People Profile: Woman Serves Community in Dual Roles as Romeoville Detective and RHS Resource Officer

Kelley Henson may reside in Joliet, but her heart, it seems, belongs to Romeoville. She is a detective with the and also serves as the school resource officer at .

Law enforcement is clearly a family affair. Henson’s husband, Jason, works for the Shorewood Police Department, and her father, Donn Kaminski, is the deputy chief for the Braidwood Police Department.

Henson joined the Romeoville Police Department in 1998. Before advancing to her current roles, she worked in patrol for 10 years and served as a field training officer and a full-time training officer. Last year, she was recognized as the 2010 Romeoville Police Department Officer of the Year.

The Hensons have three children: Matthew, 10; Nathan, 8; and Kayla, 5.

Patch recently had the opportunity to get to know Henson a little better. Here, she shares about her passion for serving the community through her career in law enforcement.

Patch: You used to be a journalist. How did you become interested in law enforcement? What made you want to become a police officer?

Kelley Henson: My major at Briar Cliff University was broadcast journalism with an emphasis in writing. I had a passion for being in front of the camera. After graduation, I searched nine months for any job in the broadcast journalism field with no luck. I fell back on my writing and photography skills and applied for a small town newspaper in DeMotte, Indiana. I wrote for the Kankakee Valley Post for one year before working my way to the daily publication, the Rensselaer Republican.

[That] is where I met my wonderful husband. I loved my job, but worked many long hours, including a second and third job to pay the bills. The next year brought the death of a dear loved one. This made me want to move closer to home to be near my grieving family. Jason aspired to be a police officer and began taking police tests in Illinois, so I accompanied him.

As a reporter, I covered the police beat and became increasingly interested in police work. My father, a police officer for the past 22 years, also suggested I test to become a police officer. I took two tests and made number three on both lists. Within six months of testing, I accepted the Romeoville position thinking that if it did not work out, I could return to my roots of being a journalist. Thirteen years later, I’m still enjoying my career choice.

Patch: How did the fact that you come from a family of police officers impact your career choice?

Henson: The two most important men in my life are in law enforcement. They understand all the longs hours I put in at my demanding job. They both have stepped up and helped me in more ways than I could have ever imagined. In this line of work, it takes many loving and supportive family members, and I am surrounded by them.

Patch: What made you decide to become a school resource officer?

Henson: Sgt. Scott McLaughlin and former Romeoville SRO (now Joliet Officer) Demetris Anderson approached me and felt that I was best qualified to fill the role of SRO/detective at RHS. I talked at length with both of them regarding the schedule change and challenges of working with teenagers. I thought it would be challenging and a nice transition for my then 10-year career. It was a great choice!

Patch: What responsibilities does your role at the school involve? What school activities or events do you participate in?

Henson: I get open police cases assigned to me that directly are related to the school or involve students that attend Romeoville schools. Three years ago I comprised a team of RHS staff/student members to assist me in bringing the head-shaving St. Baldrick’s event to the school. My goal with this event was to bring all students together for one great cause. It’s very challenging, but it brings me closer to RHS staff and the students. Planning and participating in this event allows me to bond with the staff and students. I’ve made some great friends for life because of this great event.

I also participate in the Red Ribbon week, plan week-long activities with our traffic unit during prom week and assist the guidance office in a truancy program. Counselor Karen Preston arranges meetings with the struggling students and their parents. We place the students on a contract regarding their truancy history and track their progress. Last year, this program was 92 percent successful.

Patch: How is the presence of a school resource officer at RHS making a difference at the campus?

Henson: I try to make myself accessible to the students and staff for whenever they need me. The fact that they see me nearly every day makes it easier for them to come to me with any issue they may be having. I try to be visible in the hallways and in the cafeteria. Sometimes, just by being there, a student or staff member will find the courage to come and talk to me about an issue they may need help with. I try to be that “familiar face” and that “friend in law enforcement” when they need me.

Patch: What have you learned about teenagers since serving as the school liaison?

Henson: It takes time for them to trust you, and whenever possible, they will challenge you. The more you are around, the more they trust you. They also tell their friends about your interaction with them.  If you tell them what you expect of them regarding their behavior, most will rise to the occasion. For those who don’t, I may be forced to do my job. During any difficult time, I try to remain calm, consistent and firm with them and explain my position and role to them. Most want to hear what I have to say and respect me for that.

Patch: What impact do you hope to have on the students at RHS?

Henson: I hope they see my passion to help them and to be that positive role model to them.

Patch: In what ways can adults relate to young people and help them learn to make good choices?

Henson: I believe I answered this in a previous question. Further, I would say to lead by example. Tell them what you expect of them, and they will rise to the occasion. I believe that most of the troubled teenagers can be reached, taught or changed, but it takes time, patience, persistence and compassion. When mistakes are made, consequences must be implemented and enforced.

Patch: In addition to your work as a school resource officer, what other responsibilities does your work involve?

Henson: As a detective, I assist other detectives and officers with search warrants. I also obtain search warrants and go out on “call-outs” one week out of the month. I obtain arrest warrants and investigate crimes that are not directly linked to the schools.

Patch: What do you find most rewarding about being a school resource officer?

Henson: The RHS staff members are grateful to have any assistance I can offer them and are very passionate about teaching their students. Their attitudes are infectious and rejuvenate me.

Patch: What do you find most challenging about your work?

Henson: It has always been the long hours away from home. The hardest part of my job is finding the balance between my career and being a mother and wife.

Patch: How did you feel when you were named the 2010 Officer of the Year?

Henson: I was very humbled, since this honor usually comes from co-workers. I work with many amazing officers, all of whom could be named officer of the year every year.

Patch: How do you balance work and family commitments?

Henson: It is a juggling act! I would not be able to do it without the help of my mother, Janet Canady, my father, or my loving husband. I have great bosses who support the demands of being a mother to three young children, as well.

Patch: How do your children feel about having two parents who work in law enforcement?

Henson: They are proud of us and call us “heroes.”

Patch: How would you feel if your children said they wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement?

Henson: Nathan already talks of being a police officer. I have mixed feelings about this as a mother, but I will support my children in any career choice they make.