POLICE OFFICERS are driven by a desire to help and serve their communities. They actively engage with residents, building trust and ensuring public safety. By participating in community outreach programs, such as neighborhood events and volunteer activities, they show their commitment to the well-being of their communities. The ultimate goal of local law enforcement is to foster positive relationships and open communication while working toward maintaining a stable community and effective policing. Their presence is not only to deter crime but to help promote a sense of security and community.
Tullahoma Police Department (TPD) Criminal Investigator Jessica Taylor wants people to know she and her fellow officers are here for the Tullahoma community.
“One thing I hope people understand about first responders is we do this job because it is something we love, and we have a desire to help others,” she said. “I know a lot of people are nervous when police officers arrive on the scene, but we don’t want people to fear us. We want people to trust that we are ultimately there to help make their day better.”
A love for the job
Taylor began her career in law enforcement working in corrections in Florida. She would eventually find herself in Tullahoma after a family move. She took a position as an instructor for the Tennessee Corrections Academy.
“I was a drill instructor for about a year and a half. I enjoyed what I did because I like training and working with people and helping them get to the goals they wanted to achieve.”
But as much as Taylor enjoyed her job, she felt a higher calling. She wanted the opportunity to help out in the community.
“I wanted something different,” she said. “I wanted to be out in the public and helping the community. So I applied with the Tullahoma Police Department, and this became my next journey.”
Joining the TPD force in 2018, Taylor has been working to build relationships with people in the community and to show that being an officer is not just about making arrests.
“I like to help people,” she said. “I know a part of our job that most people see is making arrests and writing citations. And while it is, that’s not what appeals to me. What appeals to me is being able to help people on some of their worst days. Whether it’s a car accident, the loss of a loved one, or domestic assault, I want them to know we are here for them and to help them along the way.”
Taylor is also working to shed a more positive light on law enforcement.
“I love being able to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community, especially with events that have happened within the last several years,” she explained. “It has shed such a negative light on law enforcement. But I think in the community that we live in, there’s a lot more positivity that comes from our agency and other local agencies around us. When it comes to engaging with the community, we still have those community members who see us in a negative light because of some of the situations they’ve been in. But that’s all the more reason for us to get out there, be involved, and show that we are here for everyone.”
The journey continues
Broadening her horizons in law enforcement and the ability to help her community, Taylor was recently promoted to criminal investigator for the TPD. While it has added more responsibility, it has given her an even greater opportunity to do what she loves most: serve her community.
“I do a lot more work as an investigator than I ever did on patrol,” she said. “As an investigator, you have a caseload. It’s your job to prioritize those cases and solve each one of them at a priority level. It’s rewarding because you get to work more closely with the victims and the cases themselves. While it can be overwhelming if you allow it to be, I love all that I’m learning and getting to really make a difference.”
On being a hero
Taylor said she would rather not be considered such. She is not looking for recognition. She feels that she speaks for her fellow officers that helping others is just a part of who they are, and it is their calling to help make the Tullahoma community safe and a better place for its residents to thrive in.
“We’re here for a purpose,” she said. “We get a call to help, serve the purpose, and then go on to the next. I don’t see myself as a hero for anybody. I just want people to know that we’re available for whatever they have going on — whatever situation, no matter how big or small. A quote that I often remind myself of is by Maya Angelou, ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’” GN
