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An up close and personal interview with U.S. Police Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
CHF Paul D. Rubenstein (1978-Present)
Cornelius Police Department
WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO MAKE A CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT?
 While attending the University of Oregon, in the early 70's, I was lucky to get hired as a student patrolman by Campus Security. I had the opportunity to ride with the Campus Detachment of Eugene Police and was "addicted" immediately. I joined the Cottage Grove Police Department in 1978 as a Reserve Officer, with a group of friends and fraternity brothers, who are also still in Law Enforcement. By June, 1978, I was hired full time as an Officer and here I am to this day.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR CAREER PATH AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW?
 In 1980, I was hired as the first bi-lingual/ bi-cultural Police Officer in Oregon. My ability to speak fluent Spanish (I grew up in Latin America) opened many doors. I was pulled into several homicide investigations as a "baby" officer due to the need for my language skills. I also was pulled into several "political" situations for the Department whilst establishing our relationship with the Latino community. Some of the ties and relationships eventually led to me returning to the area as a Chief of Police for Cornelius. More than 50% of my community speak Spanish as a first language.
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?
 While in College, I joined the Army Reserve (ROTC). I received a lot of leadership training from the Army and that certainly guided my early desire to climb in the law enforcement ranks. While I was only in the Reserves for two years, I never went on active duty, except for training like Basic, etc. It was certainly a different world in the Vietnam/Post Vietnam era and I am proud I did wear the the uniform.
WHICH, OF THE AGENCIES OR DEPARTMENTS YOU WERE ASSIGNED TO, DO YOU HAVE THE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY?
 I believe the most fun I had in my career, was as a Detective assigned to Tukwila, Washington's Major Crimes Unit. We had an incredibly diverse group of Detectives, a great Detective Sergeant, and worked some incredible cases. Four months into the assignment we were working a Green River Homicide case and it never slowed down. During the time period from late 1989 to 1994, it seemed we could solve anything. It was a blast. I was also able to exploit my love of archeology with some of the "archeological" crime scenes (homicide scenes where the scene was several years old). I would work any of those crime scenes for free!
FROM YOUR ENTIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER WHAT PARTICULAR INCIDENT HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
During my career, I have lost many friends and co-works in the line of duty. I had the task to notify (as a Lieutenant) my former Detective partner that his 18 year old son had been shot, take him and his wife to the hospital and be there for and with them for several hours until his son passed away. That, and the ensuing days, reinforced to me that NOTHING is worth more than family, and that is the NUMBER 1 Priority. As a Chief, I have never forgotten this and it still impacts many decisions that I make today.
OF THE MEDALS, AWARDS OR BADGES YOU RECEIVED, WHAT IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
 My Chief's badge is the most meaningful item I have ever received. It means that I am now the "THEY - THEM" that everyone talks about and it is always my fault, both good and bad. It is an Honor to wear it. The trust the Community puts in the office, symbolized by the badge, is incredible. I have had the ability to have a positive impact on not just my community, but statewide as I became an active representative of the Chief's Association. So you can make a difference!
WHICH INDIVIDUAL PERSON FROM YOUR CAREER MADE THE MOST POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON YOU AND WHY?
 Retired Federal Way Chief of Police Tom Chaney took me under his wing, stretched my abilities, challenged me to learn and grow and taught me nothing is more important than your integrity.
WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIP(S)?
Membership in any association is valuable from the contacts you make and ensuing networking derived from those memberships.
Sometime you make the most impact on your communities as a member of an organization. In this picture I am lobbying as a representative of the Oregon Association of Chief s of Police to seek funding for another organization I represent called "Fight Crime, Invest in Kids", trying to get Congress to continue funding early education for 'at risk' youth. Every dollar spent on early education saves seventeen dollars down the road in the criminal justice system.
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?
 Rule Number One: "If it is going to put you on the front page of the newspaper in a bad way. DO NOT DO IT!" Sometime I have had to explain this to my friends and family. While accompanying my daughter to a hospital during her freshman year in college - she broke her finger - she admitted to having gotten drunk in the dorms. She looked at me and said, "We are going to talk about this, aren't we?" I said yes. She then ask if I had ever gotten drunk when I was living in the dorms during College. While my brain was wrestling with how I was going to answer this and not reinforce this behavior, I responded, "Just think about the headlines: "Police Chief's Daughter Arrested for Minor in Possession of Alcohol". She started to say that wouldn't happen, then realized it could. She then said, "that is NOT fair!" I did not have to say anything else.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR A ROOKIE WHO HAS JUST PUT ON THE BADGE?
You are going to to make mistakes. Hell...I still do. But just remember, family and your integrity can never be replaced when lost. If you screw up, own up to it and move on in a positive manner. You can survive mistakes. You can not survive lying about them.
IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU FEEL THIS WEBSITE CAN BENEFIT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY?
It's ability to harvest and communicate the knowledge, experience and memories of the membership of this website is worth its weight in gold.
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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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For all current serving and veteran Police Officers, Together We Served is a secure, feature rich website enabling Officers to reconnect with lost Brothers and Sisters, share in the camaraderie of other Officers, network for professional purposes and to honor the service of all.
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In 1980, I was hired as the first bi-lingual/ bi-cultural Police Officer in Oregon. My ability to speak fluent Spanish (I grew up in Latin America) opened many doors. I was pulled into several homicide investigations as a "baby" officer due to the need for my language skills. I also was pulled into several "political" situations for the Department whilst establishing our relationship with the Latino community. Some of the ties and relationships eventually led to me returning to the area as a Chief of Police for Cornelius. More than 50% of my community speak Spanish as a first language.
s of Police to seek funding for another organization I represent called "Fight Crime, Invest in Kids", trying to get Congress to continue funding early education for 'at risk' youth. Every dollar spent on early education saves seventeen dollars down the road in the criminal justice system.
