Members of the Carroll Police Department
Front row (left to right): Sgt. Gary Bellinghausen; Sgt. JJ Schreck; Capt. Mark Heino (retired); Chief Brad Burke; Sgt. Jeremiah Hoyt; and Administrative Assistant, Meggan Naberhaus
Second row (left to right): Officer Ethan Kathol,; Officer Sandy March; Officer Kenny Bensley; Officer Alex Klever; and Officer Roy Janssen
Third row (left to right) Officer Justin Ferrin; Officer Tony Amdor; Officer Jason Kirsch; Officer Nathan Christian; and Officer Jake Smith
Missing from the photo: Officer Patrick McCarty
This week is National Police Officer’s Week, and the news staff at Carroll Broadcasting has been spending some time checking in with area community members to get their thoughts on our local officers and the work they do to protect and serve every day. Andrew Dieter, a sixth-grade student at Carroll Middle School says his opinion about police officers has changed over the course of time.
Jake Davis of Carroll says that his outlook has evolved as well, and that officers who are doing their job, and doing it well, are really a benefit to everybody.
Rick Vetter of Westside says he has had recent interactions with a police officer. Vetter smiles, adding that as a citizen, he wasn’t doing his job very well and was caught speeding. That, however, does not change the fact that he respects our local law enforcement and appreciates what they do.
According to Jodi Kanne of Carroll, we frequently overlook the benefits officers provide our communities.
And, Kanne adds, she is happy to see the programs local departments initiate to create positive experiences for community members.
Julie Waterman of Carroll has two family members who serve as officers—a son who has been the School Resource Officer (SRO) in Perry for the past 20 years and a grandson who just graduated and is serving in his first role with the Jefferson Police Department. She says, as a family member, their safety is a constant worry. The negativity the occupation has seen in recent years, Waterman says, is not what she sees as the norm, and that the average, ordinary person has a much different attitude.
Waterman, Davis, Kanne, Dieter and Vetter all agreed that our community residents owe a debt of gratitude to the men and women who put their lives on the line, day-in and day-out. And, that not only during the remainder of this week, but on every day of the year, we should be thanking them and offering them the utmost respect for the great job they do.
