During his internship with the U.S. Marshals Service, Kadeem Pickett observed the seizure of a cargo ship, the disassembly of approximately 300 guns and 100 cell phones devices, training with the explosive detection canine, and the process that goes into serving civil subpoenas, summons, writs of garnishment, and student loan warrants.
Pickett also learned about the Deputy U.S. Marshals’ main job, which entails the protection of federal judges.
“It taught me that what I thought I knew about the U.S. Marshals was totally irrelevant,” said Pickett. “A lot of it has to do with courts, and you don’t get the action you expect. As a new guy, I would be doing a lot of bringing prisoners to court.”
Pickett has dreams of one day joining the U.S. Marshals Special Operations Group, an elite, specially-trained, tactical unit that apprehends fugitives, protects dignitaries, provides court security, transports high profile and dangerous prisoners, provides witness protection and seizes assets. To achieve his goal, Pickett plans on joining the U.S. Army Rangers and then getting a federal law enforcement job that can transfer to the U.S. Marshals Service.
To earn this coveted internship, Pickett worked on his goal since he got to Sam Houston State University, talking to and emailing members of the U.S. Marshals Service who attended Real Talks w/CJ at the College of Criminal Justice. He became a counselor for CJ Summer Camp and worked side-by-side with U.S. Marshals in teaching high school students about the duties and responsibilities of the job as well as simulating a room raid searching for suspects. Pickett asked a lot of questions along the way and kept in touch with the U.S. Marshals, keeping his name and face fresh in their minds.
Last summer, his work paid off with a full-time internship in the Houston office. He learned a lot more about the organization and networked with other Marshals as well as agents from Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
“Make every moment like it’s your last moment because you never know who you will meet,” Pickett said. “I met a lot of people. It may help me get a federal job. The federal business is very competitive, and you just have to get in the system.”
During his internship, Pickett observed deputies spending time in courts, either protecting judges or transporting prisoners. Among the duties he observed were protecting judges during two investitures in Houston and Galveston. Pickett also observed the preparation that goes into the service of a subpoena and the seizure of a cargo ship. Pickett also witnessed how deputies assist the Asset Forfeiture Division with the disassembly of weapons to prepare them to be sent to a shredder and how each weapon is inventoried.
Picket also had the opportunity to assist with training aids for the explosive detection canine assigned to the Houston office. Every morning, he would help set the course with non-explosive decoys to train the canine.
Pickett credits the relationships he started at SHSU with helping him through the application process to get into the U.S. Marshals Service and the internship for providing mentors for his career.
“I had mentors throughout the process that cared a lot about me,” said Pickett.
