Growing up I had always respected the police and honored officers for what they did for not only the whole community, but what they had done for me specifically. Even more so because my mom wanted to be a Police Officer but never had the support system to achieve it. I mentioned to my mom that I was interested in becoming a Police Officer and the excitement in her voice as well as her encouraging words gave me courage to take the first step. With nothing to lose, I applied for the ride-along and my life changed forever.
I went on patrol with OPD and I felt like my eyes had been opened to the world. I watched as the officer I rode with made every attempt possible to help the people in need. Whether it was a call for something so minor and innocent or a major accident. I watched as this officer pushed through a graphic scene to provide care for those who were hurt, then guide traffic around his scene to make sure the firefighters and EMTs were safe, then come back to me just to make sure I was doing ok, (even though I stayed in the car). After 10 hours of riding with this officer, something inside me gave me guidance to what I wanted my future to be. As many officers will tell you, I don’t know what it is or how to explain it, it’s just a feeling.
In June 2015 I graduated from Odessa College with my associate’s degree. In July 2015 I was hired on with the Odessa Police Department as a recruit. And in January 2016 I started the academy. After 6 long months of studying hard, taking notes, and countless test, I graduated the academy. I immediately began working patrol with OPD. I loved the “running and gunning” and the call after call life, especially calls for service or traffic stops that involved narcotics. For some, DWIs are officers’ passion but mine has always been narcotics. Working patrol was one of the most fun times I could imagine, for me.
Unfortunately, I was beginning to see how being a single mother on 12 hour shifts with mandatory overtime was effecting my daughters. I realized that working so much really took a lot of time away from the most important things in my life even though I lived for the action. I found myself thinking there had to be a department that would allow me the time with my daughters and still be the officer I wanted to be.
In February 2017 I was introduced to the University of Texas Permian Basin Police Department. I was blessed in finding this family of officers. Making the change from a municipality, and now to UTPB PD, I have learned the true meaning of leadership, and the brotherhood and sisterhood of police officers. I am beyond proud to say that I am guided by the best leaders in West Texas. After the active shooter incident that occurred here in Odessa, TX on 08/31/2019, I was shown by the many officers that came from multiple Universities all over the state to help us, that the University of Texas System Police is not only the third largest state law enforcement agency in Texas, but more importantly it’s the largest, closest, strongest law enforcement family in Texas and I couldn’t be more honored to be a part of it.
