Clarion University senior Valarie Mayhew says she had a life-altering experience back in fifth grade.
“There was a career day and I thought all of them were really, really boring. Then I came to the cop station and they let me sit in the driver’s seat of a patrol car and I thought that was cool,” said Mayhew, who is from Clarion.
Today, Mayhew is an intern with the Clarion County sheriff’s office, a part-time corrections officer at the Clarion County jail and a volunteer firefighter with Clarion Fire and Hose Co. Number 1.
“It was a series of events in my life that pushed me toward being a cop,” she said.
One major influence was Brookville police Chief Vince Markle.
“He was an officer I looked up to,” she said.
Mayhew has had some unique experiences at the sheriff’s department.
“She was fortunate to witness a capital case trial,” said Sheriff Rex Munsee. “There is always something going on here but I think this is the first intern I have had to sit in on a capital case.”
Mayhew was in the courtroom last week for the trial of two men accused of drug delivery resulting in death.
“I thought it was very interesting,” she said. “I learned a lot about how the court functions. I enjoyed watching how the attorneys interact with juries. In court I saw the defendants at their best behavior. It is different than what you see at the jail.”
She also learned the deputy’s duties.
“I have learned a lot here. I have learned about being a bailiff, prisoner transports, tax papers, how to serve a bench warrant and about the court system,” Mayhew said.
Her employment at the jail came about almost by coincidence.
“Sheriff Munsee told me they were hiring so I put in an application and when we were doing prisoner transports one day I dropped off my application,” she said. “I had an interview on the spot and I was hired part-time.”
“I think the most valuable thing I have learned here is communication and listening. I have learned to look at all aspects of a situation before acting,” said Mayhew.
“I have had a very good relationship with Clarion University,” Munsee said. “The interns often help us shred old records and sometimes they get to go out and do things like serving bench warrants and other papers. We do not expose them to anything dangerous.”
“We also teach them tactical awareness like how to stand. There is more to handling prisoners than just walking with them,” Munsee said. “Valarie asks a lot of questions and wants to learn. We have enjoyed having her around.”
Mayhew has her career planned.
“My plans are to complete the Act 120 training in January. Then I want to become a municipal police officer or deputy and, eventually, become a state trooper,” she said.
That fits with Munsee’s intern program.
“At least three of my interns have gone on to become state troopers,” he said. “Valarie may be the fourth.”