Behind the Badge: Officer Jessica Ighnat

From serving as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserve to presiding over the swearing-in ceremony of an officer that only Reynoldsburg can claim, Officer Jessica Ighnat’s path to community policing has been filled with both purpose and personality. Now in her third year as a Community Resource Officer, she’s combining her background in animation, military experience, and strong sense of teamwork to make a difference in Reynoldsburg.

Behind the Badge: Officer Jessica Ighnat

Q: Please tell us a little about yourself.

A: I am from Toronto, OH and have been an officer for 7 years. I graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor’s Degree in Media Arts & Animation. I previously worked at Ravenna Police Department for four years and have been with Reynoldsburg Division of Police for 3 years. Next year, I will be in my third year as a Community Resource Officer. I was in the U.S. Army Reserve for 10 years as Military Police and earned the rank of Staff Sergeant. I have been on two deployments, one to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and one to Doha, Qatar.

Since being at Reynoldsburg, I’ve been assigned to Patrol, Bike Team, Peer Team, Honor Guard, and the Community Resource Bureau.

Q: What inspired you to become a police officer?

A: My motivation at work is to constantly educate and be a help in the community with whatever situation arises, good or bad.

Q: What's your favorite memory on the job?

A: My favorite memory on the job was being able to teach the youth on the importance and education of being a police officer through our Junior Police Academy program we have each year. Seeing their professionalism and leadership once they complete the program are some of the best memories I have.

Another fun memory is when we bought a beta fish for our office and named him General Tso. He even had a swearing in ceremony and out ranked us all.

Q: What's one part of your job that might surprise people?

A: I am huge on being part of a team. No matter what the duties are, we all have to work together to get a job done. We thrive off one another to succeed and make sure everyone we work with all go home safely at the end of the day. The camaraderie in this profession is equivalent to a second family.

Q: Do you have a favorite Starfish Assignment memory or event?

A: Books & Badges is by far the best memories. The questions the kiddos ask are HILARIOUS and listening to what they have to say. I love seeing how excited they get when walking into their classroom. It definitely makes my day!

Q: When you're off duty, what do you enjoy doing?

A: I love spending time with my family and two dogs, Charlie and Henry. If you ever see me out in the community, be sure to ask for a trading card (Charlie & Henry take all the credit for the photo on there). If I am not at work, you can catch me outside at all hours of the day! Whether that is hiking, kayaking, fishing, or doing a house project!

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you received when you were young?

A: My dad always told me, do the best at everything you put your mind to, never give up, and always make positive connections. Meeting people in person and a good handshake goes a long way! What helped shaped my path is the constant support I have had throughout my careers from my family.

“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”—Theodore Roosevelt

Q: Do you like donuts?

A: I LOVE donuts. More than I should.