By AMANDA KIMBLE
TheFlashToday.com
EDITOR’S NOTE: Residents of Erath County are very fortunate to have many men and women who make living here safe, many of whom are volunteers. They are Hometown Heroes! These people keep us safe and we owe them our thanks and our respect. THANK YOU!
STEPHENVILLE (January 6, 2017) – Paula Claunch always knew what she wanted to be when she grew up.
“I wanted to be a police officer since I was five years old,” Claunch, a Stephenville police lieutenant, said. “I always pictured myself in a uniform, driving a patrol car. The idea of being a police officer was something that always fascinated me, it was my dream job. I said it all through my life, this is what I wanted to do.”
First, life led her down a different path. Claunch graduated from Stephenville High School in 1994. She got a job and eventually had a son. Then, sometime after his birth, Claunch found herself living a nightmare, trapped by fear.
Agreeing that motherhood has a way of forcing a woman to reprioritize, Claunch said she had to push herself – for her son’s sake – and escape an abusive, destructive relationship.
“Fear had kept me there,” she said. “I had always heard the most dangerous time for women is when they’re trying to leave their abuser, but I was lucky to get out. It was by far the hardest thing I ever had to go through. Luckily, I had somewhere to land, somewhere to go and family to support me.”
She also had something – or someone – telling her it was finally time to pursue her dream.
“It was a pivotal time in my life,” Claunch recalled. “I walked out with a baby on my hip and nothing but family and the clothes on our backs. At that point, I decided I was finally going to what I had always wanted. I told myself I was going to become a police officer and that I could do it.”
And she did. Claunch graduated from the police academy in October 2007 and signed on with the Benbrook Police Department. Sometime later, a friend informed her of an opening with her hometown police department. The hours and proximity to family were exactly what Claunch and her son needed.
In her eight years with Stephenville Police Department, Claunch has made the most of her dream, blazing trails for future generations who aspire to wear a badge.
She was promoted to patrol sergeant in 2012 under Police Chief Patrick Bridges. In early 2015, she rose to the rank of lieutenant under Police Chief Jason King. More recently, in October 2016, Claunch made the move from patrol to the head of criminal investigations.
King, who has been with the department since 1997, said Claunch’s work ethic, character and passion have been apparent since day one.
“I think that’s been shown through the natural progression her career has taken in the short time Lt. Claunch has been here,” King said.
What her badge and personnel file don’t say is that Claunch is the first female in Stephenville history to serve as sergeant and lieutenant.
They also won’t tell you what Lt. James Gresham will. He spoke to her strong sense of empathy, saying when Claunch encounters someone living on the wrong side of the law, her priority is helping them learn to be a better person and make better decisions.
“Especially with college kids and other young women,” Gresham said. “She can relate to them – on some level – she has been there.”
Her empathetic nature, calm demeanor and level-headed perception led Claunch to sign on with the regional crisis negotiation team. She has logged more than 80 hours of advanced training, which has added to her ability to diffuse stressful situations.
“As a crisis negotiator, what was once known as a hostage negotiator, Lt. Claunch is trained to handle many different crisis situations,” King said, adding the regional task force includes police departments in Stephenville and Granbury and sheriff’s offices in Erath, Hood and Somervell counties.
When asked about the relationships within the police department walls, Claunch takes no offense to being a part of “the brotherhood.”
“I feel like I am one of the guys and they treat me like I am,” she said. “There has never been a time in my career when someone treated me differently, I have always had the same expectations and been given the same opportunities.”
There is something else that makes Claunch unique. She walks a tightrope balancing between the police beat and being a single mom. At times, it’s tough.
“This job demands a lot, especially when you advance to higher ranks,” she said. “There are a lot of responsibilities and sometimes they follow me home, which is tough. I’m also trying to raise a child, make sure he is growing up to be a good person and run a household. It’s definitely challenging.”
The balancing act isn’t the only challenge.
“As police officers, we see a different side of people,” she said. “It can be emotionally taxing. You want to save everyone, but you have to learn to draw the line.”
Claunch says cases involving children the hardest to work, and drug-related crimes are a daily reality.
“In criminal investigations, we have someone investigating crimes against people, others who are in charge of financial and property crimes, and all of the offense typically stem from drug abuse,” Claunch said. “Drugs and drug addiction tend to be at the root of a lot of the crimes we investigate.”
Looking back the beginning of her career, Claunch said law enforcement and people’s perception of police have changed a lot.
“It’s a lot different than when started eight years ago,” Claunch said, adding while national media and residents in larger cities are at war with police, she found the perfect place to live out her dream.
“I will finish out my career with Stephenville Police Department,” she said. “This is home, where I grew up, where my son grew up, and we have a lot of support here. Not just from family or from inside the department – from the community as well. That’s something I really appreciate, something we all appreciate.”
As her career grows closer to a decade of service, Claunch said she’s learned a lot and can offer a little advice to others considering a living a life of a law enforcement officer.
“This is not just a job, it’s a lifestyle change,” she said. “It takes a big commitment and a very good support system. I rely on my family a lot. We (at the police department) also lean on each other. You can try to have your guard up and stay hard, but we are all human and things are going to sometimes bother us. In those times, we all check in on each other. Just like at home, the support here has to be strong.”
Not a lot of people know of Claunch’s personal history, but she sometimes finds herself sharing it with fellow domestic violence victims. She said if her story can help others rise to the top, she would be honored to inspire other survivors.
Claunch also said she doesn’t want to be known as the first female to achieve rank at Stephenville Police Department, but she doesn’t mind inspiring young girls to pursue their dreams.
“I never expected to be a role model, but that is something I would be happy to be,” she said.
I had the honor of working with Lt. Paula Claunch & got to experience this young Ladies professionalism, empathy for people in a stressful setting, excellent work ethic and to top it off a sense of humor that lightens a room. Her dedication to her Son was always her top priority. Stephenville PD and the people in the community are as Blessed to have her and knowing this young Lady she feels the SAME. An outstanding individual. Thank you for sharing this article!!!