We all have a story. Within each story the defining moments help shape who we
are. Each of those moments help us bring unique perspective to this incredible
profession. It is a responsibility of every one of us to share our story,
because our experiences are meaningful. My journey; I grew up as the youngest of
eight children in Oakland California. I attended the University of California
Berkeley, and then was fortunate enough to become a 27 plus year member of this
great organization, and my crowning jewel is I'm the mother of three
beautiful children, and all of these things have played a huge part in making
me the person and a leader that I am today. Together, we share an equal part in
defining the future of women leaders in law enforcement.
If you were to describe your mom in one word what would that word be for you?
Do you want the answer right now? [[Laughing]]
There's just, I feel like there's not a word for me to explain my mom.
I'm Officer Smith and I work for the Desert Hot Springs Police Department, in the city of Desert Hot Springs.
Life was tough. My parents, both of them
were alcoholics. My parents separated when I was super young.
Different families raised me, and then I became pregnant at the age of 13.
She was the only figure we had. Even though she was alone she always made it a point to
always be at every baseball game, every event, she literally just dedicated her
whole life to us. She fought, she did everything she can to help her kids do better.
To take them away from what I went through, I didn't want them to have
the life that I had, and I had to do better, and so I had to be strong and to overcome that.
My name is Jeff Reynolds and my wife is Captain Misty Reynolds.
I'm one of five girls so my stepmom had two daughters and then my father had two
children with my stepmom, so I was the person in the middle. Probably early started back
I was 11 years old.
She had it hard with my mom,
her stepmother.
I've had my head cracked open, stabbed by stepmom.
So CPS and the cops came to my house pretty regularly.
I knew that that they wanted to help, but I wouldn't let them.
They symbolized...
They symbolized... hope.
My name is John Quintero and my daughter is
Jacqueline Quintero and she currently works at the Indio Office,
California Highway Patrol.
My dad was a California Highway Patrol officer
as well. He retired last December. My mom is also employed by the California Highway Patrol.
She goes yeah cuz I was kind of thinking about that you know
about joining the Highway Patrol and I said wow that'd be great
It was kind of calling me because I loved everything every aspect about this
job I just loved it, so. I actually went through the Academy twice. I was at week
16 and I failed out, of course, on high speed.
She goes you know what, man this high-speed took me out.
I'm like yeah you know it happens. And she said, man I
Man, I could taste it though, I could taste it man, I was right on it and I just
couldn't make that turn.
Failing something that I wanted so bad was just,
I was in shock and I was just like I don't know maybe this isn't for me.
I'm a Sergeant with the Palm Springs Police Department and
I am married to Melissa Desmarais, who is a Captain here.
You know I had a couple of officers that came to a class when I was in third grade, and it kind of really piqued
my curiosity. I had never had any, any interaction with a law enforcement
officer prior to that, and that was just, the way that they carried themselves,
their uniform presence, everything about it was just intriguing to me.
There's an officer from Beaumont PD, and he was a lieutenant and he is the one
that helped me and he told me that I could do this, and he told me even though
you had a baby when you were young, you can go to school, go back to school you,
can provide for your kids, you just got to be strong, and he was the one always
pushing me, and that's why I became in Law Enforcement, because of him. I remember
him to this day in the back of my head, you could do this, you can do this.
If I can become a cop and prevent kids from going through this, I figured I could see
it I could see, I'd been there so I could tell if the kids where lying to me.
Probably the most life-changing moment in my career in law enforcement, happened on
October 8th 2016, when we lost our two officers.
Lesley Zerebny who was one of the officers killed, she and Melissa were pregnant at the exact same time, and they
went through their pregnancies together, both first pregnancy kind of a thing. So
they actually became pretty close. And I would think I would tell people that
don't ever take people for granted, don't ever take people for granted, not
one second in this profession.
As a uh, a mother, a wife, I have vowed to do everything different
than kind of what was done to me.
I didn't, I didn't have a mentor, so it's important for me to to mentor young women.
Going back to the Academy, I felt you know what, I failed out for a purpose,
because now I have females or other males that have never been here before.
I like to know that people can count on me so having those people come to me for
different things like that, made me feel good, and it made me feel good to teach them.
I think that we have the ability to impact people's lives in such a profound
way, with every contact that we make, every phone call that we make, every
interaction that we have, and I don't ever take that for granted.
I know how I had it and I know that somebody came in and made a difference for me.
So if I can make just that 1% difference in somebody's life then that means I did
my job for the day.
I grew up in that mess, you don't have to follow that path,
you could do absolutely anything. I went from living in my car, to commanding the station...
How does that happen?
And so when I see somebody, and I go to a call, and I know I
can make that difference, I sit there and I talk to them, and I listen to them,
and I tell them, hey you know what I'm here to help you.
I think it's important for
us to share our story I think it's important to be a little more human.
We need to have those people that are still willing to be selfless,
still willing to go out there and put other people before yourself.
Anything is possible in life. Even though you hit one obstacle, maintain your focus and
stay determined, and set goals, and you can go anywhere in life.
Work hard and remain passionate remember why you got into this profession in the first place.
I would say Jackie I'm so excited for what you have become and the young lady
that you are, and I'm so proud and to be your dad, and I look forward in awe, with
what the Lord has planned for you.
She wants to be a very good example to our kids as well that's probably the most important.
I think she's very fair and sets a good example for so many
people.
She's uh, like I said, a mom, a wife, a professional. It's her focus, it's her intelligence. Everything
about her personality, her makeup makes her a successful person.
She's crazy, she's funny, she's loving, she's mom, she's my friend,
she's my hero, she's our hero, you know, she's all these things.
We are strong, we are confident, we shine bright. Our work makes
our communities a better place to live. Share your story. Be bold. Be brave. But
most importantly, be you.