Love Is March Responder Of The Week

news1@ulyssesnews.com

Akil Love is a big city boy patrolling the quiet streets of rural Ulysses, Kan. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Love has been with the Ulysses Police Department for four and 1/2 years now and is currently field training new officers. He began his law enforcement career as a correctional officer at the Grant County Sheriff’s Department.

“The best part of being a cop here is the community,” Love said. “I love interacting with the community, love seeing people smile. When they see a cop it’s good to see them smile, I just love putting smiles on people’s faces and helping people in need.”

But while Ulysses is a small town, being a police officer is not fun and games every day and seeing some of the bad is what Love considers the worst part of his job.

“The worst part is some of the stuff you have to see, whether it be a deceased individual or seeing people in their worst moment of their life at that particular time,” he said. “Obviously that’s the worst, because you think that could have easily been my family or even me in that position, so you feel for those people and that’s the worst.”

It's that compassion for others at their worst that makes Love stand out.

He related a story where he performed CPR on an individual who passed away a few days later.

“His granddaughter was right there, and I did the best I could to try to keep him alive,” Love said.

The family requested him for the funeral escort a few days later.

“Having the family request me to do the escort for his funeral service, and while I was there they were thanking me for being there and getting there and doing the best I could.

“To me I was like, they recognize I tried to do the best I can. It helped me understand that people understand you’re doing the best you can and sometimes it just doesn’t work.”

A native of Wichita, Love attended Washburn University, where he met his future wife, a native of Ulysses. Love has a young son and daughter and is involved with the community by  being visible at community events.

“I do Safety Fest, which we do on Main Street,” he said. “I used to be the one who ordered the toys for the kids. Trunk or Treat, also on Main Street; I do security for the football games.

“I try to get out there in public and show my face as much as I can and talk to everybody.”

Love says he’s a big city kid, but he loves Ulysses.

“I love the atmosphere, I love the community vibes here,” he said. “I love the community, the people. I’ve met some really good people here.”