“Cops aren’t always scary, we’re just normal people outside the uniform,” says Officer Kayleigh Kish. She serves as our School Resource Officer (SRO) in school, but she is so much more behind the scenes.

Before Kish’s job as an officer and SRO, she enlisted in the Air Force, although she wanted to be in the Marines. She wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps regarding his placement in the military. Officer Kish knew she wanted to be in the military as a freshman. This was due to her love for helping those in need and the safety of society.

Kish’s values align with her job, ensuring she always follows them. She has always had a connection with children’s safety and well-being. Her job allows her to satisfy those values while doing what she loves.

When away from the job, Kish loves to paddle board and go for runs. She also has a book club that helps her relieve stress and separate her real life from her job. Getting a break from her job helps her be a real person and step away from the uniform. 

“Protecting others is more important than protecting myself,” says Kish.

Kish says the crimes that anger her are when people pick on innocent people. Some of the crimes that resonate with her values are domestic violence, juvenile cases, and mental health. Her compassion and respect for others allow her to connect while still being able to do her job successfully.

“People definitely look at me differently when I am in the uniform vs out,” Kish states.

 Being a cop can be hard at times, especially when battling the stigma surrounding Police Officers, and their role in society. She has had her fair share of these experiences. Although she sometimes gets remarks made towards her, she ignores them and continues doing what she loves.

She does many things for our school that we might only sometimes see. Some of these things include welcoming students into the school, making sure the school is safe, and patrolling the school grounds while communicating with security guards. After her duties as an SRO, she plans on becoming a detective. She wants to go down this path for the flexibility the job offers, as well as her love for the job. Kish enjoys challenging herself with complex puzzles because she likes difficulty in cases. 

In the future, Kish hopes to start a family and be as involved as possible. The detective profession gives more suitable hours for a family. 

Officers are not always as scary as they seem, they are everyday people like us.