Have you met Charity Koch, the Community Services Officer (CSO) with the Windsor Police Department? If not, you are in for a treat. Charity started her career in law enforcement over 26 years ago. She joined the Windsor Police Department in 2019. She established a career goal of "creating an active and involved partnership to provide resources and information to assist in keeping our community, families, and businesses safe." She has two powerful daughters and a great husband who is a tremendous dad. “My husband is always there when things get crazy at work”, says Charity.
"She's really good about getting out there and engaging the community, she's at the forefront of everything we do," says Windsor Police Chief Michael Raasch.
Charity was raised in the Alexander Valley and is a 5th generation raising cattle and vineyards with her family. Her parents instilled a strong work ethic early on, and it shows today. "She has a stellar reputation with our department, her work ethic is so strong, and she is so organized," says Deanna Sherman, Administrative Aide.
Growing up Charity knew she wanted to go into law enforcement, starting off as a police cadet at Santa Rosa Junior College Police Department (SRJCPD) and earning a criminal justice degree. She started full time as a CSO at the Sonoma County Sheriff's office in 2002. As the Town's CSO, she finds pride in "helping the community solve their problems". She wears many hats in the department from working with the community, assisting officers, to resolving code enforcement infractions to running programs such as the Neighborhood Watch and COPE in the Town of Windsor.
When Charity is not working you will find her participating in several events around Sonoma County that include the National Night Out, Trick or Treat Trail, holiday toy drives to being a member of the Polar Plunge Team or running in the Special Olympics Torch Run. Charity's work ethic and efforts don't go unnoticed. She has received several distinguished awards from the Special Olympics for fundraising, a Distinguished Service Award for serving the citizens of Sonoma County, and The Louis "Pete" Peterka Emergency Management Award recognizing her outstanding commitment to emergency management to the schools of Sonoma County.
"She excels in dealing with people, engaging them, being very approachable. Having that service-oriented heart helps. She helps to build trust, especially with kids", Chief Raasch says.
Charity is a true advocate working with kids ages 13 to 20 years old in the Town's Explorer Post program. The program encourages kids interested in law enforcement to participate in the program to one day become an officer or get involved in law enforcement. "She makes an impact on the community and everyone she encounters", Mrs. Sherman says.
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