Steven Quattrocchi, a criminal investigator in the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), shares his perspective on the support of his family over his 22-year career.
Serving the community has been a way of life in my family since I was a child. My father was a firefighter, and my mother was an emergency medical technician for a short period of time. My brother and I both serve as criminal investigators with ICE OPR, and our cousin is a special agent with ICE HSI. We strongly believe in carrying on the tradition of service, a tradition instilled in us by our parents, an uncle who served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, and our grandfather who served in the Marines during World War II.
A career in public service requires sacrifice and dedication. Such sacrifice and dedication are also expected of your family. My more than 22 years of public service has taken me to places around the globe including local investigations, intelligence operations in Iraq, undercover operations throughout the world, and enforcement operations in the middle of the ocean. I would not have been able to operate effectively in these missions without the love and support of my family and my DHS colleagues.
My spouse is my rock, supporting my war time deployments, temporary details around the world, and the night and weekend “call outs” to further the mission. I can’t say she was always happy about these frequent life disruptions and stressful high-risk activities (and may have occasionally expressed her frustration) but in the end, she always let me know that I can count on her to take care of our family, so that I can safely focus on my job and return home soon. Her service and sacrifice were instrumental to ensure mission success. Even our children pitch in to help; while only ages 10 and 12, they understand how important it is to be at their best with Mommy and make sure to give Daddy a big hug before he leaves for work, knowing Daddy needs their love to keep him safe.
I have been blessed over the years to have felt the support not only from my immediate family and my extended family, but support from my DHS colleagues. The DHS family supported me not only in my career endeavors but is also there for me on a personal level. Several years back, when my wife and I learned of our son’s diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, it was quite an adjustment. I am thankful to the colleagues who shared their experiences with children, parents, and adults with special needs. They were there to help, give hugs, recommendations, and even to let me express my feelings of frustration or joy throughout these many years.
When you do the work we do, it truly does “take a village.” I have been blessed to have the love and support of my family and my DHS colleagues. Thank you for having my back all these years and for your sacrifice, service, and support.
Steven's father Michael Quattrocchi, with his grandchildren Sabrina and Stevie, sit on the fire truck he drove at the Lincoln Park Fire Department – Hose Company 1, in Lincoln Park, New Jersey.