Page 6 - TPA Journal January February 2022
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School. He carried himself with such You never really understand how your life
confidence, and I saw the respect the citizens experiences can prepare you for what lies
gave him. ahead. I had been a farm kid for most of my
life, so long days and scorching heat were a
Even though he constantly encouraged me to “been there, done that” kind of thing.
join, the thought of such a drastic change Moving large sections of row water irrigation
scared me to death. Recently married and pipe from one field to another more that
my firstborn on the way, I wondered if I had prepared me for the physical strength
the courage to leave the farm. But the draw training. The PT instructor shouting orders on
to police work just kept nagging at me. I the dirt PT field didn’t hold a candle to my
would see a black and white patrol car go by, High School football coach’s demands
and I could imagine myself driving it while during two a day practices each August. My
wearing that distinctive Texas Tan uniform, school classroom teachers that held me
felt Stetson hat, polished cowboy boots, and accountable academically, prepared me for
a shiny Sam Brown duty belt. And as clique the almost overwhelming amount of
as it sounds, I really did want to make a classroom instruction that prepared me to be
difference and help people. But change is State Trooper. I was as ready as anyone could
only accomplished by having the mental be because I hadn’t got to there alone. I had
toughness to take that first step. I finally numerous mentors that equipped me along
called him and said that I wanted to apply to the way to be successful with this challenge.
be a State Trooper. So, at 24 years old, I
answered the call to serve the people of the I graduated the DPS Academy on October
State of Texas. 10, 1986 and I had exactly two weeks to
pack my family and my belongings and
After the long application process consisting report to my first duty station. While meeting
of mounds of paperwork, an interview board, my Field Training Officer for the first time, I
a physical assessment, and a background managed to knock his paperclip dispenser off
check, I opened my mailbox one day and his desk, spilling several hundred onto the
received a letter from the Texas Department floor. Being perfectly honest, that’s not the
of Public Safety stating that I had been only thing I messed up as he tried to turn a
accepted to the Academy beginning June 11, farmer into a Trooper. We eventually became
1986. I reported to the training academy and very close, and I was so fortunate to have
was met immediately by a barrage of yelling, such an outstanding trooper train me. He
marching, more yelling, and more taught me how to apply what I learned in the
paperwork. That first step of applying sure academy to actual police work. More
seemed so much easier than the second step importantly he taught me the importance of
of doing it. Doubt crept in and I immediately volunteering in the community. It was
thought of home. Why was I even here? Can mandatory that we stood along the track
I last 18 weeks? I can’t quit, I told myself during home football games. He talked
over and over again……besides, my about how it was alright to be human and to
hometown trooper that did my background show emotion. He emphasized repeatedly
said if I did quit, that I better not even come that I should treat everyone with respect and
home! that if I was going to make it for the long
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