a position in the training division with Glynn County Police Department, where she was accepted. In this role, she developed lesson plans, PowerPoint presentations, and hands-on training exercises for the officers. Motivated by the demand for training, Sheila led the renovation of the former animal control center on Highway 17, converting it into a fully equipped training center. The new center provided the necessary space to bring her vision to life, including a shooting simulator, classrooms, a break room, and an adjacent trailer for firearms training.

In 2023, she joined the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC), serving as a Lieutenant for the Police Academy in Savannah, Georgia. There, she played a vital role in training new recruits, covering topics such as search and seizure, use of force, report writing, and Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) training. She took great joy in shaping the next generation of law enforcement officers and crime scene technicians, ensuring they were equipped with the skills needed for success. The numerous emails of gratitude she received from past graduates reaffirmed the significance of her role. In 2024, her commitment to training led her to apply and accept a position as an Instructor in the Forensics Techniques Application Branch at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) in Glynco, Georgia.

Today, Sheila finds contentment in assisting others on the job. Each morning, she prepares the classrooms for instruction, working closely with senior instructors to ensure a seamless learning environment. She also assists in setting up and dismantling the crime scenes, bringing realism to the training process. Her favorite subject to teach is The Human Body as a Crime Scene, where students engage in every aspect of the forensic investigation-from evidence collection and preservation to applying alternate light sources and photography. She finds her deepest fulfillment in mentoring her students, believing wholeheartedly that everyone has a vital role to play in public safety.

When Sheila's not working, she enjoys camping, hiking, and kayaking, sharing these adventures with her husband, children, or beloved dog. A little-known but intriguing fact about her is that she once traveled to Colorado, where she learned the unique skill of wrangling alligators!

Sheila credits her achievements in life to maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Though, she admits it took time for her to recognize the true value of work-life balance, over time she learned the power of setting boundaries. Sheila shared, "Without setting those boundaries, work will always come first. Establishing healthy boundaries is essential to achieving harmony between your career and personal well-being."

As an expert forensics' technician, Sheila brings a wealth of specialized knowledge to the classroom, blending real-world experience with technical expertise. She encourages anyone pursuing a career in forensics to "prioritize ongoing education and connect with a mentor who can provide guidance and insight. The journey in the forensics field is not a one-way street, being positive, open-minded, and adaptable are key. Most importantly, keeping pace with the latest scientific developments in forensic technology will be crucial to staying ahead in this profession!"

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