“ Having served Morgan Hill for nearly 30 years, Sergeant Hoefling has become wellknown in the community. He understands how successful policing requires a mindset where the police and community are part of the same team working towards the same goal. We are fortunate to have him in a leadership role where he not only demonstrates the attributes of community engagement but also, by mentoring others, he encourages the same.”
David Swing, Police Chief Morgan Hill Police Department
Sergeant Troy Hoefling with son Andrew, daughter Katie and wife, Janelle.
Ask Troy Hoefling about his profession and he will tell you that it’ s honorable, challenging, and no two days are ever alike. Hoefling is in his eighth year as a sergeant with the Morgan Hill Police Department( MHPD) – a position that he said is hands-down the best job in law enforcement because he gets to work with new officers, teaching them the ropes and giving them the tools they need to do their best.
Hoefling’ s instinct for law and order found its expression in his youth. While a student Live Oak High School, he got a part-time job as a bagger at the former Alpha Beta grocery store on Monterey Road and found himself competing with another employee to see who could catch the most shoplifters.
“ I already knew back then what I wanted to do.”
Hoefling enrolled at Gavilan College, earned a certificate and an Associate’ s Degree in Administration of Justice, and attended the Police Academy. In 1988 he landed a part-time position as a reserve officer with the MHPD. After joining the force, he went on to serve as a corporal, a detective, an undercover narcotics officer with the California Department of Justice, and a member of the SWAT team before being promoted to Sergeant in 2007.
“ From my first day as a reserve officer I fell in love with the work, the people aspect, being out in the community and not tied to a desk job, dealing with new situations
every day. As a young officer I looked up to experienced senior officers. They knew everyone and how to get things done. They had all the‘ intel’. Now I’ m in their shoes.” Hoefling met his wife, Jenelle, while they were both students at Gavilan. Jenelle became a licensed cosmetologist, but the more time she spent with Hoefling, the more interested she was in law enforcement. It wasn’ t long before she took a job as a dispatcher for the San Jose Police Department. Looking back on their 20 years of marriage and raising a daughter and a son together, Hoefling said his wife still keeps him grounded.
“ Jenelle worked with police and she gets it. She and I have both known officers who have been killed in the line of duty. She reminds me to keep my priorities in check, be safe, and make it home when my shift is done.”
Hoefling and other members of MHPD lent a hand when the San Jose Police Department lost one of its own, Officer Michael Johnson, in March of this year. Johnson was fatally wounded while responding to a call to check in on a man who had threatened to commit suicide but opened fire on the officer instead. Hoefling, his fellow officers and police from other areas in the district patrolled San Jose’ s streets while local officers attended the memorial service for Johnson.
For the past 20 years, Hoefling has enjoyed serving as Police Department Coordinator and Liaison with the Special
Olympics. Earlier this year, Hoefling and other MHPD officers volunteered to wait tables at Chili’ s Restaurant as part of the Law Enforcement Torch Program established by Eunice Shriver and the Kennedy family to support the Special Olympics nationwide. In June, he participated in uniform at the Northern California Summer Games at UC Davis, passing out medals to athletes.
“ People ask why I volunteer my time year after year. I tell them I’ m grateful for the opportunity to work with these athletes. Meeting them and watching them compete is humbling, it brings me back to what’ s important in life.”
Outside of police hours, Hoefling enjoys spending time in the 1,000-square-foot workshop he built for himself at home.
“ My dad was a cabinet maker and I learned a lot from him. We never had to call people to fix things at home. Dad did it and I was lucky enough to help. I get a lot of complements on a large entertainment center I finished building recently for our living room. Having that joy and passion for woodwork, if I hadn’ t chosen law enforcement, I probably would have been a contractor!”
Hoefling hopes his presence on Morgan Hill’ s streets is“ making a positive difference” in the community.“ I’ m happy to be doing what I’ m meant to do and I couldn’ t think of a better city than Morgan Hill or a better team than MHPD to call my own.”
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN JULY / AUGUST 2015 gmhtoday. com
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