by Tammy Johnson
tjohnson@cherryroad.com
Law Enforcement has long been a male-dominated profession. The women of the McPherson Police Department are challenging that notion.
Lt. Ayeshah McFall, Sgt. Leslie Caballero, Sgt. Katie Conn, and Det. Jessica Dirks have all risen among the ranks of the department and are vital members of the team.
Sgt. Caballero is the first Drug Recognition Expert for the McPherson Police Department and is the department’s first female SWAT Officer. She is a Field Training Officer responsible for teaching newly graduated officers how to perform their duties.
From an early age, Caballero was aware of her desire to help others. In June 2018, she achieved that dream by joining the McPherson Police Department as an officer.
“I’ve always felt a calling to serving and protecting people, and what better way to make a difference? Not only in society but in someone else’s life, which is why I choose to be a police officer,” Caballero said. “I thrive off the daily interaction that I get to have with individuals every day during their ups and downs. I love giving back to society and being a police officer has given my life a purpose and great satisfaction by being a public servant. I find this job to be very motivating and satisfying, no matter what the day brings.”
The most surprising aspect of becoming a police officer, according to Caballero, is realizing the difference she can make in someone’s life by interacting positively with them. She stresses that establishing trust with people and the public may be accomplished in large part by fostering meaningful relationships.
“It’s important to make every interaction count and make the very best out of dealing with citizens who have had a bad encounter with police,” Caballero said. “Building positive relationships and establishing trust with people is the foundation when responding to a call and interacting with others so that people know that we are there to help them out.”
Caballero notes that although she has been instructed in the proper procedures for carrying out her duties as an officer, each day is unique, and she is constantly learning new things.
The main challenge Caballero has encountered, according to her, is the general impression of her as a woman in a field that is predominately male. She continued by saying that some residents have shied away from talking to her because she is a woman.
“Only by being able to communicate with them and interact with citizens in a positive light have I been able to change their misconceptions,” she said.
She commended the leadership in the department for helping new officers become the best asset to the community they can.
Lt. McFall is the first female Lieutenant in the history of the McPherson Police Department. She is the Team Leader for the Crisis Negotiations Team which responds to incidents to communicate with individuals who may have been involved with a crime, having a mental or behavioral health crisis, and tries to resolve issues calmly without injury.
McFall has obtained several firsts in the McPherson Police Department. She was the first female Detective Sergeant and team leader for Crisis Negotiations as well as the first female lieutenant.
Her father was an officer in a small town and a military police officer, which inspired McFall to follow in his footsteps.
“I always wanted to be in something I could help people,” she said. “We are there to help during people’s worst times, and helping people through that is what I’ve always wanted.”
McFall became Crisis Negotiations Team Leader in 2019 and has a perfect record for resolving issues peacefully.
She wants to continue the upward track in the department and eventually become captain. When McFall joined the McPherson Police Department there were only two other female officers.
“It was an uphill battle, but it is a very accepting department,” said McFall.
McFall credits her negotiations success, in part, to being a woman.
“Men tend to get defensive with other men, but generally calm down when speaking to a woman,” she said. “It may have something to do with we, as people being taught to respect our mothers.”
Sgt. Conn has run the department’s social media for the past two years, highlighting events, important information, and keeping the community up to date with department information. She serves as a Warrant Officer in the United States Army National Guard as a Blackhawk pilot. Conn is currently deployed until 2025. As a pilot, she leads the department’s UAS Drone program. She is an Assistant Team Leader for the McPherson Police Department’s Color Guard. Conn comes to McPherson from the Salina Police Department.
Det. Dirks is the McPherson Crime Stoppers Coordinator. She ensures all programs are working properly and follows up leads on local crimes. Dirks is responsible for updating the Crime Stoppers social media. She is a Crisis Negotiator and Critical Incident Stress Management Team Leader. Dirks comes to the McPherson Police department from the McPherson County Sheriff’s Office.
