MALTBY — Loren Ross, 16, of Maltby, is a junior at Monroe High School. She is part of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Program.
Question: What classes are you taking?
Answer: I just got enrolled in the criminal justice class through Sno-Isle (TECH Skills Center). It’s half college credits and half high-school credits. I go to high school for 2½ hours a day and the rest at Everett (Community College.)
Q: How long have you been a sheriff’s explorer? What’s your rank or title?
A: Almost two years. I’m just an FTE. It’s called a field training explorer. I’ll probably apply for sergeant soon.
Q: Do you have any siblings?
A: I have a little brother. His name is Cole. He’s an eighth-grader.
Q: How did you become an explorer?
A: My mom was one when she was younger. I typed in “police 4-H” on the Internet because I do dog 4-H.
Q: Your mom is a dog training behaviorist. Did you grow up with a lot of pets?
A: Yeah, a lot of animals, basically anything you can think of, I’ve had.
Q: You’ve done 4-H?
A: I have done dog 4-H since fourth grade. I started getting really competitive my sixth grade year … I had a little Papillon, then he passed away and then I got a really good Irish water spaniel.
Q: Do you have an after-school job?
A: I do. I work at the Academy of Canine Behavior.
Q: Have you thought about college?
A: I’m going into the military, the Army. I want to be canine military police. That’s my dream job.
Q: Are you considering law enforcement as a career?
A: Of course, yes.
Q: Where do you see yourself policing after the military? A big city? A small town?
A: Staying in Washington and probably working for the county. I like the variety of people, and you’re not so enclosed.
Q: Besides 4-H, what do you do for fun?
A: I do FFA — Future Farmers of America. I show cows. This is my first year showing a cow. I’ve taken first place both times that I’ve shown. What else do I like to do? I do explorers. I do 4-H. I have a job.
Q: You’ve been through the explorers police academy three times?
A: The first time I went was my Basic, my basic academy. I found the biggest role model I could ever have in this life. His name is Andrew Thor. He’s a Lake Stevens police officer. My second academy I was in Advanced. My third academy I was in Advanced 2. My fourth year, I’ll be an EAA, which is like an assistant to all the police officers there.
Q: You like animals?
A: I had horses when I was little. I showed goats. I’d find stray dogs and pick up random animals.
Q: Do you have a favorite class this year or from last year?
A: My criminal justice class is my favorite. It’s very hands-on, very welcoming. I like that I can state my opinion and not have any backlash about it.
Q: What about a favorite TV show or movie?
A: A lot of the cops are going to get mad at me but my favorite TV show is ‘Cops.’ I like to point out the errors they make. My favorite movies would probably be “End of Watch” and “The Princess and The Frog.” I also like “Saving Private Ryan,” a lot of military movies and Disney. I’m still a girl, I gotta like my Disney.
Q: What made you want to join the military?
A: It’s been throughout my family. I like doing things a lot of other people don’t think of. I like being the oddball. I like being the first to do everything, and I would be the first girl in my family to be military. I also like being the leader and there’s a lot of leadership roles in the military.
Q: Anything you’re looking forward to this year?
A: I’m going to the East Coast again to work as a professional groomer and handler.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
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