“ 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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