Canton Detective One of Few Danish Officers Serving in U.S.

Editor’s note: the following is the first in a series submitted by the Canton Police Department

Officer Spotlight: Detective Dennis Hansen

Though born in Chicago, Detective Hansen spent most of his first 28 years in Denmark. It was there his enthusiasm for law enforcement emerged. Upon researching universities with such a career in mind, he found Kennesaw State University. Impressed with what they had to offer, Detective Hansen embarked on a journey to the United States to complete his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the highly regarded KSU.

He then enrolled in the Police Pre-Service Training Program at Reinhardt University where he secured his P.O.S.T. (Peace Officers Standards and Training Council) certification. Finally, Detective Hansen completed the rigorous application process with Canton Police Department where he became an officer in 2010. He holds the distinction of being a select few Danish officers serving in the United States.

When asked to describe the best part of being a police officer, Detective Hansen replied, “It would be the diversity of the job and the ability to help people. Canton is a very diverse socio-economic city and the work involves something new and different everyday.”

Detective Hansen enjoys spending his spare time with fitness activities, keeping him strong for the job’s demands. Additional interests include target shooting, a great meal with friends and the occasional movie. He is a voracious reader and is generally found absorbing work-related or self-improvement materials in the hopes of reaching his personal goal of becoming the best detective in Canton one day.

Hansen’s safety tip to residents: When parking away from home be sure to choose a well-lit spot. Keep in mind you may be arriving in daylight hours but returning to your car after dark. Always secure valuables in your trunk or out of view and lock all doors.