Deputy Jimmie Sturdivant loves his job. He said his positive outlook on life and work has led him to 25 years in law enforcement.

Before his career in law enforcement began, he served nine years in the Army. However, after a conversation with a mentor, he looked into becoming a police officer.

Sturdivant started as a dispatcher, then served 13 years with the Selma Police Department and later moved to the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office where we currently serves.

He said knowing that he is caring for others is the main thing keeps that him going to work everyday.

“We have a lot of people out there scared of the activities that are happening now,” he said.

According to Sturdivant, being able to help someone and provide counseling are great aspects of the job.

“The most rewarding part is knowing that people know that you really care for them, and that you’re there for them,” he said.

Sturdivant said because of effective communication, his relationship with the public is good and he rarely runs into any problems. He said his love of people and his love for his job has helped him throughout his 25 years of service.

“You have to be a people person and if you’re not, the job can be kind of rough,” he said.

A father of four girls, Sturdivant said he is blessed to have had leadership that has allowed him to still be able to be there and spend time with his girls while they were growing up.

“I would always have supervisors who would give you that opportunity to take time off and spend time with your family,” he said.

Even though he loves his job, Sturdivant said he is looking forward to retirement and a more quiet life living out his other passion of being outdoors and helping people in other ways.