Who's Who 2013: Joey Hann, Special operations/community service division, Cape Girardeau Police Department

Community involvement: Volunteer with Special Olympics of Missouri, chair holder on SOMO Polar Bear Plunge committee; mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri since 2001; Region 9 Law Enforcement Torch Run coordinator; foster parent for the Missouri Children's Division; Acting Forwards Captain for Scorpions Rugby Team

What do you love about your work?

I choose law enforcement as a career to make a positive impact in my community but I would be lying if I didn't say that I enjoy the excitement that comes along with the job. I am a bit of an adrenaline junkie and a good, aggressive officer will experience their fair share of intense moments during any given shift. "Catching the bad guy" during the execution of a high-risk search warrant or removing a dangerous drug dealer from a concerned community are some of the most satisfying moments an officer can experience in his regular duties. Tracking down a wanted, dangerous felon is more exciting than any sport out there. The Cape Girardeau Police Department is filled with seasoned and experienced officers who share the common goal of "getting bad guys off the streets." It is truly exciting to work with high caliber officers who share that common goal.

What's your No. 1 goal at work?

My primary goal is to provide a professional service to the community, which I fully understand is a very broad and general statement to make. Providing professional service encompasses a wide variety of elements, which includes responding to emergency situations, investigating crimes, enforcing local ordinances and state statutes and using all of the resources at my disposal to handle each situation to the best of my ability. I like to end my watch knowing that my fellow officers and I made someone's neighborhood safer by our actions that day.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in your line of work?

As a field training officer, I always tell newly commissioned officers that they must look to serve as an ambassador for their community. We often deal with people when they are at their worst so it is paramount to be kind, be patient and always be fair. Give everyone you encounter the same level of service you would like your own mother, sister or daughter to receive if they ever needed assistance from a police officer. That, and also remember to keep those in the community safe, keep yourself safe and keep those who want to harm themselves or others as safe as you possibly can. In that order. Don't take this job if you are not mentally and physically prepared to place yourself in harm's way to protect those you serve. I don't think that some people realize the perilous situations that Cape Girardeau police officers regularly interject themselves into to keep the community safe. We all want to return safely home to our families at the end of watch, but I have seen officers on countless occasions push these thoughts aside in the line of duty. A new officer must truly understand that bravery, valor and integrity are non-negotiable traits in this line of work.