I'll never forget the first time I met Katherine over 30 years ago. I was a teen. She had just started her career in policing and was "walking the beat." Katherine stopped to say hello, encouraging us to make positive choices and explaining why she chose policing. She never judged us and spoke with us with compassion and enthusiasm, never condescending or authoritative.
Throughout her career, she has served our community in many roles, but she always leaves an impression where she goes. Katherine leads by example with compassion and empathy. She takes the time to walk with our vulnerable community members, our homeless, and our seniors, and they feel seen and heard. But never take her kindness for weakness. Katherine also shows her leadership strengths by setting goals, maintaining high standards, and valuing accountability. By doing this, she inspires others to do the same.
We are grateful to have Katherine in our community. She is the gold standard of community policing.