Super Kid: Loren Ross, Monroe High School junior

Published 10:48 pm Sunday, October 26, 2014

MALTBY — Loren Ross, 16, of Maltby, is a junior at Monroe High School. She is part of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Program.

Question: What classes are you taking?

Answer: I just got enrolled in the criminal justice class through Sno-Isle (TECH Skills Center). It’s half college credits and half high-school credits. I go to high school for 2½ hours a day and the rest at Everett (Community College.)

Q: How long have you been a sheriff’s explorer? What’s your rank or title?

A: Almost two years. I’m just an FTE. It’s called a field training explorer. I’ll probably apply for sergeant soon.

Q: Do you have any siblings?

A: I have a little brother. His name is Cole. He’s an eighth-grader.

Q: How did you become an explorer?

A: My mom was one when she was younger. I typed in “police 4-H” on the Internet because I do dog 4-H.

Q: Your mom is a dog training behaviorist. Did you grow up with a lot of pets?

A: Yeah, a lot of animals, basically anything you can think of, I’ve had.

Q: You’ve done 4-H?

A: I have done dog 4-H since fourth grade. I started getting really competitive my sixth grade year … I had a little Papillon, then he passed away and then I got a really good Irish water spaniel.

Q: Do you have an after-school job?

A: I do. I work at the Academy of Canine Behavior.

Q: Have you thought about college?

A: I’m going into the military, the Army. I want to be canine military police. That’s my dream job.

Q: Are you considering law enforcement as a career?

A: Of course, yes.

Q: Where do you see yourself policing after the military? A big city? A small town?

A: Staying in Washington and probably working for the county. I like the variety of people, and you’re not so enclosed.

Q: Besides 4-H, what do you do for fun?

A: I do FFA — Future Farmers of America. I show cows. This is my first year showing a cow. I’ve taken first place both times that I’ve shown. What else do I like to do? I do explorers. I do 4-H. I have a job.

Q: You’ve been through the explorers police academy three times?

A: The first time I went was my Basic, my basic academy. I found the biggest role model I could ever have in this life. His name is Andrew Thor. He’s a Lake Stevens police officer. My second academy I was in Advanced. My third academy I was in Advanced 2. My fourth year, I’ll be an EAA, which is like an assistant to all the police officers there.

Q: You like animals?

A: I had horses when I was little. I showed goats. I’d find stray dogs and pick up random animals.

Q: Do you have a favorite class this year or from last year?

A: My criminal justice class is my favorite. It’s very hands-on, very welcoming. I like that I can state my opinion and not have any backlash about it.

Q: What about a favorite TV show or movie?

A: A lot of the cops are going to get mad at me but my favorite TV show is ‘Cops.’ I like to point out the errors they make. My favorite movies would probably be “End of Watch” and “The Princess and The Frog.” I also like “Saving Private Ryan,” a lot of military movies and Disney. I’m still a girl, I gotta like my Disney.

Q: What made you want to join the military?

A: It’s been throughout my family. I like doing things a lot of other people don’t think of. I like being the oddball. I like being the first to do everything, and I would be the first girl in my family to be military. I also like being the leader and there’s a lot of leadership roles in the military.

Q: Anything you’re looking forward to this year?

A: I’m going to the East Coast again to work as a professional groomer and handler.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.