Florence Named Responder of the Week

Grant County Sheriff's Deputy Colby Florence has been working in law enforcement for the past 10  years. And it is a dream come true for this United States Army Veteran.

"I was employed for one year as a jailer for Stanton County Sheriff's Department in Johnson," Florence said.

Florence, who is originally from Syracuse, Kan.,  pursued a law enforcement career after a stint in the United States Army.

"I went in the Army in 2009 and served for four years," Florence said. "I was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska, and was deployed to Afghanistan. When I wasn't deployed, I was in Alaska."

Once he got out of the military, he secured the position with Stanton County Sheriff's Department.

"When I was coming out of the military with that skill set, I thought it would be applicable," Florence said. "I felt I would be able to use the skills I learned while in the military pretty well for law enforcement."

While in the military, Florence was an infantryman.

"I deployed to Afghanistan with the 25th Infantry Division," he said. "I was at Tanuja, Afghanistan. It was a definitely a combat zone. It wasn't easy. I was awarded a combat infantryman badge while I was there."

The position as jailer was a "stepping stone" to "get his foot in the door".

"Lance Babcock was the sheriff in Grant County at the time I started at Stanton County," Florence said. "He knew I had taken that position to get my foot in the door, because I really wanted to get in to law enforcement as an officer. I had been applying to Stanton County as a road deputy, but they didn't have any openings at that time. (Babcock) knew I had been applying and he asked me to come here for a spot he had open."

In 2016, Florence was offered a position as deputy in Grant County.

"I have been here for eight years," he said. "It's been good. I like it. I like Ulysses. I like everybody I work for. The community is really supportive. We don't have a lot of the issues other law enforcement in the bigger cities have to deal with, as far as their communities and the lack of support and stuff, so it is nice to have."

When asked what the hardest part was of being a deputy, Florence said the "unknown".

"The day to day unknown out patrolling and knowing at any moment, anything can happen," he said. "You can get a difficult call, so you always have to be mentally prepared for something like that. It doesn't matter if you're sleep deprived, what's going on in your personal life..... You need to set all of that aside and be ready for any sort of call that may come your way, whether it be a nasty car accident, God forbid a school shooting - whatever it may be. You have to be ready for it. We have to make sure we complete our training and be ready."

Florence says by far the hardest calls he has handled are car accidents involving children.

"When there are little kids who get killed or injured," he said. "One priority I have with unrestrained children and car seats - I have zero tolerance for that. If I see it, they will get a ticket every time. I have dealt with the results of that and seen it personally - it's heart breaking. It's something I can never get over. People get upset with me, but I take it seriously. Those are the hardest calls."

Like most first responders, answering calls like that is very difficult. How do they deal with them?

"There are definitely resources out there," Florence said. "I know there is a negative stigma behind getting therapy, but I think it's crucial for military and law enforcement - anyone dealing with trauma - to have someone to talk to. There are resources out there."

Grant County Sheriff's Department also has a resource - each other.

"We get together if there is a hard call," Florence said. "(Sheriff James Biddle) will usually put together something where everyone involved that day will come and talk about what happened. It is helpful."

Why did he go in to law enforcement?

"I wanted a career where I could really, actually make a difference in the community," Florence said. "I feel that is one thing you get from law enforcement and jobs like EMS, fire..... You can make a difference in someone's life and make an impact in the community."

According to Florence, those interested in pursuing a law enforcement career, don't have to have a college degree.

"You can go in with a high school degree, as long as you can pass the academy and if you have a good background," he said. "With both of those things you can go in to law enforcement and it can be a rewarding career."

Along with his duties at Grant County Sheriff's Department, Florence is also a member of the regional SWAT team.

"I have call outs that go along with that, and there is also training and things I have to attend because of it," he said.

Florence and his wife have two children, a 5-year-old son, and a daughter who was born in March.

A Harley and a Friend brought his wife and him together.

"We met through a friend of hers," Florence said. I ride Harleys in my spare time and I was doing a poker run. This (friend) said she had a friend who was single. We have been married since 2019."

Florence is thankful for his wife.

"She is really, super supportive of my career," he said. "And, she encourages me in all of it."

As for his future, Florence says for now, he  "loves working on the street"..

Each emergency responsder who is selected as Responder of the Week is in the running for Responder of the Month every month, and each Responder of the Month is then eligible for Responder of the Year. Winners are picked randomly from all the current nominees via a digital application to be Responder of the Month.

Responders may be nominated more than once.

If you would like to nominate someone for this honor please submit your nomination to news2@ulyssesnews.com. Nominees can be law enforcement officers, 911 dispatchers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, military personnel, public health professionals and utility line workers.If you would like to be a part of this program contact the Ulysses News.