Misty Reynolds
Lieutenant / Assistant Chief of Police
City of Coachella Police Department
Palm Desert, CA USA
“You've gotta do what scares you the most. Just find the thing that gives you a fire inside and focus on it.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationMisty Reynolds
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
Grew up with a father who was addicted to drugs and an extremely abusive stepmother, a woman who she believed to be her mother.
Says she got to the point where she was actually glad when her parents did drugs because "at least they left [her] alone."
As a child, she was always trying to run away, so she had a lot of contact with law enforcement, who always tried their best to help her.
At the age of 18, she packed up her things into a laundry basket, got into her car, and left home forever.
Decided to enter the police academy; no one there could intimidate her after what she'd been through as a child.
Says she went from "that laundry basket full of clothes to a really nice husband and a really nice house...it's surreal."
In 2013, her father passed away, and shortly afterwards, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
She initially got angry, then had a "pity party," then finally said, "I'm not going to be the victim my whole life"; now she does yoga, takes her illness one day at a time.
Education
High School
Career
Lieutenant / Assistant Chief of Police
I supervise peace officers.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Government
Law
Helping People
Day to Day
I am responsible for planning, scheduling, and coordinating the activities of the Police Department. I also supervise and / or manage subordinate supervisors, officers, and civilians on field and staff operations. Essentially, I am one of the frontlines of command; I pass orders from the top levels of command to the Police Sergeants, who in turn relay those orders to the Police Officers and Detectives down the line.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for everyone
At times people in your life will insert a negative mantra in your head. A mantra that says you will never be anyone or amount to anything. Rather than letting it consume you, use that to fuel your drive, motivation and passion.
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Myself:
"I have this badge and this gun now so no one is going to mess with me ever again. "
Challenges I Overcame
Drugs / Addiction
Physical Issues
Gangs / Violence
Interviewed By
Ready to Rise
Confronting systemic barriers to success
