Profile: Officer Tim Mais
Intro,
My name is Tim Mais and I have been a police officer since 2017. I grew up in the Kansas City Metro area, enlisted in the Kansas National Guard in 2014 as an engineer, and later joined the Leawood Kansas Police Department in 2017. In 2021, my wife and I moved to Texas where I joined the Waco Police Department.
From my perspective, what is it like to be a police officer.
Working as a police officer is certainly the most interesting job I have ever had. It is a window into the community that most don't get to see as we are there for everyone's "worst day". I have found law enforcement to be an amazing opportunity to serve others while also improving and challenging myself. Every call we go on can be broken down into a problem needing a solution. Some calls only require a mediator, and some require significant risk. You never know which one you have to be but that is also why I find to be so interesting.
What is your favorite part of the job?
I have worked patrol since I have joined law enforcement but have a strong desire to see "the end" of each call I go on. I have been fortunate enough to have taken part in each aspect of that process. There is often a call or situation that I latch onto and keep digging until it gets resolved. This usually entails follow-up investigation, traffic stops on particular addresses, and warrant services. It is extremely satisfying to respond to a house, develop a suspect, and work with community members to apprehend that suspect. Pulling into county jail with a suspect or driving by an abandoned drug house will likely always be the most satisfying part of the job.
Biggest struggles.
When I joined law enforcement, I was still in the National Guard and got married shortly after. In fact, I graduated from FTO the day before I got married. The job was a huge adjustment on top of everything else. In the beginning, I really struggled with bringing the stress home. I didn't know how to separate work life with home life. I am thankful to say I have a very supportive wife and church family. There will always be calls you can't just simply walk away from but with a strong support network it certainly gets easier over time.
What made you want to be a police officer?
I didn't grow up wanting to be in law enforcement. I actually always wanted to be in the military which I got a taste of in the guard. While my wife and I were dating, I applied on a whim and ended up falling in love with it pretty quickly and no longer pursued the military. The active lifestyle and everyday challenge has been a good fit for me.
Fourth of July question,
The fourth of July and New Years Eve are always eventful days to work. This Fourth of July (2023) in particular had more fires due to the drought so I got to play with the fire extinguishers a little bit. I openly admit putting out fires is fun and love watching the Fire Department work a structure fire as well. It is an incredible display of teamwork. The other side of working the fourth is the constant celebratory gunfire. It is extremely difficult to keep under control and when you do it is just a drop in the bucket. However, you still do what you can to help keep it to a minimum.
Memorable stories
Back in 2019 I was working during a rainstorm and was flagged down by a citizen saying there is a car a mile down stuck in a flooded road. I went to check on it and sure enough saw a small hatchback a couple hundred yards out with water up to the windows. I looked at it for a bit trying to figure out if anyone was inside before I decided to get soaking wet. I was able to see that it looked like there was at least one driver still in the car. I notified my dispatch and started yanking as many electronics off me as possible. After wading through the water, I found an elderly lady in the driver seat with water up to her chest. Also in the car was a box of donuts floating in the water. She said she was trying to take them to her daughter and thought her Kia would make it through. Well, we started walking back to my patrol car and she offered me one of her water-soaked donuts while we were still knee deep in water. I know we all love donuts, but flood water-soaked donuts just aren't for me!
Q: Are you happy where you are?
I am certainly happy in patrol as it is a calling for me but eventually would like to move to a criminal apprehension unit. As my wife and I begin having a family, I certainly wouldn't be surprised if my desires change.
The final question:
First, I would speak to someone thinking about joining law enforcement. If you feel like you are being called to be a police officer, jump right in. You will meet so many amazing people and will go through crazy experiences that most people will never get. You will learn how to be the calm in chaos when someone needs it most. I also would like to the everyday citizen. We need you. We need your support emotionally and we also need you when we are working our cases. We can't do this by ourselves. Without information or tips, someone's loved one may not get the justice they deserve.
God Bless,
Ofc. Tim Mais
