Search
Search
News
Multimedia
Sports
Arts & Entertainment
Opinion
Subscribe
Life & Times
Fine Arts
Features
Send a News Tip
100 Years
Donate
Advertise

Subscribeto The Echo

The Echo

Sunday, February 28, 2021 Print Edition

Donate

  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Life & Times
  • Features
  • Fine Arts
  • Multimedia
  • 100 Years
  • Advertise
  • Send a Tip
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Life & Times
  • Features
  • Fine Arts
  • Multimedia
  • 100 Years
  • Advertise
  • Send a News Tip
Search

Subscribe

Subscribe to The Echo

The Echo aims to represent the views of diverse voices on Taylor University's campus fairly and without bias and to be a vehicle of accurate and pertinent information to the student body. The Echo also aims to be a forum that fosters healthy discussion about relevant issues, acting as a catalyst for change on our campus.

Fill out my online form.

3/5/2020, 8:00am

Watch for new badges and new faces

Taylor welcomes two new police officers

By Madi Turpin
Watch for new badges and new faces
Officers Lauren Yeakle and Samuel Fowler want to serve the Taylor community to the best of their abilities.

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Mail
  • Print

Keep a lookout for the new faces of officers Lauren Yeakle and Samuel Fowler, who joined the Taylor University Police Department this semester.  

Yeakle has worked as a police officer for over a year, and Fowler has worked for the sheriff’s department since September 2018. Yeakle originally worked for the Marion Police Department but was encouraged by some of her fellow officers to apply to Taylor.

“In Marion, there’s a lot of stuff you see and deal with,” Yeakle said. “Where (Fowler) and I come from, people don’t typically wave at you. They look the other way or say really nasty things.”

Yeakle discovered that Taylor’s community was much different. After her 2-year-old daughter, Kori, encountered some health issues, Yeakle began to debate her call to law enforcement. She said she found a family in the community and people would come to her just to chat or check up on her daughter.  

She found out about the position at Taylor and stayed in contact with Chief of Police Jeff Wallace, deciding that if she were offered the position, she was called to stay. If not, Yeakle figured she would close the door to serving in law enforcement.

Fowler discovered Taylor after Yeakle suggested him for the position. He had already been working at a probation department in Grant County when an influential coworker of his, Carla Smith, told him he was good at talking to people. She encouraged him to be in law enforcement.

“I still wanted to serve and continue using my training,” Fowler said. “The cool thing about (working at Taylor) is that it’s not so much your typical law enforcement atmosphere.”

Fowler noted that Taylor is very relational. He appreciates being able to connect with students and particularly enjoys working for Wallace.

According to Fowler, the atmosphere, staff and department make the campus extremely welcoming.

“Jeff displays good relationships in his line of work and with students,” Fowler said. “Every day is odd working here because everybody smiles at you, and it’s not trying to plot on me — it’s genuine and welcoming.”

Wallace believes that while both officers are more than qualified to carry out the job, they also want to engage in the community.

Wallace said one of the biggest things he looks for when hiring staff is how they connect with the community. He said Yeakle and Fowler expressed that Taylor was something unique, but credits the atmosphere to God.

“If God can allow me to be in this role and have all the impact on our students’ lives, He gets all the glory, not us,” Wallace said. “God can work through anybody in any kind of uniform.”

Yeakle said she is extremely grateful for the family she has in the Upland community. As an Upland native herself, she already felt the connection with the people. She has been passionate about law enforcement since her time in the Army and pursued police work when her daughter was four years old.

Yeakle said she originally went to school for nursing, but felt called to return to law enforcement. She knows now that her opportunity here was God’s way of telling her to serve where she was planted.

After relentless praying, Yeakle said she feels cared for by the community; however, she wants people to recognize that the care is reciprocated.

“I want people to realize that there’s a heart behind the badge,” Yeakle said. “Yes, we’re law enforcement officers, and when things get crazy here we’re going to run and do our jobs, but I’m also a mom and have feelings and emotions.”

Similarly, Fowler said just being able to converse with individuals will make all the difference. He desires to meet people where they’re at, even if he’s not on guard, and wants those in the Taylor community to feel welcome to talk with him about anything.

Yeakle, who also has a five-year-old son, Easton, typically works Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends. Fowler usually works weekends as well and resides in Grant County. Both officers said they are on campus whenever Wallace calls them in.

Wallace looks forward to the unique ways both individuals will contribute to the department and Taylor as a whole.

“Law enforcement can be a difficult job, even if we do everything right,” Wallace said. “Students should feel free to engage with us in conversation, even just to say hi. I want that to be what we’re about.”


Share



Related Stories

Sue Gavin Picture.png

Passing of Sue Gavin

By Madi Turpin

SAs are assigned to each apartment and residence hall. They meet once a week in the DC.

Preserving God's green earth

By Ansley Kary

Chief of Police Jeff Wallace aims to establish a safe community.

TU addresses security

By Kipp Miller and Madi Turpin


Most Popular


2/22/2021, 7:00am

“Evermore” album cements new era of Taylor Swift's music

By Holly Gaskill

Reviewing the surprise sequel album


2/22/2021, 7:00am

Is social media censorship legal?


2/22/2021, 7:00am

How Taylor celebrates MLK Jr. Day


2/22/2021, 7:00am

Study abroad programs prioritize student safety


The Echo To Homepage
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Covers
  • Awards
  • Get Involved

All Rights Reserved

© Copyright 2021 The Echo

Powered by
Solutions by The State News.

Taylor University