Today's Featured Biography

Richard Kepple

After graduation I worked at Minsky's Pizza. In 1983 I enlisted in the USAF and spent about 12 years as a Security Policeman (Security Specialist). It was during my first assignment to Fairchild AFB (Spokane, WA) that I met my beautiful wife. After a year on an island in Alaska, I returned to Fairchild AFB and 5 months later we were married; and have been since! We have two beautiful children, Samantha and Nathan, and a cool Black Lab/Sharpei mix, Cooper.

After the USAF, I worked several years as a Security Officer for Johnson Matthey Eletronics (later Honeywell) in Spokane until being laid off in 2003. It was at this crossroads that I decided to try a career in Law Enforcement.

Toward that end, I got an Associate Degree in Business Administration in 2004 through American InterContinental University Online. Then, after testing with several departments, I was hired by the Pasco PD (about 140 miles SW of Spokane) in 2005. We moved there, but I found I was not a good "fit" with this department, and about 4 months later, was looking for another job!

With no luck at the time in Law Enforcement, I was hired by the Port of Pasco as a Guard at the airport. This was an important, but BORING, job. Only saving grace is that I LOVE airplanes and I was around a wide variety of them every day I worked!

After about a year, with NO promotion or pay raise in the future, I turned my sights completely out of my comfort zone and applied for Boyd Coffee Company. I was hired as Sales Representative relief person; I filled in on the sales routes when the Rep. would take vacation or if they quit! With this job I got to work just about every area in Washington State.

About a year into this, I was offered an interview/job with my current employer, the City of Connell Police Department. This town and department is a good fit for me and I've been there since 2008. It can be a challenging job at times, but with the support of my wife and family, and a great Chief and co-workers, it makes it that much more rewarding.

Down side, my wife got a job in Spokane with the State of WA; pays more than mine! We moved back to Spokane, but I still work in Connell; I travel the 100 miles on my days off and stay in Connell when I'm working. It is difficult, but like I said, the job is a good fit for me. Besides, with budgets as they are, departments in the Spokane area are not hiring.

I'm glad I found this site (Thanks Mike White) as it's good to hear what my classmates have been up to since 1982!

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