The glow from a computer screen lights up his office as the sun sets late on a Friday night. Stacks of handwritten notes from first-hand interviews fill his desk, as lines of digital data stream by with every scroll of the mouse. Detective Matt Barcak is searching long and hard for something - anything that might lead to a clue, as he traces a trail most wouldn’t even know existed. Maybe it’s a ping from a cell tower… a social media post…or any sort of breadcrumb that could eventually bring justice to a community in mourning. For this 2003 Maine-Endwell grad, serving the public, bringing closure to families, and solving crimes every day is a job he doesn’t take lightly, but one he loves – even if it wasn’t his original career path.
Long before Detective Barcak was breaching doors in full SWAT gear as a team leader for the Southern Tier SWAT Team, or serving on the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, he was prepping for a much different avenue – a career of military service. It was a goal he set fourth long before crossing the stage at graduation.
“Law enforcement was my third career path, actually. I went to Army basic training between my junior and senior years of high school,” said Barcak.
Barcak would later join the National Guard while simultaneously pursuing higher education. But his life took a sharp turn in 2005. Just four years after the attacks on September 11th, he received the call many in military service at the time had anticipated – he was being deployed to Iraq. With just a few days to pack his bags, he set fourth for the Middle East, with much uncertainty ahead. Following his deployment, after what would become a short-lived return back to college, Barcak was deployed yet again, this time, to Afghanistan. An eye opening journey for someone fresh out of high school, this Spartan grad’s life would be impacted in more ways than one.
“When I returned home from Afghanistan, I knew that I did not want to be an engineer and that I wanted to be in public service. That led me to the Broome County Sheriff’s Office,” said Barcak.
Today, more than 20 years since his first deployment, Barcak is doing just that – with a career dedicated to serving the public. As a Detective with the General Investigations Unit of the Broome County Sheriff’s Office, there’s no such thing as a “typical day,” but this 2003 grad wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I have been lucky enough to experience many different positions at the Sheriff’s Office. I have worked patrol and in our Special Investigations Unit. Now I am a detective with the General Investigations unit, as well as a team leader with the Southern Tier SWAT Team and a member of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force. While there is no typical day, I investigate felony cases, which include executing search warrants, conducting interviews and gathering evidence. I also specialize in digital forensics, so I collect evidence from phones, computers, social media and other sources. It is a very rewarding job, and I still love going to work every day,” said Barcak.
As a detective, no two days are the same. While some hours are spent investigating evidence, others are a race against the clock. And while each day proves to be rewarding in its own way, there are certain memories that have stuck with him.
"I have a lot of situations that I am grateful to have been a part of. One of my happiest moments was when I was investigation the abduction of a young child from Florida. Through digital records, I was able to track her to a residence in Pennsylvania leading to the safe recovery of the child, and eventual arrest of the suspect," said Barcak.
From military service, to a career in law enforcement - the seeds of discipline were planted in Barcak from an early age. From his time on the track and in the pool, to the hours spent in the classroom, he says Maine-Endwell left an impact on him that he still feels today.
“There were a lot of teachers and administrators throughout my time at Maine-Endwell that would not accept anything other than my best work. Ms. Alger stands out as a teacher that challenged me to work harder and have higher goals,” said Barcak.
He continued, “Many of my best memories center around sports. I ran cross-country and track, and I also swam. My coaches, including Mr. Rarrick, Mr. Beers, Mr. Krise and Mrs. Myers helped build a work ethic that served me throughout my life,” said Barcak.
Today, that connection to M-E has come full circle. Matt’s wife Sarah works at Homer Brink, and he’s returned to his alma mater countless times—sharing his Army experiences with students, guest reading in classrooms, training staff, and even hosting field trips at the Sheriff’s Office.
“I knew that I wanted to remain a part of the Maine-Endwell community,” he said. “I settled down in the area because the district was important to me.”
His advice for the next generation, especially those who may be looking to follow a similar career path?
“Maintain your physical fitness, stay out of trouble, and study something you love,” Barcak said. “Every great police officer brings a unique talent or knowledge to the table - whether that’s computer science, accounting, engineering, or something else. Those skills become very useful in complex investigations.”
From running cross-country trails to tracking down suspects across state lines, Detective Matt Barcak’s life is proof that the lessons you learn at an early age can take you farther than you ever imagined - even into places you sometimes can’t see until you find them. We thank Matt for his service to our country, and continued service to our community and school district.