KAYSVILLE—From the time she walked into the 7-Eleven where her sister worked and talked to the cops there, Kaysville Problem-Oriented Policing (POP) Officer Alexis Benson has wanted to be a police officer. Benson has been with the department for six years.

“That was my first interaction,” she said. “I thought that was the coolest thing ever. In the sixth grade Tom Smart was the DARE Officer at my elementary school. He was so cool I really looked up to him so much. In that moment of my life I knew I wanted to be a police officer.”

Benson said she assumed she wouldn’t meet the requirements to become a police officer. “I thought I wasn’t tall enough or strong enough or big enough. Then I went to the Citizens Police Academy and one of the instructors said ‘I can see it in you. This could be a great career for you.’ I realized maybe I could be an officer.”

She went to the police academy and also worked full time. “I would do ride alongs and I fell in love with Kaysville and the people,” said Benson. “Chief (Sol) Oberg was so supportive of me. I knew there was no other place I wanted to be than here.”

Benson said she started in Layton and was there for a year and then came over to Kaysville. “I was a little bit intimidated but there were three other females so I realized it wasn’t so crazy that I wanted to be a cop. I had purple handcuffs to show the kids and I’d visit lemonade stands and people would come up and strike up a conversation with me. I’d tell the children they could be anything they wanted to be and showed them that women can do this job and we’re as helpful in this career as men are.”

There are some hard calls, she said. “When I go home I’m no longer a police officer. You have to leave it at the door. There are things your family may not want to hear. I figure to be a cop you can’t let the stress of the job affect your personal life.”

In certain situations like sexual assault cases, Benson said they might bring in a female officer. “A victim may not be comfortable with a manly cop. In that situation a woman can be more comforting than a male. We have a different set of skills that we can offer.”

Working with the other officers, Benson said she realized she can stand her own ground. “They’re confident to have me back them up. I don’t feel I’m being disrespected because I’m female. If I’m in charge of a scene and people we’re talking to look to the male officer, he will turn to me. We’re all really supportive of each other. We don’t let pride get in the way.”

Kaysville Police POP (Problem Oriented Policing) Officer Alexis Benson with a little fireman. Part of Benson’s duties with the Department is community engagement. Courtesy Photo

Benson said she was on patrol for two years. “I was adamant that I wanted to be a K-9 officer. “POP came up at the same time, but I had in my head that K-9 is what I wanted to do. Another female officer pulled me aside and said POP deals with community engagement and she thought that would be a better fit for me.”

She ended up not even putting in for K-9. “This has been so much fun. It's a four to five year position then I’ll go back to patrol. It’s given me the opportunity to learn and grow in my career and I’m super grateful for that.”

Benson said her next goal is to become a sergeant. “Most people who get into this career do it because they want to serve other people. I want to be a leader and role model to my coworkers and succeed in this career.”

At first, Benson said her family struggled with her career choice. “They didn’t think I should be an officer. They were afraid for my safety. I had to find my voice and gain confidence to be a better version of me. Now they’re very supportive and very proud to have a daughter as a police officer.”

Chief Oberg and her sister have been her biggest cheerleaders, she said. “He doesn’t care about gender or ethnicity just if you’re a good officer. We all get along really well. It’s fun to have other female officers to work with.”

It’s such a fun career, said Benson. “I can’t imagine doing anything else. I’ve followed through with my dreams. I’m happy with where I’m at.”