5 questions with Bobby Elmore

Editor’s note: The Purcell Register is continuing its feature in which civic leaders and others will answer five questions. The following were answered by Purcell Chief of Police Bobby Elmore.

Q: How did you get into law enforcement?

A: I was hired as a jailer for McClain County Jail in the mid 1990’s when I was just 18-years-old. The sheriff at the time was Andy Anderson whom I very much looked up to. I don’t remember any type of recruitment for deputies back in that day because Sheriff Anderson always pulled the hard workers from the jail. If you did your time in the jail, and were a highly motivated individual it was likely you’d get a chance to move up as a deputy sheriff. Sheriff Anderson removed me from the jail when I turned 21 years old where I started my career as a Deputy Sheriff/K-9 Unit.

Q: What is the favorite part of your job? 

A: I would have to say the people that I’ve had the pleasure to work with throughout the years. These are the people who have your back day in and day out. We come to work and strive to help people to the best of our ability. These are the people who truly understand the strains and stresses of this profession.

 Q: What is the most challenging part of your job? 

A: Police officers try their best to help resolve whatever troubles that somebody may be having, but sometimes it’s difficult because we are limited on what advice to give or our involvement in matters that are civil and not criminal in nature. The police are expected to have the answer to all problems it seems.  We would like to be able to solve everyone’s problems, but that’s just not realistic. The stress of dealing with everyone else’s stresses can be challenging in the long run. We deal with people at their worse and must learn to cope with these stresses which can prove difficult.

Q: What are the challenges for you as a police officer now that you are the Chief?

A: I would say recruitment is the biggest challenge right now. Police agencies are not getting the amount of applications they once did. It seems that the police, as a whole, are being demonized due to the actions of a few. If you pay attention to the media it doesn’t take long to realize that the support just isn’t there anymore for a lot of agencies. It’s very difficult to find the right person to be a police officer.  The liability aspect of hiring someone as a police officer weighs on my mind all the time. We only want what’s the best for this community.   I feel very lucky to be a part of this community that very much supports our law enforcement. 

Q: What do you do in your leisure time?

A: Going to the gym. I push myself everyday with a goal of maintaining physical fitness. I believe that regular physical activity helps tremendously with your well being and daily stresses.