Zen and the Art of Public Safety
Written By Robin Shepherd
Come December, Officer Melinda“ Mindy” Zen will celebrate twenty years of service with Morgan Hill Police Department( MHPD). Learning about her career is all the more interesting when one realizes that behind her officer’ s badge and neatly pressed uniform is a unique person— public servant, law enforcement professional, advocate, mentor, wife, mother, friend, and neighbor.
Zen arrived in South County at age 23, a single mom with a new job and two daughters to raise. Reflecting on her journey, she said,“ The Morgan Hill Police Department has been very good to me. Not a single day has gone by when I haven’ t looked forward to my shift and felt proud of the work we do
for our community. I guess I’ m fortunate that way.”
Finding Her Path
Zen was one of the first in her family to attend college. Her continuation high school art teacher, Jim Bixler, started an Advance to College program that was like a beacon lighting her path to the future.“ I was earning high school and college course credits at the same time. Mr. Bixler started the program with students like me in mind. The fact that he saw our potential and took steps that benefitted us was so empowering. I will always be indebted to him.”
At Fresno City College, she took Criminology, Psychology, Physical Education, and English classes. Her grades were good but she was uncertain about a career direction.
“ It was my Criminology professor who encouraged me to test for the Police Academy. When I asked what that would involve, he told me the biggest challenge for women was scaling a six-foot wall.‘ Women carry their weight in their hips so you have to jump a little differently than men,’ he said, and then he showed me how to do it. I followed his example and made it over the wall. The very next day in class he handed me a Police Academy application. I filled it out, took the test, and I was in.”
At the Academy
Zen took out student loans to cover Police Academy tuition, and spent weekends selling sodas at the local flea markets to pay for her training equipment.“ Initially I had doubts, but halfway through the program I knew law enforcement was right for me. I was determined to learn everything I could and confident that I’ d find good work after graduation.”
Zen smoothly navigated the academic and physical rigors of training but struggled with tactical driving, which puzzled her instructors.
Growing up in poverty, there was no family car for Zen to drive. The instructors were surprised to find she’ d only had her driver’ s license for six months. They spent time working with her and to her relief, she passed the tactical driving test.
During training, she gravitated to case law and application of the law and briefly considered becoming an attorney. As a single mom, thinking about all the time and money required to earn a law degree only strengthened her resolve to become a police officer.
Soon after graduation, Zen joined the Morgan Hill PD. She was ready to leave Fresno behind and excited at the prospect of work and family life in South County.
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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN JULY / AUGUST 2017 gmhtoday. com