There's nothing quite as comforting as having a police officer on speed dial. But that's just the kind of officer – and friend – that JP Roberts, 45, is. For the past 21 years, JP has protected us from the bad guys and gals. And his outreach into the community reflects his passion for making Paducah safer – and better – for all of us.JP Roberts, you are cute, cute, cute, no doubt about it! How are you with those handcuffs?
Uh-oh. Uh-oh.
Just kidding. You've probably never heard that one before.
Yeah, well….
So are you from around here?
Yes, I am a hometown boy, born and raised here.
In fact, you're a local football hero!
I was a member of the 1980 4A State Championship Blue Tornado football team and a three year letterer. Back then, Tilghman was just a three year high school.
When did you graduate?1981.
What inspired you to go into law enforcement?
I decided the business world was not for me. I wanted to do something that would give me more of a challenge. A family member who was in law enforcement talked me into taking a look at the job.
How did you get started?
I became a Paducah Auxiliary Police Officer in 1987. And then I went to work for the McCracken County Jail as a Deputy in 1988 while working a business. I began my Paducah Police career in 1990.
Was the jail stinky?
I worked for Jailer Joe Childs during the late 1980s as a deputy jailer. It was before the new jail – talk about a rough place. The old jail had walls three feet thick and lots of bars. It was a hole in the wall compared to today's jail.
What has been your most memorable bust?Actually, there are several but I think it was the first time I seized a pound of marijuana while on a traffic stop. It’s not something you run across every day.
Hum, I would have thought your most memorable bust was the rubber duckie bandit of LowerTown.
Yes, and I did figure out the perpetrator, but I never could get the goods on him to prove it. That case was not all it was quacked up to be!
Hah! OK, so I've always wondered this: When y'all pull us over for speeding, why does it take so long? I mean, clearly, we're already late, otherwise we wouldn't be speeding.
I know it seems like a long time, but on average it is probably no more than 15 minutes. It takes time to get information checks back even with the speed of today’s computers systems.
Well, OK, but when you do that, you make us even more late….
Sorry. But don't speed.
Aren't traffic stops so scary, anyway? You never know what you're going to find when you walk up to someone's window.
Exactly. You never know who or what might happen. It's not only the car we have stopped but the ones that are driving by that we have to watch out for, too. Many officers are killed by rubberneckers – they're run over by passing cars.
Oh, wow. OK, no more speeding! Hey, so were you involved with the Clinton visit last weekend?
I was not involved in this one, but I have been assigned to previous presidential visits. Everything is hush-hush and top secret until the last minute. It is very boring for the most part because you spend a lot of time standing around waiting for them to arrive. Once they are here, it's over pretty quick.
Except for the time President Clinton spent the night at the Big E. I stood guard down the hallway with a secret service agent all night. I was only 30 feet away from the door, and that’s as close as I got to him.
So what's a typical day like for you? Do you just wake up, guns-a-blazin'?
Fortunately, it's not like that, although television has given people that impression. Most days are just routine for police officers. But then something can happen and everything goes crazy.
We spend a lot of time on paperwork, reports, occasionally a traffic citation or to serve a warrant. We spend a lot of time giving people advice. Listening is a great skill to have.
JP, what is wrong with folks? Every day, y'all are having to arrest someone.
I don’t think people are bad, or at least not instinctively. I think there are a lot of reasons people do bad things, and if you look deep enough, you will find them. I believe there are people in this world who just do not have a conscience and do not feel guilt or shame. Therefore they can ignore, justify or block out their emotions so it doesn’t really bother them. How else could they do horrible things and feel no remorse?
Does jail make a difference?
I don’t think prisons do much to rehabilitate anyone, and just locking people up doesn’t solve the problem. I am not sure what the answer is because I think it is very hard for people to change. If a person has the right motivation to change, they will.
I think one thing I would do is to stop creating more laws to deal with our problems and start enforcing the ones we already have. The answer to this one is very complicated.
What do you love about law enforcement?
Every day is different, and there is always something interesting to see. Just when you think you have seen it all, something comes along that you couldn’t have predicted.
Have you had any close calls?
I have been involved in scuffles, cars chases and some scary situations. I guess searching for the bad guys in the dark is probably the worst thing I have done. You know they're in the building, dark alley or woods, and it's your job to go find them. Not something you like to do!
Why retire now?
I have been privileged to serve the community in so many different ways, and the police department has opened a lot of doors for me. I have made so many wonderful friends who have been so supportive. I have gone through my share of ups and downs, but overall my life is blessed.
It was not an easy decision to retire, but sometimes your path in life takes a turn and I guess that is where I am at now. My path is going in a different direction and I am eager to see where it goes.
What are your immediate plans?
I am going to take a little adventure or odyssey to tour America. I am going to spend some time driving through the back roads to see some areas of the country that I may never get another chance to. I will be driving west towards unknown destinations and go wherever the roads lead me.
I have set all of June aside for this trip and don’t plan on wearing a watch. I think this is just what I need and will help me to prepare for the changes ahead. When I return, I will enjoy most of the summer off and some time in the fall I will begin a second career in the private sector.
That is so very Jack Kerouac! Are you going to write a book?I have no plans for a book but I am going to blog my trip on a MySpace page. My family and friends will be able to follow my adventures across the country.
Is your son going with you?
My son is going to be spending time with his mother and other family members. He doesn’t want to go – and I understand because it’s a lot of driving. He is almost 14 and is busy with his artwork and spends a lot of time with church activities. He likes to write sci-fi stories and is really into the arts. He paints and draws all the time. He has been in the Gifted and Talented Artistic program through school. We are very close, although he is starting to branch out like all teenagers do.
So now you're recently single.
Yes.
Would you date another police officer? It’s funny because I almost had to make this decision several years ago. I hate to rule anything out, but knowing the demands of the job and how hard it is on marriages – I would have to say, no.
What if she were super hot like Angie Dickenson? Remember Pepper?
How could you forget her! OK, maybe!
Which famous police officer do you most closely identify with? I bet it's Dirty Harry.
Well, I have never thought about it, but I guess I am more like Sheriff Andy Taylor. He always seemed to look further than the surface and tried to do the right thing. He is just a good person who tried to find the best in people.
Andy Taylor was hot, too! So speaking of doing the right thing, tell us about your work on the Merryman House Domestic Crisis Center board. Why is this organization so important? Serving on the board of directors has been an honor and it has really helped bridge the communication gap between the center and the police department. Our board is full of wonderful people who work hard to help others. Merryman House provides a place of sanctuary to battered and abused women and men. It has changed lives for so many families and is an irreplaceable asset to the community.
And you're joining some other boards?
I have been approached to serve on a couple but can’t talk about them right now.
What else do you like to do in your free time?
I spend most of my time raising my son and taking care of my home. I enjoy movies, dinner out and spending time with friends.
Well JP Roberts, if I were ever arrested, God forbid, I'd want my officer to be as cute as you. Best wishes – and be safe out there!
