I work for the University of Oregon Police Department in the Patrol Division. My current position and job title is Police Officer. My responsibilities are vast and multifaceted in nature, but for the most part my primary job function is to ensure the safety of the UO campus, students, staff, faculty, and visitors. My career path started in 2009 when I began pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice at Lane Community College. When I was a young child, I was fascinated with reading true crime stories and watching documentaries about crime. I always felt a desire to help people and I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives.  

I was present at Thurston High School in May of 1998 when Kip Kinkel shot and killed two students and injured multiple others, before he was tackled by fellow students and was then restrained until the police could arrive. After that incident I vowed to become a criminal psychologist and study criminals. As with many things in life, my plans changed after high school and I became a mother at 19 years old. I quickly decided that I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom with my kids.  I am now a single mom to: Anthony (17), Aquina (15), Joseph (13), and AddyLinn (5).  

I got my associate’s degree in criminal justice in 2012 and began working for the Cottage Grove Police Department, part time, as a communications officer in dispatch, but my ultimate goal was always to be a police officer.  I applied and tested with multiple agencies before I was hired at UOPD in August of 2014 as a police dispatcher. In September 2016, I was hired to be a police officer with the agency.  Becoming a police officer is a lengthy process. First, you apply; then, if you meet the qualifications, you begin the testing. The first part is a written test that has multiple sections, including: memory, location orientation, and comprehension. Second is a physical test called the ORPAT (Oregon Physical Abilities Test), which is a multifaceted physical abilities test that represents what a law enforcement officer may be expected to do on any given day. If you pass both tests, there are typically multiple interviews and then medical and psychological evaluations. Lastly, there is an extensive background investigation!

The thing I love about being a police officer is that every day is different. Every day I learn something new and every day I have the opportunity to help people who are, at that moment, experiencing what might be the worst day of their life. Working at the UO, and more specifically for the police department, has been a different experience than at my previous agency. I have been able to really determine what I want out of my career and the path I want to take. I enjoy the special details I get to experience, like working football games and concerts, but mostly I like the interactions with people.