POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 27 Truro Police Service PANS in the community continued RICHARD MACKENZIE, Truro News richard.mackenzie@saltwire.com It’s about giving back Truro police officer involved in community in many ways Getting involved in the community for a police officer can be a bit tricky at times because some people never get past the uniform. This is what made a quick greeting memorable for Truro Police Service Cst. Katie Titus-Walsh when, while in uniform and doing her job as a school resource officer, she was recognized by a U-10 female basketball player she had coached. “One of the girls comes over and she says: ‘Hi, Katie,’ and her friend looks and asks: ‘Who is she? ’ ‘Oh, she is my basketball coach,’” Titus-Walsh said, quoting the young players’ response. “I was like, ‘wow’ it really can make a difference, change perceptions. (Getting involved) can change the lens to show police officers are human too. We’re not living in our uniforms in a police car, we’re more than that.” Titus-Walsh has been with Truro Police since 2014 after graduating from the police academy in 2012. In between, she did some work for the New Brunswick sheriffs service as well as doing temporary duty as a summer constable in Charlottetown. No matter where the Sussex, N.B., native landed, there was no doubt she was going to volunteer in some capacity to enrich her community. “I love to work with the community in general because that’s how I grew up,” she said. “My parents taught me community is important, and giving back is important. I knewmy giving back was going to be through sport because that’s what I know, so I’m helping the community in that way.” Titus-Walsh’s sport is basketball, and she has done various work on the court with a few area teams, including with the CEC, DAL-AC, and Colchester Basketball Association. She credits Truro Police Chief Dave Macneil with helping her get involved in the local basketball scene as he was a volunteer coach himself with his daughter’s team. “Once I came to know what the community was like, then I was able to excel,” she said. “I thank him for that opportunity … for opening the door.” Titus-Walsh said she doesn’t always point out to her basketball athletes what she does for a living but if they ask, she’ll tell them. She said it can be another opportunity for education, something she has the opportunity to do while walking a beat for Truro Police Services. Cst. Katie Titus-Walsh has used the sport of basketball to give back to her adopted community as a volunteer, while serving and protecting Truro as a member of its police service. continued
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