A young Greeley girl found trust in law enforcement and, eventually, her calling in life after officers helped her home when she became lost on a cold, rainy afternoon during her walk from school.
As someone who lived in a poor neighborhood that didn’t typically embrace law enforcement, the child’s view of police was transformed.
She continued to interact with law enforcement while growing up. Her fascination even led to collecting baseball cards with the Greeley Police Department’s officer rank and titles.
On Dec. 11, that child, Ashley Perez, was one of 18 students to graduate from the Aims Community College Peace Officer Academy.
Perez’s journey into life as a police officer comes during a time when law enforcement needs her the most. The nation is facing a trend in officers leaving the job, as well as new recruits not wanting to join to begin with.
In Weld County, law enforcement officials have acknowledged the difficulties in filling these positions, which is why Perez and fellow graduates benefitted from workforce grants to help them strive through the academy and as they step into new law enforcement roles.
Through Perez’s experiences with law enforcement as a child, she found officers that inspired her to pursue a career in the force. As a recent graduate from a police academy, she is excited to be a similar presence of trust for the community.
“I can be that inspiration for somebody someday, even through one small act of kindness,” Perez said. “So that’s what...
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