by Lorie Lewis Ham
Many years ago when I was writing for the Reedley Exponent I did a series of articles getting to know the officers of the Reedley Police Department. I decided it was time to do a version of that here at KRL as we chat with two of Reedley’s female officers over the next few weeks. This week we are chatting with Officer Marisela Delgado from Fresno.
KRL: When did you decide you wanted to become a police officer and why?
Officer Delgado: I decided I wanted to be a police officer after 2020 and seeing how much police officers were being scrutinized in the media. I wanted to understand the job and began to research how one can become an officer. After researching and speaking with people who are officers, I realized just how tough their career really is. I knew it was what I wanted to do because of the challenges that came with the career. I wanted to be the type of officer that changes other’s perspectives about the line of work they do and hopefully change ideals about law enforcement in a positive way.
Officer Marisela Delgado
KRL: Did you have another occupation first, or was this always your goal occupation wise?
Officer Delgado: I worked in retail selling auto parts for approximately six years. I never planned to remain in the retail industry, I was just working until I could focus on finding a career path that would best suit me.
KRL: What kind of training did you have to go through? Did you get a degree in criminology as well?
Officer Delgado: I had to go through a six-month police academy before graduating and becoming a sworn officer. It mainly consisted of eight to ten-hour training days for about six days a week. The training varied involving learning case laws, penal codes, and even physically demanding tactical training.
KRL: Is this your first job as a police officer or have you worked at other police departments? How long have you been a police officer?
Officer Delgado: This is my first time as a police officer.
KRL: How long have you been with Reedley PD and why did you want to work here?
Officer Delgado: I have been with the Reedley Police Department for eleven months and I wanted to work in Reedley because of their community. The community has displayed a tremendous amount of support for law enforcement.
KRL: What have you liked the most about your job so far and about working in Reedley?
Officer Delgado: What I enjoy most about my career is helping people find a solution to their problems. The community in Reedley has always shown just how much they support us by giving us praise and it’s a good feeling to know that you can make a difference in someone’s life.
KRL: What has been the hardest?
Officer Delgado: The hardest part of my career I feel is knowing that I am constantly being watched and judged. I am human and I am not perfect but knowing that my decisions whether on or off duty can have severe consequences in my life is something that I will always carry with me.
KRL: Do you have a special story to share about something that has really meant a lot to you on the job—something that perhaps reminds you of why you wanted to be a police officer?
Officer Delgado: I don’t have a special story just yet but getting through six months of the academy is something that means a lot to me. The training is tough and not meant for everyone but I always gave my best and I am very thankful for how much my family supported me in one of the hardest parts of my life.
KRL: Do you find that women still face extra challenges and discrimination being a police officer, or is that mostly a thing of the past?
Officer Delgado: I do believe that women have come a long way since then and have definitely made progress. I also still believe that this career can sometimes be extra challenging for women because of how we are viewed by others. Sometimes our femineity is viewed as weakness by the public and can have the potential to expose us to harmful situations.
KRL: What is a typical day on the job like?
Officer Delgado: There really is no typical day in this career. There are days where I can go from call to call all day long and there are even days where I am sitting in a classroom reading books to children. Each day is different and the only thing I can hope for is that I make it home safe and make someone’s day just a little bit better.
KRL: What are your hopes and goals for the future?
Officer Delgado: I hope that I can become a Field Training Officer one day and help new officers with their transition into becoming full-fledged peace officers.
KRL: What do you like to do for fun?
Officer Delgado: I love to hang out with my family for fun. I don’t get to see them as often since I began my career so even just having a little bit of time with them on my days off is always enjoyable. I also enjoy spending time at home with my dog and watching TV shows.
KRL: Do you have a family and if so, does that present any extra challenges to being in this occupation?
Officer Delgado: I come from a big family and my career does present some challenges for me and them. It can be very demanding making it hard to see my family as often as I used to before I became a police officer. I have become better at managing my time with them because of this and have become so much more appreciative of the time I do get to spend with them.
KRL: Anything else you would like to add?
Officer Delgado: I feel very fortunate to be in the career field I am in and I am excited for what’s in store for my future in law enforcement.
Thanks so much for chatting with us Officer Delgado! Watch for our second interview in April!
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