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Tyler Husted
Classification Essay Revised
In the story Under and Alone William Queen is an agent for the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF). Billy takes on the role of an Undercover Agent;
his goal for his undercover mission is to infiltrate the San Fernando Valley chapter of the
Mongols Outlaw Motorcycle Gang. William Queen can be classified as a Law
Enforcement Officer. As an ATF agent, Billy has day to day challenges that he deals
with. On top of these he takes on the undercover role as Billy St. John. As he works his
way up the ranks of the Mongols, he has to make risky decisions and decisions that go
against his morals. William Queen is also a father, and a role model.
William Queen is categorized as a Law Enforcement Officer because of his day to
day job. As an ATF agent he enforces laws that have to do with CSC (Criminal Sexual
Conduct), Alcohol, Tobacco, and especially Firearms laws. William Queen also has to
deal with day to day battles in the line of duty that classifies his as a law enforcement
officer. When he is infiltrating the Mongols, Billy has to make several decisions that go
against his morals to try to keep his UC position. If he would have chosen otherwise, he
would blow his cover and risk his own life. Although he made the decisions for his own
good, Billy also managed to find ways to save other citizens and gang members that were
in trouble. William Queen also served in the Vietnam War, which gives him prior
experience and weapon training that helps serve him in his job as an ATF agent.
William Queen is also a father to his two sons. William is categorized as a father
because he has two sons from his previous marriage; though having two sons does not
solely make one a father, William Queen took several steps in his job and made sacrifices
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to see his sons, go to their school events, and spend time with them while he is supposed
to be on an undercover assignment. During the story, William Queen is posed in his
undercover character; William had long hair, a scruff beard, and his hygiene was
questionable, yet he still had the guts to proceed to both of his sons’ parent teacher
conferences. Despite the shame he felt, William still felt the need to go to these events for
his sons and be a father to them.
William Queen is also a role model for many law enforcement officers and other
citizens. He is a role model for these law enforcement officers because of his 2 year
investigation that he was able to investigate and break through the ranks of the Mongols
outlaw motorcycle gang. He also was a Vietnam War veteran and served on the S.R.T
(Special response Team) for his ATF division. These reasons make William Queen a role
model for several law enforcement officers.
The analysis above clearly shows William Queen as a Law Enforcement Officer,
a father, and a role model. Going undercover in such a risky operation makes Billy a role
model for many, and also a law enforcement officer. Having served in Vietnam also
made him an inspiration for many. Placing his own life, and his families lives on the line;
Billy managed to hold a relationship with his children; making him a father. During his
undercover operation, Billy realized how hard it was to maintain a steady relationship
with his children, and how hard it was to cut off ties with gang affiliates that have
become his best friends.