It's a random journey of how I got into law enforcement.
It actually started when I was in college and I was like a
rudderless ship. I was flunking out of college and my whole plan
was to be a game show host. The only reason the only reason that
I was not flunking out of college was P.E. and so it was
like a wake up moment in my life that I needed to figure out what
I was gonna do with my life. I, I knew I lacked a lot of
character a lot of things that I would need. Self responsibility,
disclipline. I went into the Marine Corps, I loved my time in
the Marine Corps, and then I actually took a little diversion
which was needed in my life to give me a little more maturity
cause I needed that as well. And so I got out of the Marine
Corps and I actually became a youth pastor for about 10 years
and that gave me I think some of the things I would have
lacked going into law enforcement. It gave me the
compassion to be able to talk to people and actually care about
what's going on and I think that steered me to a place where I
was, I was perfectly prepared for law enforcement.
I've been in law enforcement for 13 years. I've been a K9 handler
for 7 years. Mattis is my second dog. So my intention when I
orginally selected Mattis was to get a smaller dog cause I'm a
small guy. And what happened was he got out of the truck and I
was like no way I'm picking that dog. But Mattis tested way too
good. One of the things that really impressed me with Mattis
was even though he was a huge dog was how agile and how fast
he was for a big dog. Yeah, that's a boy! And then we get
to the bite test and he crushed my arm. And so when I saw his
control all of his drives, I knew this was the dog for me.
There's nothing like it and this dog has saved my life. He's
gone into situations where it's too dangerous for me to go
and he's protected me. He's saved other people's lives which
is incredible and I know for a fact that this dog would do
anything for me. He jumped off a 30 foot wall because he trusted
me. It's the best job in the world.
My family is very more on the traditional side and they were
encouraging me to be you know, schoolteacher, nurse, something
a little more common for females. I wanted to be a police
officer or military. I got into law enforcement at a pretty
early age, I started out as a paramedic and I did that for
a few years, I really enjoyed it. My best friend was actually
a police officer. She was a K9 handler and I started doing ride
alongs with her cause I was super interested in the job
and then I basically said hey let's go ahead and try out
the academy and see how it goes and I ended up loving it and
here I am. I think what drew me the most to anything first
responder related, paramedic, fire, police, was I didn't want
the routine monday through friday job. I knew I was gonna
get bored sitting in four walls with a normal job, and I also
just kinda wanted to go out and do things. With law enforcement
we all want to help people, make the world a better place, all
that kinda stuff and that is what we all get into the job for
but it's definitely bonus getting to be able to drive fast
and have the excitedment of the job on the side. You come here
often? Oh hi. Hi. Fuze and I's relationship, it's a little bit
different. It's definitely stronger than just a normal pet
relationship. When he's at home he's my pet. When we're at work
he's my partner and when we're doing more dangerous jobs like
clearing a house or a track, he's kind of a protector for me
as well. When we go to work he's willing to put his life on the
line no questions asked and that kinda makes that bond so
special
I've only been law enforcement for six years now. My kids are
are grown. Starting law enforcement at a later age
it gives me those life experience that I can relate
to when I'm dealing with a call or dealing with people
experiences I've probably been through in my life so I can use
that to speak with people or to handle situations.
Unitah County is about 4500 square miles so there could be
times where we are 30 minutes away from our closest backup.
having a K9 with me is not only very comforting when you're
dealing with people that's possibly bigger than me or
that are unpredictable, so having a K9 can make a huge
difference. I mean he's my backup, he's right in my car
I can grab him when I need him or if I am in a position where I
can't grab him I actually I have a button on my belt where I can
release him and he's trained to come and find me. I'm lucky
cause he's such a good dog. He's my first police K9. He's a great
listener. He does everything I ask him to do mostly. Riddick
will fight to the death for me if something does happen to me
he's gonna be right there along with me.