Ben Galing

Current Position: Crime Scene Investigator, Philadelphia Police Department

Job title updated: Fall 2024
Story Last Updated: Summer 2024

If you want small school, a school where you can be connected to service, and you’re serious about your education, then come to GMercyU. This school can give you everything that you need to succeed. It’s up to you, however, to find it within yourself to look for it.

Journey to GMercyU

Ben graduated from School Lane Charter High School in 2018, where he was part of its first-ever graduating class. He was fortunate enough to serve as graduation speaker for his class.

Despite applying and being accepted to GMercyU, Ben chose to attend Bucks County Community College (BCCC) due to financial reasons.

Ben worked a few odd jobs to afford community college. He even became an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), where he assisted paramedics in the ambulance for a woman who suffered from domestic violence.

“I realized during that call I was more focused on the actions the police would take in finding the perpetrator, and I knew again that that was the uniform I needed to wear,” Ben said.

When it came time to pursue his bachelor’s degree, Ben remembered GMercyU.

“The selling point for GMercyU was the ability to attend the Montgomery County Police Academy the spring semester of my senior year. Once I learned about that unique opportunity, no other school made sense to me. So, I applied once again, and I started in the fall 2022. I will graduate in May 2024 with my Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice,” Ben said.

The articulation agreement between GMercyU and BCCC made Ben’s transfer transition process easy and seamless.

Experience in Criminal Justice

Ben chose Criminal Justice because “there’s nothing else that I’ve ever wanted to do in my life more than work in this field.”

“In life, there is no good without bad. A lot of people want to pretend that what’s bad doesn’t exist. In life, when you’re a kid and you don’t want to clean your room, you might decide to shove everything into the closet. At the end of the day, whether you open the closet or not, your room is still a mess,” said Ben.

“My point is that you can’t ignore the mess and pretend that everything is clean. You can’t ignore the bad and only try to focus on the good. When we’re younger a lot of us are afraid of the dark. We imagine monsters and we are scared of what we can’t see. I know I was. Criminal Justice, to me, is about turning on the light and calling the monster out for what it is, so that other people don’t have to sit in the dark – blindly afraid.”

Since transferring to GMercyU, Ben has enjoyed every minute of his time in the Criminal Justice program.

I love this program, as it has given me a much deeper and more comprehensive view of this field that I don’t believe I would’ve necessarily had at a bigger, non-service driven school.

Ben specifically would like to thank the Counseling Center for helping him find peace in all aspects of life and Professor Stephanie Fratantaro for teaching the power of self-care and the importance of being trauma-informed when serving others.

Ben thoroughly enjoyed his course Cybercrime with Professor William “Billy” Ebersole and the undying support he’s been given time and time again. He also enjoyed Criminal Procedure and Courts in America with Professor Nathan Schadler and his infectious work ethic and passion for criminal justice.

Outside of Criminal Justice, Ben took The Human Condition with Dr. Patrick Messina, Philosophy program coordinator.

“You are a man whose grasp on the world feels tangible. You challenged me to open my eyes, philosophically, and I will never close them again,” Ben said of Dr. Messina.

Lastly, Ben would like to thank Dr. Lorraine Phillips and her class Victimology for emphasizing the importance of addressing the victim, and Dr. Patrick McGrain who he describes as “the heart and blood of this program.”

Within the program, Ben is currently conducting an exploratory study on civilian crime scene investigators in the United States.

“I chose this topic because this unique subset of Criminal Justice professions are a relatively new development within the United States, and I found it interesting to study something of that in which I was representative through my capacity as an intern with the Philadelphia Police Department’s CSU,” shared Ben.

Internship Experience

With the help of Nick Schaefer in GMercyU's Career Development Center, Ben created a resume and cover letter, and engaged in a mock interview in preparation for internships.

When beginning his search, Ben found two internships that interested him. The first he found when working at a police gym and the second when connecting with professionals on LinkedIn.

“The lesson here: make connections, be persistent, continue to be persistent, then be persistent again, and download LinkedIn. Also, some of the best internships are unpaid. Consider it. You may find the experiences to be more worth it than getting a paycheck. I know I did,” Ben said.

While some told Ben taking on two internships would be too much, he rose to the challenge.

“I decided early on that I would be working way beyond what the 3-credit, 120 hours could afford me. My education mattered more,” Ben said.

During summer 2023, Ben worked at both the United States Marshal Service’s (USMS) Philadelphia District Office and the Philadelphia Police Department’s Crime Scene Unit (CSU). At the USMS, Ben shadowed United States Deputy Marshals and Federal Task Force Officers (TFOs) while rotating between five units including civil, threats, operations, warrants (fugitive task force), and cell block.

“I observed and assisted Deputy Marshals and TFOs in the completion of everyday duties, as well as tactical, and active-shooter training. I connected and networked with various federal law enforcement agencies including the FBI, ATF, DEA, and USSS,” Ben said.

At the Philadelphia Police Department’s CSU, Ben assisted, and still assists, Philadelphia Crime Scene Officers on crime scenes pertaining to homicide, murder-suicide, suicide, police-involved shootings, and aggravated assault, amongst others. He also assists in recording scene walkthroughs, examining decedents, taking notes, taking photographs, swabbing for DNA, lifting latent prints, and searching for, collecting, preserving, maintaining, and examining evidence.

“I assist Philadelphia Crime Scene Officers by examining and processing evidence in the office laboratory under strict supervision. I assist in report writing, property receipts, and case file organization as needed. Finally, I assist Philadelphia Crime Scene Officers by stocking and maintaining Crime Scene Unit Vehicles as needed,” Ben said.

Life at GMercyU

On campus, Ben is a member of the Criminal Justice Association (CJA) and recently found out he will be inducted into the Criminal Justice Honor Society.

My favorite part about GMercyU is the ability to establish close relationships with my professors. I am also deeply connected to a life in which service is the forefront, and this University allows me to obtain higher education in a place that truly under stands the gravity, and the importance, of that mission.

Post-Graduation

Ben graduated in May 2024 and is currently completing scientific coursework in order to be educationally eligible for a position as a Civilian Crime Scene Investigator. 

Unfortunately, due to a medical condition, Ben was not able to participate in the Montgomery County Police Academy in spring 2024.

“Why do I tell you this? I say this because what I thought would be an obstacle became a barrier, but I am undeterred. My dream job is to work in local or federal law enforcement, ideally with a task force that hunts human traffickers,” Ben said.

A Reminder from Ben

“At the end of the day, you will only do as well for yourself as you allow. A lot of people don’t believe enough in themselves. Consider this a wakeup call if that’s you. Love yourself. If you don’t know how to, then know it’s time to look within yourself and learn, or seek out someone else who can teach you. Invest in a counselor/therapist, as well. Whoever may have told you that self-care is weak is wrong. Take care of your mental health. If you want to be great, then go and be great. it’s going to take work though, and it’s not going to be from sitting on the couch. Remember that just like your college transcript, your life is your record. It may take some sleepless nights; it may take some missed meals. You will fail many times. That’s why in my story I’ve been very clear in the many ways that I’ve failed. It means you’ve done something difficult, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s not a failure. It’s simply an attempt to grow against the odds.

Ask yourself what you’re willing to sacrifice. If it’s less than you desire to want to be comfortable then those growing pains are going to hurt one day. The pain of regret will hurt even more, but the pain of what could’ve been but never will be will hurt the worst of all. We’re not young forever. Pursue your dreams, get up when you fail, pursue relentlessly, find your passion, become obsessed, and execute, execute, execute!”