| Senior Trooper Peggy Bishop |
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| Striking a Balance... |
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Senior Trooper Peggy Bishop
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Impressed with Law Enforcement at a Young Age
Even though Trooper Peggy Bishop didn't have any family members in law enforcement as she was growing up, she got plenty of exposure t o it. Her parents regularly included several foster children into their household. At times, this involvement led to contact with law enforcement officers. Over the years, it was only natural that Bishop would become comfortable being around them. She found herself curiously wanting to learn more about what officers did on the job, so arrangements were made for her to occasionally ride with them.
"I was impressed by what I observed," said Bishop. "So I joined a Cadet program with the Beaverton Police Department. I did that for four years and, during that time, I started a Bike Path Patrol Program. After school, I would patrol bike paths because there were lots of gang-related fights that were occurring."
After the Cadet program, Bishop served as a Police Reservist with the Beaverton P.D. While serving as a Reservist, Bishop obtained a position with Multnomah County Jail Corrections. She also stayed in that job for four years before joining the Oregon State Police.
"I always wanted to work the road," said Bishop. "I knew I didn't want to stay with the jail…it was just good money and experience at the time."
Training for Perfection as an Honor Guard Member
Bishop's first assignment with OSP was with the Salem Patrol Office. While there, her coach, Lieutenant Mark Cotter, introduced her to the Department's Honor Guard. "I remember helping him get his outer garments on right before a funeral and thinking, 'they (Honor Guard) are the best.' They were very professional and they trained to be perfect."
This interest in the Honor Guard Unit led to her own involvement. She is one of approximately 30 members of the Department who drill and train frequently, preparing to present Colors at ceremonies throughout the State and nation. On behalf of the Department, the Honor Guard shows honor and respect for fallen troopers from states across the country.
"I just got back from a funeral in North Carolina," said Bishop. "I have also been sent to Virginia and Idaho. People have asked me why I would want to travel so far to do this. When an officer dies, it is like a member of our family going down…even if he or she is from the East Coast. They do their job over there, just like we do our job here. We understand the sacrifices they've made. We want to be there for their family to show our respects and give honor to that person."
Becoming OSP's First Female Motor Officer
Bishop's assignment at the Salem Patrol Office was influential in another way as well. She had the chance to watch OSP's Motor Unit (motorcycles) get underway. At the time, there were four members in the Unit and they let her attend a few of their training sessions. Bishop helped them out whenever she could by moving cones, etc. It didn't take her long to realize that she had developed a fondness for the close ties that members of the Unit had for one another. Bishop had also been riding motorcycles on and off since she was 16 years old, so she felt prepared to talk to supervisors about eventually joining the team. Her plans materialized…Bishop became the Department's first female member of the Motor Unit. She now finds herself patrolling primarily high traffic areas of the State on her motorcycle.
Bishop is quick to point out, though, that her work also gives her plenty of opportunity to travel to more remote areas of the state during the summer months. "We frequently get called to work in Eastern Oregon," said Bishop. "It's just beautiful over there. We work rodeos and county fairs to help with traffic and the droves of people who visit their areas during peak season. I get a chance to meet Troopers over there, and they appreciate that we have come to help out.
Saving Lives - All in a Day's Work
The job, according to Bishop, is full of surprises. She recalls an incident that happened a couple years ago when she noticed an ambulance whiz by as she was issuing a citation. After finishing up with the citation, Bishop hopped back into the patrol car she was using that day (her motorcycle riding suit was being waterproofed) and headed south towards Salem. On the way, she noticed the same ambulance pulled over in the median with its hazard lights on. When she stopped to check it out, she discovered that it was from Oregon Health Sciences University and the medical crew had been responding to a call from Salem to assist with a premature baby. They told Bishop their ambulance had broken down, so Bishop offered them a ride to Salem Hospital. When they arrived, Bishop helped them carry their gear up to the baby before she moved on.
About 8 p.m. that night, a nurse called the OSP Dispatch Center with a message for Trooper Bishop. According to the nurse, the baby most likely wouldn't have lived if Bishop hadn't stopped when she did…the baby was worse off than they expected. "If that is the best thing that happens during my career, it will be the memory of a lifetime," said Bishop. "The baby has a learning disability, but she is still alive to this day."
Leaving Comfort Zones
This dramatic episode holds special meaning for Bishop, as she, too, has special ties to parenthood. "Being a law enforcement officer and having a family is not easy," said Bishop, "but it can definitely be done. I was a single mom when I joined the Department, but was lucky because I was assigned to an office where all the guys wanted to work nights, so I only had to do a tour of less than a year working nights. I also had to sell the house that had just been built a year before and move to a new community. Sure, it was upsetting, but it made me stronger as a person. I moved out of my comfort zone and had to survive. Now I feel comfortable traveling or working anywhere…I've been there…done that."
Perhaps that hardest adjustment for Bishop as a parent has been to accept change at a moment's notice. She never knows w hen something will happen that will result in having to work a later shift or overtime hours. Her involvement in the Honor Guard, too, requires her to be prepared for the unknown. "I got a call at 1 p.m. one day asking me if I could leave for North Carolina the next morning at 6 a.m. for a funeral," said Bishop. "I was prepared to call them back in 30 minutes with an answer. It is so important to have a circle of family or friends that you can call upon…I know three people right off hand that I could call if I or a member of my family couldn't pick up my son."
Even though Bishop's husband and her son's father are also police officers, she said her son still occasionally brings up the fact that he doesn't want her to be one and that he worries about her getting killed. "He would rather I be a school teacher so he could see me all the time," said Bishop. "I let him know that I train hard to stay safe, I wear a vest and this is what I need to do…he understands."
Family Time is Quality Time
Bishop has made sure that the time she spends with her son counts. She has found that their activities not only provide them good quality time, they also help keep her physically fit. "We used to do Karate together," said Bishop. "Now we both play indoor soccer. Yesterday, I went on a run and he came with me on his bike. We both love biking. My son has a dirt bike and, last year, I went to California twice to compete in bike/run/kayak competitions. My son goes to the Skate Park and I watch him…we're pretty close," she adds with a big smile.
On the job, off the job…Bishop values both families.
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