Logan County Sheriff’s Department

Guthrie News Leader: What volunteer work, fundraising or community involvement does the Logan County Sheriff’s Department participate in?

Joshua Alexander: Being a reserve deputy means I have a little bit different perspective because reserves are not specifically assigned to the patrol division. The reserve division is staffed 100% by people looking to volunteer their time and make a difference in the community. Reserve deputies start by spending as many as six months of evenings and weekends training in their Academy, followed by another 4 to 6 months of field training with more experience deputies. Although we may spend a great deal of our volunteer time in a patrol capacity, the reserve division is asked to perform a multitude of different duties around the county. Reserve deputies may be participating in a parade, escorting a funeral procession, attending special events at local schools, bringing our vehicles out for community events such as Touch a Truck, or assisting with other activities such as transport or sitting with an inmate at the hospital. The Reserve division consists entirely of a dedicated group of individuals who want nothing more than to volunteer their time and energy to protect and serve the citizens of Logan County.

GNL: What do you think some of the benefits are to staying involved and active in the community?

Alexander: The more involved we are in the community, the better we are able to serve. We can recognize needs and issues more quickly because we are familiar with all parts of the county. This allows us to interact with our community members on a more personal level. Many times, we are there when individuals are facing difficult circumstances, and I think it is helpful to them if they are used to seeing us in their community on a regular basis. I also think our community involvement has helped us to build solid relationships with the citizens of our county. In return, we are blessed with a strong amount of support which is something we do not take for granted, especially in today’s world. Staying involved in our communities is important to us. Many of us live in the same communities we serve in. We are raising our families here. We want good things for your family and for ours. We want the people of Logan County to know they can count on us to show up in their time of need. We all took an oath to protect and serve the citizens of our county and we all take that oath very seriously.

GNL: What is your favorite part about serving Guthrie?

Alexander: My answer to this question has two parts. I decided to become a member of this agency because my family experienced a tragedy firsthand when Deputy David Wade was killed in the line of duty. I decided then that I could personally do more to give back to my county and support the deputies of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office. It is very rewarding for me to know that every time I go on a call to back another deputy, that is one less deputy responding to a call alone. It is simply not practical to send to fulltime deputies to every single call for service, but by volunteering my time, I can ensure that there is a second deputy on every single call that I go to. The second part of my answer to this question is that most of the time when people call 911, they are calling us on their darkest day. Through my training, I am able to show up and help in any way possible. Sometimes I am the first responder on the scene of a car accident. Sometimes I am the deputy that shows up on Christmas Eve, so mommy and daddy will stop fighting. Other times I am the deputy that arrives and brings you Comfort after you’ve lost a loved one. No matter what the call is, I am able to be there to serve my citizens on what is possibly the worst day of their life, and I can only hope that I bring some sense of comfort to them in their time of need. I am a law enforcement member and a first responder, and I take that job very seriously.