PORT TOWNSEND — After being sworn in as the city’s newest police officer earlier this month, Wendy Davis wondered what took her so long to make the move into law enforcement.
“When I look back, all of the things I’ve done in my life have prepared me for this, although it’s something that I never thought I’d do,” she said.
Davis worked in the hospitality industry “for decades” and in support of her husband’s contracting business, Brent Davis Construction, before joining the Jefferson County Prosecutor’s Office as a legal assistant in 2014.
“When I started at the prosecutor’s office, I noticed that the piece of the puzzle that would fit me more was law enforcement, so I started doing some ride-alongs,” Davis said.
“I thought there was no way this was a job. It was too much fun and made me feel like a little kid.”
As an entry level officer with no previous law enforcement experience, Davis will earn an annual salary between $54,000 and $57,000, according to Officer Patrick Fudally, department spokesman.
At 46, Davis could be twice the age of some new police recruits, but she has turned this into an advantage.
People who switch careers later in life can use their experience to enhance their job performance, Davis said. In her case, years in the hospitality industry has provided a strong background in customer service.
And customer service is a large part of police work.
“I come into this career with fresh eyes, as someone who is a community member,” Davis, who moved to Port Townsend in 1988, said.
“Living here and knowing a lot of people is an advantage as it makes public interactions more diplomatic and agreeable.”
Davis said she will eventually end up pulling over people she knows and will act professionally in those cases, “but if it gets too sticky, we’ll call in someone else to handle it.”
Since being sworn in Feb. 1, Davis has attended several local training sessions and must spend five months at the police academy in Burien before taking to the streets.
She has already attended reserve officer training school which she called “the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I’ve survived cancer [at age 31].”
While she is a regular weight lifter and passed the physical exam, she admits that she has a significant learning curve.
“I had never picked up a gun before the training,” she said.
Davis’ hire brings the department’s active duty roster to 14, which City Manager David Timmons said is still one short.
Davis and Sherry Erickson are the only two women on the force.
“I’m surprised there aren’t more women police officers here,” Davis said.
“It is a caretaker position, and women are generally thought of as caretakers.”
Davis has been confused with Wendy L. Davis who lost a close race for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s position in 2014.
“I got lots of ribbing when she was running,” Davis said. “[District Court] Judge [Jill] Landes used to refer to me as ‘not that Wendy Davis.’ ”
Davis is anxious to finish training and start working as a full-fledged officer.
“I’ve always been interested in work situations where I can help people, and I definitely have a call for service,” she said.
“This job feels like I will have more of a positive effect than any other time in my life.”
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
