Campus police train hard to deal with everything from traffic to murder

By M. Kathryn Hanberg

April 11, 2008 | LOGAN -- Officer Kara Nielson has been working for the Utah State University Police Department for over four years. After completing training in the Fred House Police Academy, she began her job. This academy is a paramilitary academy located at the Cache County Jail.

"Each police academy is very different. Many of them are a lot like boot camp," said Nielson.

Going through the police academy is not the last time each officer is expected to perform physical training tests. The USU Police Department has one of the toughest physical training test involving timed running, sprinting, push-ups, sit-ups and weight lifting every six months, said Nielson.

She soon discovered that the nature of the job is completely unpredictable. There are nights you will be on patrol for the entire shift, while other nights you are moving from case to case. It depends on the night, said Nielson.

The situations police officers are faced with range from speeding tickets and patrol to homicide.

"Last spring we had a child abuse case dealing with a young married couple living in Aggie Village. They often abused their premature baby, and it almost turned into a homicide," said Nielson.

"It is always the saddest stories you remember the most, but we do laugh a lot, even if it's just to stay sane," said Nielson.

This is the day-to-day life of a police officer. They are often despised, but are constantly putting their life on the line and striving to provide positive customer service, said Nielson.

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