MapPros! Careers in Geospatial Technologies

Safa Egilmez

"Make sure that they speak with numerous individuals who are already in the field that they are thinking about, get their priorities in life organized (e.g., if money is more important than their personal drive for success by helping others.)"

"Currently, there is a need for crime analysts both in California and outside of California who have knowledge about GIS."

The thing I like most about my job:
"Putting the bad guys behind the bars as a result of my research and maps."

Crime Analyst - Safa Egilmez

Field: Crime Analysis
Job Title: Crime Analyst
Place of Employment: Santa Monica Police Department, Santa Monica, California

What is your current job and what does it entail?

My current position is a Crime Analyst with the Santa Monica Police Department. My duties include researching, maintaining and analyzing crime data, maintaining and developing crime mapping applications. I create crime maps for the department and for the prosecution, to be used in a court setting. I analyze crime patterns and gather and update information of criminal suspect activity and other periodic crime data for dissemination to the department and the community. I develop and maintain crime analysis web content for the departmental intranet sites, prepare informational releases on department programs, services and crime trends, and prepare technical reports.

In your day-to-day activities, who are the people that you interact with regularly?

Police officers, other law enforcement personnel and the public.

For your position, what skills do you need in geospatial technologies?

Knowledge of different GIS platforms, spatial databases, and remote sensing.

For your position, what skills outside of geospatial technologies are required?

Knowledge of databases, statistical software packages and office software as well as web design software.

What was the key factor in your career decision?

I have worked with police officers before and enjoyed the camaraderie and family-type environment where each member of the law enforcement community watches the others' backs. I also liked to help people in need. What better way to help people who are victims of crime than being in law enforcement? Joining the team of sworn personnel did not attract me too much, but dealing with computers and the technical side of crime analysis was exactly what I liked. I love the challenge of putting pieces together to solve a puzzle, which is what a Crime Analyst does. After starting my career as a Crime Analyst, I realized that maps and visual data analysis are much better at depicting scattered incidents, and I concentrated my efforts in crime mapping. Now I spend most of my day creating maps and looking at the underlying spatial patterns of crime.

What do you like most about your career?

Putting the bad guys behind the bars as a result of my research and maps.

What do you like least about your career?

Data quality issues.

What do you do to relax?

Build plastic models.

Who are your heroes/heroines?

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

What advice would you give a high school student who expressed an interest in pursuing a career in your field?

Make sure that they speak with numerous individuals who are already in the field they are thinking about, get their priorities in life organized (e.g., if money is more important than succeeding by helping others.)

Are career opportunities in your field increasing or decreasing and why?

It depends on the qualifications of the applicant and whether they would like to move from one area to another (possibly also to another state). Currently, there is a need for crime analysts both in California and outside of California who have knowledge about GIS. If you are a crime analyst without any GIS experience, then it is a very competitive market in California.

E-mail: Safa.egilmez@smgov.net

Salary Range: $60-80,000
Degree Major Institution

Certificate

GIS

Cal. State Northridge

MSc.

Forensic Science

Cal. State Los Angeles

B.S

Criminal Justice & Biology

University of Great Falls, Montana

D.M.D.

Dentistry

University of Istanbul, TURKEY