WIU: Who We Are, What We Do: The Female Officers of OPS

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WIU: Who We Are, What We Do: The Female Officers of OPS

June 7, 2016

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WIU: Who We Are, What We Do: The Female Officers of OPS

Behind the bricks and mortar, there are the people of Western Illinois University and the Macomb community.

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L-r, front row, Liz Henley, Krystal Scott; back row, McKenzie Taylor, Sarah Worthington, Kerrie Bishop

Who I Am: Kerrie Bishop. I grew up in Darien, Illinois, a small suburb of Chicago. I came to Macomb for school and double majored in LEJA and sociology (Class of 2000). I am a mother, girlfriend, daughter, sister, aunt, advocate and church/community volunteer.

What I Do: I am a police corporal at WIU and have been employed here for a little over 11 years. I teach self defense to women, I am a juvenile officer, and also a member of various committees on campus, including the First Year Experience Program and the Interpersonal Violence Prevention Initiative. I am also an instructor in the First Year Experience program and teach University 100.

Why I Love WIU: WIU and Macomb are my home. I fell in love with the University and the community as an undergrad and returned to WIU after my internship to complete grad school. I received MA degrees from WIU in both sociology (2003) and LEJA (2011). I have met so many wonderful people through my education, work, and community involvement. It is truly a great place to live, work, and raise children.

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Who I Am: Liz Henley. I was raised in a small town, Tovey, Illinois. I am a police officer, dog mom, daughter, sister and girlfriend. I love being physically active, D.I.Y., being outdoors, and staying busy.

What I Do: I am an LEJA. undergraduate (2012), a current LEJA graduate student, and WIU employee.

Why I Love WIU: I love WIU because it has provided me with opportunities and relationships that are invaluable. I've met many great people, some who have become my best friends and are considered family. The WIU community is similar to the small town where I was raised because of all of the friendly faces and the many people who are always ready to go out of their way for someone else. WIU has felt like home since move-in day in 2009 at Thompson Hall and that feeling still resonates today.

Since working for the University's police department, I have met many more great people and have built relationships that would have never been possible, without the shared interest and love for WIU.

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Who I Am: Krystal Scott. I am a police officer at the WIU police department, and I graduated with a bachelor's degree in LEJA from Western. I am originally from a south suburb of Chicago.

What I Do: I am a Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) instructor for women in this community and an arrest and control tactics instructor for WIU police officers. I worked as a detective for WIU OPS for a year and was involved in the sexual assault crime task force with Macomb city police detectives.

Why I Love WIU: WIU has been my second home for the past 11 years through education and occupation. I love WIU because of the supportive professors, staff members, co-workers and friends.

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Who I Am: McKenzie Taylor. I grew up in Magnolia, Illinois. I am a wife, mom, daughter, sister and aunt. I love being outside and spending time with my family. I graduated from WIU in 2010 with my undergraduate degree in LEJA.

What I Do: I have been a police officer with WIU since 2012.

Why I Love WIU: Western provided it me with an education from the widely respected LEJA program and that degree allows me to do what I love every day. The WIU community has always been so welcoming, and I look forward to watching my children grow up with Macomb as the backdrop.

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Who I Am: Sarah Worthington. I was raised in Chatham, Illinois. I am a wife and mother of one son (and another on the way in August). I am passionate about spending quality time with my family and friends. In my free time, I love running, cooking, yard work, watching the St. Louis Cardinals and just staying busy!

What I Do: I am a proud graduate of WIU (LEJA program - 2005). I was hired as a police officer for the Office of Public Safety in 2006. I have been working in the Investigations Division for the past three years.

Why I Love WIU: I love Western for all of the opportunities it has provided: a wonderful education, a scholarship as a student-athlete for the cross country/track and field program, meeting my husband during a management class and allowing me to proudly serve the WIU community for the past 10 years throughout my career. I enjoy the small town atmosphere and all the friendly faces of the community I now call home!