School Resource Officer Cassidy Ruchti leads by example with Kromrey Middle School’s Ladies in Law Enforcement Club. She advises the club, which meets monthly, to highlight careers in law enforcement as well as female entrepreneurs and jobs in male-dominated professions.
Their April meeting featured Officers Thomas Coyne and Elizabeth Erickson from Madison Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit. They introduced two horses, Spirit and Torres, to club members at the Middleton Police Department.
The officers discussed their roles and answered students’ questions. They explained how police departments work with horses on patrol as well as for crowd control, search and rescue operations, and emotional support and therapy.
Officer Erickson explained that officers complete a one-month training that covers horse psychology and physiology as well as how to do police work with a horse. They also take part in ongoing, monthly training sessions.
Students enjoyed learning about the horses and how officers work with them. Another highlight was the horses’ trading cards, which feature stats including their weight (1,400 to 2,000 pounds) and their hoof prints.
Ruchti noted that in addition to learning about careers, the club is about building relationships.
“I am so grateful for the relationships I have built with my girls,” Ruchti said. “Being the school resource officer, I interact with so many students and have a lot of amazing relationships, but my club girls hold a special place in my heart. The extra time we spend together and getting to know each a little better is so special to me.”
Ruchti explained why it’s important for girls to see themselves in law enforcement roles.
“I want all my girls to know that every one of them has their own set of qualities that are important,” Ruchti said. “Ladies in Law Enforcement goes beyond just careers in law enforcement. I try to highlight women in other male-dominated fields as well as simply amazing women who have so much to be proud of in their professional lives.”
The club is also about empowerment.
“The club’s goals are to empower young ladies,” Ruchti said. “By no means do they need to know what they want to do with the rest of their lives, but I want them all to know what different careers are out there. All my presenters are women, so letting the girls see another female in the career allows for them to picture themselves in that role a bit easier.”
This school year, the club has met with Detective Aleesha Kozar from the Middleton Police Department as well as Occupational Therapist Amy Hall from Aspirus Divine Savior Wellness Center. They’ve also learned from Miggy’s Bakes owner Shelby Olstad and Middleton Emergency Medical Services paramedics Julie Boglitsch, Jen Sellek, Sally Clough and Emily Tormey. In May, they’ll visit female firefighters at the Middleton Fire Department.
Fifth grader Paisley Jones said her favorite part of the club has been the “fake traffic stops” they did with Middleton Police Department officers.
Ruchti likes seeing her club members discover new interests or grow their existing interests.
“This is only the second year of the club, but I already am planning to connect with specific careers for next school year at the request of the girls,” Ruchti said. “Sparking new ideas is so fun. I love their inquisitive minds and being able to expand their knowledge is very rewarding.”