Page 24 - Lubbock Senior Link Magazine Summer 2022 - Online Magazine

ROY BASSETT
Police Officers
ARE
PEOPLE, TOO!
t was 1987. I had just graduated
from Texas Tech and had no
Idirection and few prospects
for a job. I was looking at the
help wanted ads, hoping to find
something that would enable me
at least to stop borrowing money
from Mom and Dad. I will never
forget the LPD ad that jumped off
the page. "Drive our company car
and make almost $19,000 a year!"
I thought to myself, "How in the
24 Lubbock Senior Link
by Roy Bassett
world will I ever spend all Due to her incredible courage in a
that money!" horrible situation, we were able to
identify and arrest the suspect. That
Nobody with any sense was especially rewarding because
goes into this job for the he turned out to be a serial rapist.
money, but I was raised with That monster is still incarcerated 28
a strong sense of right and years later.
wrong and standing up for
those who can't stand up It was also an honor to serve on
for themselves. I enjoyed the committee to lobby for creating
being part of a team. Plus, it an Advocacy Center. At that
sounded exciting! I thought time, children who were victims
I would give it a try for a of crimes were often forced to
few years until I figured out tell their stories over and over to
what I wanted to do with my detectives who were far more suited
life. Turns out, this is what for interviewing adult suspects. I
I wanted to do! February 2, spoke to many civic groups and
2022, marked 35 years since I local politicians to champion the
began my career. project. Eventually, the Advocacy
Center provided a place where
There have been some children would be interviewed by
rewarding moments. In specially trained individuals and
1994, I was working as a Detective
in Juvenile Crimes. We got a call receive trauma counseling.
that a young lady had just told the During the 10½ years I worked
school counselor that she had been in Juvenile Crimes, I investigated
abducted on the way to school, many infant deaths. Most of them
taken to an unknown residence, were SIDS, accidents, or something
and sexually assaulted. My Sgt. other than malicious intent. I also
and I went to interview her. She served several years on the Child
gave a very detailed description of Fatality Review Team, which meets
what happened. In fact, every detail once a month to review death
she gave turned out to be spot on! reports on the death of every child