For Platte City police officers Colette Cromer and Holly Norris, one of the most important parts of what they do is helping community members, and interaction at local events has proven to be a win-win for the officers and the public alike.
Cromer has been a police officer for six years and she sorted through several career choices along the way, including wanting to become a veterinarian and a journalist. Ultimately, she realized that if she were to become a police officer she could use some of her experiences in life to help others in the same situations.
She grew up in Stewartsville and began her career as a deputy for the Andrew County Sheriff’s Department in Savannah.
While Norris, who has been in law enforcement for seven years, didn’t want to be a police officer, as she grew up she changed her mind.
“I realized my grandparents were the people I looked up to the most,” Norris said. “They were both in law enforcement throughout my childhood. My grandfather, at 75 years old, is still in law enforcement as a K-9 handler.”
She grew up in a small town in Northeast Kansas. Platte City is the first city in Missouri she has worked, and she has worked in smaller towns in Kansas.
“I love the Platte City community, and that we are so close to the schools, and it’s a smaller community so it’s easier to develop rapport with the members,” said Norris.
After the birth of her daughter she decided to get into law enforcement because she wanted her daughter to look up to her the same way she looks up to her grandparents.
When the Platte City Police Department hosted a Kona Ice truck event in September in various locations around Platte City, Cromer and Norris celebrated by dancing to the music as scores of people and kids waited in line for their Kona Ice. The officers’ enthusiasm was contagious as kids soon joined them.
“That is a very important part of my job,” Cromer said. “A big perk of working for a smaller community is being able to interact with the people more. We get to have a lot of community events and get to show the citizens who the people are behind the badge. One of my favorite events every year is Shop with a Cop.”
Community events are Norris’ favorite part of her job, from planning them to participating in them.
“There is such a negative stigma that revolves around law enforcement today,” Norris said. “I believe community events help the community see us in a different light and recognize that we are still human under the badge we wear. Today more than ever, I think the more we interact with the community in a light-hearted way is vital to humanize the badge. We as police officers often see people on their worst days, and we deal with a lot of hard things, and see things no one wants to see. For us, the community events are just as important so we can see the community in a fun way, and take a break from the stress that comes with the job.”
Cromer went to a part-time academy and during her 11 months of training she did real-life scenario training, defensive tactics, firearms, and multiple types of classroom training.
Licensed as a police officer in two states, Norris began her career by taking juvenile law classes and an introduction to criminal justice at a community college.
She then went to the Missouri Sheriffs Association Training Academy for 11 months. After graduation she began her career in Kansas, where she had to go to a one-week reciprocity class at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Academy.
“As a police officer the training never really stops,” Norris said. “We have to complete a minimum amount of in-service hours every year to keep our POST (Police Officers Standards and Training) licence.”
Challenges in law enforcement are shared by officers in big cities and small towns alike.
“For me the most challenging parts of my job are seeing the same people in the same situations again and again, especially when we work to get them help and it seems they are going to stick with it,” Cromer said. “It honestly is heartbreaking to see the cycles in domestic abuse situations or in drug addiction.”
Norris believes that like with all career choices, police officers have good days and bad days, but the good tend to outweigh the bad for her.
“I do think the stigma that follows law enforcement due to current events is the most difficult,” Norris said. “Luckily we are blessed to work in a very supporting community; however it’s not that way everywhere. I also have a big heart for kids, so calls that revolve around children in a negative way, are tough.”
Challenges in the law enforcement profession are balanced out by the rewarding aspects of policing for the officers. For Cromer, seeing a child who used to be in trouble a lot and now is thriving is very rewarding. “It’s when I find out I’ve truly made a difference for someone,” Cromer said.
The most rewarding moments for both Norris and Cromer are community events. “Whether it be our annual Cops and Kids event, Shop with a Cop, or just going to the school and participating in PE classes with the kids, or even sledding with the kids at the Civic Center, they are by far the most rewarding to me,” Norris said.
The community’s support for the police is a large part of why Cromer likes working in Platte City.
“I also love that our city government makes it a priority to engage with our citizens through multiple community events,” Cromer said. “This year has made it harder to interact quite as much, but we have still managed to have some fun with our community members. Our community is honestly very supportive of us. From what I see, most are very cooperative and will provide as much help as they can.”
Norris believes she is fortunate to work in a community that is very pro law enforcement. “The community members, and businesses are amazing,” Norris said.
For young people considering a career in law enforcement, Cromer believes the most important advice is to try not to get discouraged, and she has learned the importance of never stopping learning.
“People might say you can’t do it or try to talk you into something else, but if it’s what you’re passionate about, keep with it,” Cromer said. “It may be a cliche, but you can honestly do anything you put your whole mind to. Some of the training may be hard and the real-life situations might be even harder, but this career comes with a lot of rewards.”
Norris advises people looking into a law enforcement career to research their options for academies in the area, and to look into ride-alongs with different departments to get a first-hand look at what police officers do day to day.
“I also make sure they understand that where they work may not be in a community as supportive as Platte City, so they need to take that into consideration before making their decision,” Norris said. “The best advice I was given in the academy, and the one thing I have definitely learned, that has helped me; We are all humans, we all make mistakes, and nine times out of 10, you are making contact with someone on their worst day, whether it be on a traffic stop, or a call for service. Not all people are bad, we just all have bad days.”
Norris recently has moved to a reserve, or as-needed position in Platte City and is now a deputy for Platte County.
In Kansas she was chief of police for a little over a year, and she was also a sergeant at another department. In the next five years she hopes to work as a detective for Crime Scene Investigations.
The relationship Cromer and Norris have with community members continues to grow stronger and they welcome help from Platte City residents.
“Community members can help by reporting if they see a crime or providing information if there is a crime they may have witnessed,” Cromer said. “It is beneficial if community members see us out and about to stop us and just talk with us. Sometimes we will stop, but they can always wave us down as well. This helps for us to get to know one another and can help build trust on both sides. The more people interact with the police outside of reporting a crime or being a victim/suspect, more trust is built and maybe someone with a previous bias against police officers will feel comfortable with being around them more. This creates a more positive environment for everyone and if one day they do have to be on the side of needing the police, they may be more willing to call.”
“For the most part, keep supporting us,” Norris said. “That is the biggest thing. Also if people have any questions, we’re always here to answer them. Keep your vehicle doors locked. If you see a crime, get details, whether it be license plate numbers, descriptions of the suspect, the more information the better.”
Long and challenging shifts at work are common for the officers and they appreciate home and family.
“After long days at work, I love to go home, cuddle my kiddos, and cat, curl up with some Netflix, and just relax with my family,” Norris said.
At the end of a long, busy day on the job the first thing Cromer does when she gets home is to hug her youngest child.
“She always greets me at the door in the evenings,” Cromer said. “When I work night shift, the first thing I do when I go home is to eat a bowl of cereal because my kids are still asleep. When I get off work and make it home I am always grateful for that in itself. I had a safe shift and I am home.”