Law Enforcement Officer: David Ruebel: I just want to help

David Ruebel, a patrol officer in Chaffee, has committed himself to making a difference in his small community.

He has been an officer at Chaffee for just over a year and a half. His journey in law enforcement began at the age of 35.

Before joining law enforcement, David held several jobs, including assistant service manager at Jiffy Lube. He also has a passion for working on motorcycles, which he continues to enjoy in his spare time. Despite these varied roles, David felt a calling to help people and decided to enter law enforcement to make a positive impact in his community.

“I enjoy this job way better than anything I've ever done. With the exception of working on motorcycles. That's my passion. I do that a lot in my spare time at home,” Ruebel said.

Ruebel said he grew up in Chaffee and moved back two decades ago from Cape Girardeau. Having familiarity with the community of Chaffee, Ruebel said it’s a positive thing as he knows many of the owners of the local shops and can stop in to say hello on his shifts.

“It helps to know the people that you deal with because you can connect with them on a more personal level. You know if you have to go to a call on it's it's somebody that you know through the job or personally it's just easier to talk to them and and get the situation figured out,” Ruebel said.

His experiences in law enforcement vary between12-hour day and night shifts on a rotation. Ruebel said he prefers day shifts due to the increased interaction with the community. Night shifts, while quieter, come with their own set of challenges, such as the unpredictability of traffic stops.

Ruebel enjoys most aspects of his job. However, he finds traffic stops and report writing to be the least enjoyable part of his job.

"Report writing is tedious," he said, preferring to spend his time out on patrol around the town.

One of Ruebel’s positive interactions he has had with the community extended to mentoring local children. He talked of an instance where he helped a young boy who had stolen money from his mother and how it was wrong. Now, the boy often stops to talk to Ruebel when he sees him on patrol.

“Making a positive difference in the life of kids is what we strive for, basically change people's attitude,” Ruebel said about.

For those considering a career in law enforcement, Ruebel advises making sure it is a genuine passion.

"You don't get into law enforcement for money. You get into it to make a difference in your community," he said.

Ruebel's dedication to his role as a law enforcement officer and his efforts to positively influence those around him are well known to the community. Officers such as Ruebel play a role in maintaining the happiness of small towns, striving to make a positive difference every day.

"I just wanted to help," Ruebel said.