I’ve been a patrol officer serving in law enforcement for 12 years, all of which have been for the Fort Dodge Police Department. For the last seven years, I have also served as a community relations officer and school resource officer.

What other law enforcement positions/departments have you served in?

None other than the FDPD.

What’s an interesting fact about you that some might not know?

I have a passion for health and fitness, but I also love pizza and ice cream like it’s nobody’s business!

What’s the most memorable incident you’ve responded to?

I once responded to a welfare check on an individual for concerns about their living conditions and once inside we discovered the conditions were indeed horrendous. The resident didn’t necessarily feel the conditions were that bad, however, their pets were in cages with no access to food and water, and the bed the animals had to lay in was a cage floor packed with their own filth. I already have a soft spot in my heart for animals, but it was heart wrenching to see the animals run so desperately to the water bowl when they were released from their cage and lap up water so intently for several minutes.

What’s the best part of your day?

Coffee! Followed closely by being able to remove my vest and equipment at the end of the day!

What gives you the most satisfaction in your job?

Being able to work so closely with our community and have such a cooperative relationship to work together to catch the “bad guys”! Many of our cases are strengthened by good witnesses and reporting parties that notify law enforcement about criminal activity. There may only be a few officers out patrolling, but there are many vigilant residents helping us to keep our community safe.

What’s the toughest part about your job?

It is very difficult to see victims of abuse continue to fall back into unhealthy relationships. The level of strength and support that they need to leave is often out of their reach, causing them to require our assistance often. These frequent interactions force officers observe the decline in the quality of life some have over a long period of time.