The following is a nomination from Sheriff Greg Funk of the Emery County police department:
I have yet to nominate one of my deputies for the Beyond the Badge recognition; however I believe all of them deserve it. I realize how important it is to take the time and let everyone know just how great these deputies are; one in particular, Deputy Kay Jensen. Deputy Jensen has been with the Emery County Sheriff’s Office for almost 22 years, prior to that he served on our fire department and has always been a prime example of a public servant. I’ve had dispatchers and deputies tell me how Deputy Jensen has helped them or they’ve witnessed him helping someone else. He is always the first to back up a fellow deputy or officer, he is often lending a hand to a friend or co-worker; and he is a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather.
I recently received a message from one of our citizens who wanted to acknowledge Deputy Jensen’s kindness. This citizen reported that a female was traveling through one of our towns without any money or food; her husband, a United States Marine, had been killed in action and she was alone. The female was traveling for a job opportunity that she unfortunately didn’t receive and was trying to reach an airport. Deputy Jensen responded to assist the female; he made arrangements to get her a bus ticket to the closest town that she could fly out from. Deputy Jensen pointed the female in the direction of the closest restaurant for her to get something to eat. The female explained that she was unable to get anything, without hesitation Deputy Jensen opened his wallet and gave the woman all the cash he had. The woman began to cry stating she couldn’t take the money; Deputy Jensen put the money in the backpack the woman was carrying and told her to get something to eat and to think of only good things. Deputy Jensen realizing the citizen had witnessed the interaction humbly stated that the woman needed to eat more than he did. This citizen pointed out that after as many years as Deputy Jensen has been working with the public he has not lost his ability to see someone in need and to give personally. This citizen went on to exclaim how he displayed one heck of an act of charity.
One of my favorite things about this story is that had I not received this message I would have never known what Kay had done. Deputy Jensen didn’t do it for the accolades or to portray any kind of image. This is who he is to his core; he did this because it is right. I know Deputy Jensen and had he not been wearing a badge that day he would have done the same thing.
Our deputies do not do this job for the pay and it isn’t for the recognition, it is because at the end of the day they want to have helped someone. Whether that is protecting our citizens by taking a dangerous person off of the streets or giving what you have to someone who has less; the deputies and officers we work with on a daily basis are in this job because they share the same core values.