Zen and the Art of Public Safety
Written By Robin Shepherd
Come December , Officer Melinda “ Mindy ” Zen will celebrate twenty years of service with Morgan Hill Police Department ( MHPD ). Learning about her career is all the more interesting when one realizes that behind her officer ’ s badge and neatly pressed uniform is a unique person — public servant , law enforcement professional , advocate , mentor , wife , mother , friend , and neighbor .
Zen arrived in South County at age 23 , a single mom with a new job and two daughters to raise . Reflecting on her journey , she said , “ The Morgan Hill Police Department has been very good to me . Not a single day has gone by when I haven ’ t looked forward to my shift and felt proud of the work we do
for our community . I guess I ’ m fortunate that way .”
Finding Her Path
Zen was one of the first in her family to attend college . Her continuation high school art teacher , Jim Bixler , started an Advance to College program that was like a beacon lighting her path to the future . “ I was earning high school and college course credits at the same time . Mr . Bixler started the program with students like me in mind . The fact that he saw our potential and took steps that benefitted us was so empowering . I will always be indebted to him .”
At Fresno City College , she took Criminology , Psychology , Physical Education , and English classes . Her grades were good but she was uncertain about a career direction .
“ It was my Criminology professor who encouraged me to test for the Police Academy . When I asked what that would involve , he told me the biggest challenge for women was scaling a six-foot wall . ‘ Women carry their weight in their hips so you have to jump a little differently than men ,’ he said , and then he showed me how to do it . I followed his example and made it over the wall . The very next day in class he handed me a Police Academy application . I filled it out , took the test , and I was in .”
At the Academy
Zen took out student loans to cover Police Academy tuition , and spent weekends selling sodas at the local flea markets to pay for her training equipment . “ Initially I had doubts , but halfway through the program I knew law enforcement was right for me . I was determined to learn everything I could and confident that I ’ d find good work after graduation .”
Zen smoothly navigated the academic and physical rigors of training but struggled with tactical driving , which puzzled her instructors .
Growing up in poverty , there was no family car for Zen to drive . The instructors were surprised to find she ’ d only had her driver ’ s license for six months . They spent time working with her and to her relief , she passed the tactical driving test .
During training , she gravitated to case law and application of the law and briefly considered becoming an attorney . As a single mom , thinking about all the time and money required to earn a law degree only strengthened her resolve to become a police officer .
Soon after graduation , Zen joined the Morgan Hill PD . She was ready to leave Fresno behind and excited at the prospect of work and family life in South County .
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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN JULY / AUGUST 2017 gmhtoday . com