City Clerk Cindy Niemeier swears in Maria Fell.
CHENEY- A local advocate for community engagement and now an active member of law enforcement, Maria Fell was sworn into the Cheney Police Department (CPD) last Wednesday and is prepared to protect and serve the community that formed her passion for public service.
"My experience goes back with the city of Cheney-I started in 2009 working part time as a clerk for the Cheney Municipal Court," Fell said. "I didn't know what I wanted to do and while I was working at the court I became passionate about criminal justice."
Fell followed her passion in academics majoring in criminal justice at Eastern Washington University.
Her experience studying and working in the justice system led her to the Spokane County District Court, where she continued as a clerk.
Fell said it wasn't until a detective recruited her to work at the Eastern Washington University Police Department that she realized the office wasn't where she wanted to be.
"There was something about it that was like 'I need to be doing more than just paperwork,'" she said. "I'm so excited. Law enforcement is where I want to be."
As a new hire, Fell will train with four training officers over a four-month period where they will grade her performance as a patrol officer and give the feedback that will shape her into the CPD member Cheney needs.
Cheney Police Chief John Hensley said Fell was hiding under their noses and thinks she's an excellent fit for the small town police department.
"She was a diamond we found in our own neighborhood. She's experienced, a college graduate, local and shares my philosophy on public safety services," he said. "We saw her application and easily began to process her."
After her hiring, Fell will begin a training program that will allow her to start her formal work as a member of the CPD.
Hensley is confident that Fell will be successful in her training and her passion for public service.
"She'll be going through a 16-week training program and when she completes that she'll be assigned to a patrol beat," Hensley said. "She has all the characteristics and attributes we're looking for in a police officer today. She's a good communicator and approachable- people like her and that's important."
Michaela is a former newsroom intern at the Cheney Free Press. She covered stories on education, city government, cops/courts/fire departments and local businesses.
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