Lingenfelter - 2009 Top Cop for APD

Peace Officer of the Year:
Michelle Lingenfelter thanks her fellow officers and Anderson Police Chief Dale Webb.

Officer Michelle Lingenfelter of the Anderson Police Department was one of eight officers honored at the 36th annual Peace Officer of the Year awards on Thursday. The luncheon banquet was sponsored by the Redding Exchange Club at Win-River Casino.

The awards banquet "continues to underscore how lucky we are ... for those officers who make Shasta County so safe," Exchange Club banquet co-chairman David Schoffner said.

Lingenfelter works as the APD's school resource officer primarily for Anderson Union High School and Anderson Middle School.

"I'm working with kids a lot," Lingenfelter said. "For the most part, the younger kids are comfortable with an officer but they get more standoffish as they get older."

"She handles any criminal activity that occurs on campus and counsels at-risk kids," APD Chief Dale Webb said, adding that the position also builds positive relationships between students and officers. "Kids get to see a police officer as a human being rather than someone who's getting after them."

Regarding the challenges at her job, Lingenfelter said she found substance abuse, especially marijuana usage, has increased over previous years. She also works to combat bullying, fighting and works with students to halt cyber-bullying.

"She has shown extreme commitment and dedication to the Anderson area schools she serves," Webb said. "Officer Lingenfelter was recognized by Region 2 of the California League of Middle Schools as Citizen of the Year for 2008."

"Everybody in the department deserves credit," Lingenfelter said, emphasizing help she received from Detective Regina Collier. "Detective Collier taught me everything about investigations."

A 1991 graduate of Red Bluff High School, Lingenfelter began her career as a firefighter for Cal Fire. After graduating from police academie at Butte College, she worked at both Shasta and Tehama County Sheriff's Offices. She joined the APD in 2006.

"She has always been interested in law enforcement," said Karen Limon, Lingenfelter's mother. "She always went around helping people from when she was little."

Funding for the school resource officer is split equally by AUHS, AMS and the City of Anderson, Webb said.