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An up close and personal interview with U.S. Police Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
DEP Ryan J Smith (2004-Present)
Boone County Sheriff's Department
WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO MAKE A CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT?
 I was influenced to join Law Enforcement by SGT Mike Munson of the Hastings Minnesota Police Department during a military mobilization after September 11, 2001. The Navy waived its magic wand and although I was a Personnel Clerk, they made me a Navy Police Officer. I was actually looking for a teaching job at the time, as I had just graduated from college with a History Education degree. I guess it was my calling to get into law enforcement, thanks to the Navy!
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR CAREER PATH AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW?
 I began my first job as a Corrections Officer at Lincoln County Sheriff's Office and quickly realized. I then took a job at Hayes County Sheriff's Office as the Chief Deputy. I always love saying that was there was only myself and the Sheriff and his wife as a part-time matron. They could only afford to pay me so much, which wasn't enough to provide for my family, so I left for a position at the Boone County Sheriff's Office, where I currently serve. Just to make ends meet though I had to work part-time at Newman Grove Police Department and Humphrey Police Department, both one man cop shops.
DID YOU SERVE IN THE MILITARY PRIOR? AND IF SO, IN WHAT BRANCH OF SERVICE? IN WHAT WAYS HAS MILITARY SERVICE INFLUENCED YOUR CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT?
 As I mentioned above, I did serve in the Navy and continue to serve in the Reserves, it was the sole reason I got into law enforcement. I have been in the military now for 17 years and so glad for all the opportunities it has presented. Without the military I would probably be teaching History in some High School not knowing what I was missing. Funny thing though is that I still substitute teach all the time, the Principals love having a cop in the classroom!
WHICH, OF THE AGENCIES OR DEPARTMENTS YOU WERE ASSIGNED TO, DO YOU HAVE THE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY?
I have worked full-time at Lincoln County Sheriff as a Corrections Officer, Hayes County Sheriff and Boone County Sheriff as a Deputy Sheriff. I also have worked at small one man Departments of Newman Grove and Humphrey  Police Departments as a part-timer, when the Chief needed a day off.
My fondest memory was solving a two time sexual assault case and getting my first felony conviction and watching him go to the penitentiary. I also remember the proud feeling or maybe sense of disbelief when I worked with a veteran investigator on a $40,000 vandalism case and got the guy to admit to it. It looked like the weight of the world had been lifted off the kids shoulders, but at the same time I couldn't help thinking I wasn't being lied to.
FROM YOUR ENTIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER WHAT PARTICULAR INCIDENT HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
 The biggest impact on me was when I was faced with the one of the worst situations to be in as a cop, when you have to make an arrest of another cops family member who is at the scene and on duty with you. On a cold night several years ago the lone night shift Albion City Police Officer called me and requested assistance. When I arrived he informed me his sister and her husband were fighting in a car on the side of the road and they were both intoxicated. After doing all the normal questioning I had to arrest his sister for DUI, who by the way was a City Administrator. Talk about peer pressure and political pressure all wrapped into one giant crap sandwich, but I was glad that I knew right up front that I had to do the right thing.
OF THE MEDALS, AWARDS OR BADGES YOU RECEIVED, WHAT IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
 In 2005 I supervised the Click It or Ticket campaign at Humphrey Police Department and assigned four other part-time officers to work the effort with me. During the overtime effort we saw the highest increase in seat belt usage in the entire state of Nebraska. For the effort the Nebraska Department of Highway Safety awarded a $19,500 grant to buy a new Crown Victoria Police Interceptor at no cost to the city.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL PERSON FROM YOUR CAREER MADE THE MOST POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON YOU AND WHY?
SGT Mike Munson was one of the biggest influences as he got me interested in Law Enforcement and encouraged me to apply for a position during my mobilization. Chief Mike Young has been my mentor and was the one I always turned to and picked his brain over the years and helped get me through a couple of academy classes.
CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR CAREER THAT WAS FUNNY AT THE TIME AND STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
I have a couple incidents that always make me laugh. First would be my attempt at the academy to take a 90 degree turn at 60 mph during EVOC training, I promptly missed the turn and came to a stop about 100 feet off the road and about and inch  from the beginning of the firing range berm. My academy class renamed the berm, Smith Memorial Ski Jump! I also get a chuckle when one of our local terds decided he would do 360 degree burn out in front of my house thinking I was sleeping, little did he know about 30 seconds prior I had just parked my car in the garage, so I pulled out and arrested him in front of my house for DUI. And last but not least the guy who walked into the Sheriff's office and wanted to report an accident to his car, who oh yeah was also drunk. So, yes he was arrested for DUI inside of the office!!
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON YOU HAVE LEARNED AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER?
 The biggest lesson I learned was that you are not going to save the world alone. I also learned a lot about integrity and politics. You just have to keep your integrity intact and always be unwavering. If you do that you will always feel 100% better about yourself than the guy who took the easy road. I also learned that the good guys don't always win and those with money really are unfortunately above the law sometimes. I also found out what probably a million others cops would say, they love you when they need you and hate you when they don't need you.
WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIP(S)?
 I was a member of the American Deputy Sheriff's Association when I first began. They were generous enough to give me a small grant to upgrade my patrol car. I used the money to buy a new light bar for my car.
HOW HAS SERVING AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU CONDUCT YOUR PERSONAL LIFE AND YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS OUTSIDE OF THE DEPARTMENT?
Serving has impacted my personal life by making me do what every officer does. It requires you to live above the standard and be the best example for everyone. Serving has also made me tell my family I love them every night, because you know each night could be your last in our dangerous profession.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR A ROOKIE WHO HAS JUST PUT ON THE BADGE?
 My personal advice to rookies would be to take a job at a larger agency to get some experience and you have less worry about your job security. I would also recommend to search for a department that has retirement benefits if you can.
IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU FEEL THIS WEBSITE CAN BENEFIT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY?
I like how this website keeps those of you that have lost touch with one another a means to reconnect. I also particularly like how it honors the service of those that have protected the streets of our great country. Thank you, to all my brothers in Law Enforcement who have retired, gave their life in the line of duty, and those who continue to serve!
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TWS VOICES
TWS Voices are the personal stories of men and women who currently serve, or who previously served as a US Police or Federal Officer, and conveys how serving their Country and Community has made a positive impact on their lives. If you would like your story to be featured in a future edition of Voices, or know someone else who may be interested, please contact TWS Voices HERE.
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Police Departments as a part-timer, when the Chief needed a day off. 
from the beginning of the firing range berm. My academy class renamed the berm, Smith Memorial Ski Jump! I also get a chuckle when one of our local terds decided he would do 360 degree burn out in front of my house thinking I was sleeping, little did he know about 30 seconds prior I had just parked my car in the garage, so I pulled out and arrested him in front of my house for DUI. And last but not least the guy who walked into the Sheriff's office and wanted to report an accident to his car, who oh yeah was also drunk. So, yes he was arrested for DUI inside of the office!!
The biggest lesson I learned was that you are not going to save the world alone. I also learned a lot about integrity and politics. You just have to keep your integrity intact and always be unwavering. If you do that you will always feel 100% better about yourself than the guy who took the easy road. I also learned that the good guys don't always win and those with money really are unfortunately above the law sometimes. I also found out what probably a million others cops would say, they love you when they need you and hate you when they don't need you.
