Editor’s note: Jennings County High School senior Evan Aasen recently sat down with School Resource Officer Matt Staples, of the North Vernon Police Department, to talk to him about his profession.
Why did you choose law enforcement?
I would of course say the popular answer of wanting to make a difference in my community. I mean that is like the go-to answer. But, it really is the truth. I grew up here. Jennings County. North Vernon is all I know. So I was hoping I could leave the community a little better then I found it as a kid if I worked hard as a police officer.
Why did you choose NVPD?
This community is all I know. This is home. I love Jennings County and North Vernon. I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else.
What is your favorite part of being a police officer?
Right here in this school (JCHS) every day. I absolutely love being a school resource officer. I feel like the relationships that I have built in my time as the SRO have changed my life, and the lives of the students that I have encountered. So many times in life, kids only see a police officer in a bad light, or in bad times. With me interacting with them every day, I think they can see me as a friend and someone to turn to. They can also see that I am a normal human just like them.
What are your future plans with your career? Any long term goals?
I just celebrated my 14-year anniversary with the NVPD. I have six years to retirement. I am hoping that I get to spend the next six years right here in the school corporation. So, just remaining the SRO is my long term goal. I also have been announcing several sporting events here at the high school for several years. I announce football, boys soccer, girls basketball, and baseball. I also announce at Brownstown Speedway and do a podcast about auto racing with our principal Dustin Roller called “Throttled Up.” I hope to continue that for several more years.
What is the most interesting part of your job?
It is all interesting. There aren’t any two days the same. The relationships I have made with the students keep it very interesting. I have ongoing connections with students that have already graduated, and they stay in contact with me. Then during the summer, I go back to working the road. That helps me with keeping up my road skills. So all in all it is all very interesting.
What is the hardest part of your job as a police officer?
I think the hardest part of the job is seeing what drug abuse does to the family. It is bad to see what the person that is addicted goes through, but to watch moms, dads and sometimes sons and daughters suffer for their family members is very sad. It is sometimes hard to go home and not continually think about those people.
Any closing thoughts?
I know it seems like any time you turn the television on nowadays there is always a news person reporting something negative about law enforcement. I wish sometimes they would visit small town Indiana. I think that is another great thing about our community. The police and the community are one. We are stood up for in the community and when we are off duty we are just part of the community. We as a small community sometimes forget how great we really have it living in this small community that we call home.
