Officer honored for 35 years of service

After serving three police chiefs and the people of Patterson for 35 years as a police officer, Sgt. Linda Span was recognized with a plaque recently by Police Chief Patrick LaSalle for her commitment, dedication and selfless service.
Span started her career with Patterson Police Department in May of 1979 as a dispatcher. In 1980 Span successfully completed the police academy becoming post certified working as a patrol officer, Patterson’s first female road patrol officer. She worked the road for six years, received various types of training and attended several schools. She has been working as the office administrator for the police department the last 10 years, she said.
The mother of five grown children said she was hired by former Police Chief John L. Robichaux the day after she interviewed for a job her friend told her about. As dispatcher, she had to do double duty because the Patterson police dispatcher was also the fire department dispatcher in Span’s early years with the department.
“I had to learn what to do when I got a fire-related call. But I had a lot of help in learning,” Spann said. “It was challenging but I like a challenge.”
Each of the chief’s had a different style of running the departments, Spann said. Robicheaux “made sure you did your jobs correctly” while James Sennette “was a little more laid back, but made sure you did your work.” LaSalle has been the most “firm” in his expectations and has brought the department from paper record keeping to the computer age and given officers more training opportunities.
She said one of the most difficult moments for her was the first time she worked a fatal accident. The victim was a teen-aged girl.
“That was hard for me to handle for quite a while but I got over it,” Span said. “I worked several other accidents through the years. You do your duty and deal with it later.”
Span said she relied on her Christian faith to sustain her through that first horrible accident.
“I prayed to God and asked for his strength,” Span said. “I remember thinking I didn’t know it would be like this.”
Span has seen the city grow and the police department grow with it. She said the department had two patrol cars assigned to the road when she began and it now has five assigned to patrol Patterson streets every day.
“You never know what you have to deal with,” Span said. “But we manage to always keep things under control.”
As the years passed and Span gained experience and knowledge, often new officers would turn to her for guidance, advice and assistance, she said.
She tried to offer the same type of personal guidance to her family and attempted to lead by example. With her husband of 27 years, Warren Span, their children range in age from 26 to 38.
LaSalle’s recognition of her service in front of her peers filled her with emotion.
“It was a surprise. It almost brought me to tears,” Span said.
Her best advice to new recruits she said is “to do your job. Do what you are supposed to do. You can overcome challenges if you work together. If you don’t know something, come and ask.”
Thirty-five years after starting her law enforcement career, Span is still not considering retirement.
“I have met most of the goals I set, but I think I can work a little longer,” Span said. “I still enjoy my work. I enjoy helping the community and my fellow workers.”