Upon graduating from the State Police Academy Bob was assigned to the Patrol Unit at Troop M-Bethlehem. From 1968 to 1970 Bob was an Alternate Youth Aid Officer for Trop M- Bethlehem. In 1970 Bob was chosen by the Crime Section Commander of Troop M- Bethlehem to join the Vice/Narcotics Division, he would remain in this position until 1976. Also from 1970-1980, Bob periodically instructed Municipal Police Officers in Arrest, Search & Seizure, and Narcotic Investigations. In 1972, Bob obtained an Associate of Arts degree in Police Science from Lehigh County Community College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Police Science from Alvernia College in Reading, PA, in 1976.

In 1976 Bob was chosen fro the Region One Narcotics Strike Force. Bob was promoted in 1980 to Detective in the Criminal Investigation Unit at Troop M- Bethlehem. During his time with the Criminal Investigation Unit, 1980-1984, Bob spent eight months detached from Troop M- Bethlehem and was assigned to Organized Crime wiretap duty in the city of Philadelphia. In 1985 Bob was nominated Trooper of the Year by the Crime Section Commander. Bob returned to the Vice/ Narcotics Division of Troop M- Bethlehem at the request of the Crime Section Commander. During his time with the Vice/Narcotics Division 1984-1986, Boob supervised the first non-consensual wiretap in the Lehigh Valley with arrest and conviction of forty defendants. In 1986, served as Adjunct Faculty for both Lehigh Carbon County Community College and Alvernia College until 1996. Bob was one of two Troopers statewide chosen by the Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner for the newly formed Bureau of Professional Responsibility, Internal Affairs Division, Bob would serve this position from 1986-1993. In 1991, Bob was promoted to the rank of Corporal and assigned the Supervisor of the Bureau of Professional Responsibility, he would serve in this capacity until 1993. Bob retired from the Pennsylvania State Police in 1993 after twenty-five years of service.

Following his retirement Bob became the owner and operator from 1993-1997 of Alpha investigations, Inc, Licensed Private Investigator. From 1997-200, Bob was the Supervisor for U.S. Security Care, Executive Protection, in Blue Bell, PA. Bob is currently the Director of Public Safety for Albright College in Reading, PA and a Certified Rape Aggression Defense Instructor.

Additional training that Bob has received through the years includes: Narcotic Identification and Investigation, Criminal Conspiracy, Drug Investigations- Federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Criminal Homicide Investigation, Organized Crime Seminar, Class “A” Wiretap and Electronic Surveillance Certification- PA State Police, Investigation of Shootings by Police Officers- Bucks County District Attorney, Narcotics Investigations- New Jersey State Police and U.S. Dept. of Justice, Financial Investigation Techniques- U.S. Dept. of Treasury, and Act 235 Certification.

Bob is also active with many professional organizations including: Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Chiefs of Police, Berks County Chiefs of Police, International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, Northeast Colleges & Universities Security Association, PA Association of Campus Crime Prevention Practitioners, Board Member of Crime Alert Berks County, Vidocq Society- Cold case Homicide Investigators, College Heights Community Council, and the Advisory Board of the Criminal Justice Program at Reading area Community College.

Corporal Robert Gerken has been an Oral History volunteer interviewer since 2005